Literature, News

Meet the Author: Manchester Poetry Library hosts annual series featuring best-selling YA author Danielle Jawando

0 534

Featured image: Ross Westgate


The Manchester Poetry library hosted its annual ‘Meet the Author’ event series this month, featuring award-winning author and screenwriter Danielle Jawando. Born in Manchester, Jawando is the recipient of multiple literary accolades including the 2023 YA Book Prize for her most recent novel, When Our Worlds Collided.

This year’s event invited guests to join a Q&A panel with Jawando and Dr Ginette Carpenter, a senior lecturer in English at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Becky Swain, director of the Manchester Poetry library said, “It was really important for the poetry library to facilitate Danielle. She is somebody who really cares about developing young people’s imagination and creativity.”

When Our Worlds Collided follows the perspectives of three Black teenagers: Jackson, Chantelle, and Marc, after experiencing the stabbing of 14-year-old Shaq outside the Manchester Arndale shopping centre.

The three teenagers, who all come from very different backgrounds, are brought together through the collective trauma they have witnessed. The author manages to establish a “shared family” relationship dynamic between the post-traumatic experiences of Jackson, Chantelle, and Marc.

The novel tackles contemporary issues, systematic and institutionalised racism surrounding the African diaspora, as well as the perception of ‘Blackness’ in the North.

Jawando explained the inspiration for the book came to her after she heard about an incident involving a young black man who was chased and stabbed. He went from door to door but his calls for help were ignored and he died.

Additional inspiration came from her experience working with kids and the characters are influenced by some of the young people Jawando has worked with: “Children who have lost trust in the institutions and adults who are supposed to look out for them.”

Dr Ginette Carpenter described the work as “a hopeful novel with institutionally embedded issues”. Carpenter also noted that while Jawando doesn’t shy away from the realities of injustice, she also manages to balance this with illuminating optimism and hope.

As a Northerner, it was important for Jawando to set the book in Manchester, as she noted that so many YA novels are set in London and across America. There has also been a recent demand for novels in the UK set outside of London from numerous publishers.

Jawando said, “It’s hard to find novels with Black or diverse characters set in the North.” She added, “It was important for me to write, not only for myself but for my audience as well.”

When Our Worlds Collided is out now. You can keep up-to-date with Danielle Jawando by following her on Instagram and Goodreads.

About the author / 

Makenna Ali

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More News Stories:

  • World Book Day: Manchester’s best literary hangout spots

    Featured image: Edward Firman There is no better combination than a good book and a hot cup of coffee; it’s the ultimate feeling of cosiness no matter the season. However, there’s something comforting about rainy days in Manchester, when the skies are gloomy and you stumble upon an independent bookstore. Over the years, bookstores have…

  • The Resurgence of Female Pop Power: 5 female artists touring the UK in 2025

    Featured image: Evie Gledhill By Evie Gledhill Last year, some of the biggest names in music toured the UK. From global superstars Taylor Swift and Beyonce to breakthrough artists like Chappell Roan and The Last Dinner Party, we saw the revival of strong female pop icons in the music industry. And at a time when…

  • Manchester Metropolitan kicks off GoGlobal Week 2025

    Featured image: Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester Met is set to launch GoGlobal Week on Monday, a celebration of the University’s diverse global community and a platform to support students to prepare for international opportunities and careers. Running from Monday 3rd to Friday 7th March, the week-long programme features expert panels, workshops and interactive events with…

  • Manchester-based coffee magazine Dial In launches @ Altogether Otherwise – “An incredible event supporting a really great scene”

    Featured image and photography: Adrianos Falkonakis Manchester coffee lovers gathered at Altogether Otherwise on February 13th to celebrate the debut launch of Dial In magazine. A passion project created by Manchester Met alumni Ania Klekot and Elliot Howard, Dial In is the newest addition to Manchester’s independent publishing scene, bringing a fresh voice to the…