Jemima Small Versus the Universe
Page 24
I had to do so much research! I read books, blogs, articles, watched YouTube a lot, talked to young people, teachers and parents about body image, self-esteem and body-shaming. Plus, I know so much about space now I could probably get a job at NASA. During my research, I read so many nasty body-shaming and fat-phobic comments, but I also learned fascinating and beautiful things about our bodies. We have approximately 100,000 miles of blood vessels just in our brains. 100,000 miles! I wish people would remember how incredible human bodies are before they comment on them.
Both Jemima Small Versus the Universe and your previous book Being Miss Nobody deal with the subject of bullying – was this intentional or is it a theme that creeps into your writing?
After Being Miss Nobody’s release I was contacted by lots of readers young and old who have been victims of bullying. Sadly, it is still a part of too many people’s lives. From everything I found out during my research for Jemima Small Versus the Universe, I don’t think I could have written the book authentically without touching on the bullying that many people face in and out of school for their size. Bullying often happens in hidden spaces, or comes from places we maybe wouldn’t expect, like Harry’s “friends”. The scene where Harry reveals his bruises is based on something a young person told me during my research. The comments posted on Jemima’s video are based on real comments I read online. Lottie’s bullying is truly vicious, yet Jemima still wants to be liked by her. That aspect of bullying – feeling like you somehow deserve it, or it’s not a big deal, or it’s happening because of some flaw you have, rather than the bully being at fault – is something I wanted to explore in the book. I also wanted to show the importance of friendship. Miki’s love and loyalty towards Jemima combats Lottie’s spitefulness and ultimately helps her to speak out. After everything Jemima goes through, the final scenes felt wonderful to write.
How do the characters appear in your head? Is Gina based on anyone in particular?
Developing characters is my favourite part of the writing process. I knew from the very beginning that Jemima would be super-smart and have something of an attitude. Gina’s massive smile, her enthusiasm and general health-freakness are maybe based a tiny bit on my sister. Jasper’s character was so much fun to write. I always pictured him dressed in a cape, performing magic tricks, so researching and writing those scenes was a lot of fun. The sibling dynamic is something I love to write, probably because I am a middle child! Jasper is deeply annoying and his relentless boasting in front of their dad cracks me up, but he’s lovable too, and he’s there for Jemima when it really counts. Dad’s exasperation with Jemima at times is maybe slightly reminiscent of my own teenage years. But really, the characters take on a life of their own. They sort of appear in my head, then never seem to leave.
Do you have an Auntie Luna?
Sadly, I don’t have an auntie quite like Luna, but I’m an auntie myself and Luna definitely represents #auntiegoals for me. Her belief about all of us being intricately connected to each other and to the universe is something I definitely share. I promise I haven’t done any naked moon-bathing, but I do believe the universe gives us little signs to guide us towards our destiny. I think we could all benefit from a deeper connection to the natural world, like Luna has. Don’t we all feel the magic of infinite possibilities when we’re looking up at the stars? Although maybe I’d draw the line at nettle soup.
grew up in a tiny village in Northamptonshire where there was nothing to do. She spent her childhood reading books and writing stories, mostly about cats (she loves cats so much that they still always appear in her books). She has a degree in English literature and creative writing, and has been teaching, travelling the world and daydreaming for most of her adult life, and now lives in Leicestershire with her son. She is passionate about writing stories that she hopes can make a difference to readers’ lives.
“More than anything, I hope my stories teach young people to believe in themselves. Because that’s what makes magical things happen.”
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Firstly, a universe-sized thank you to Luigi and Alison Bonomi at LBA. You loved Jemima’s story from the very beginning, and you have encouraged me every step of the way. Thank you multiplied by infinity for getting me here.
A Banan-ometer-busting thank you to my incredible editors Rebecca Hill and Sarah Stewart at Usborne for the universe-sized love you put into this book, for your Brainiacs-level advice, for believing Jemima’s story was an important one to tell, and for the giant LOLs and love hearts on my manuscript just when I needed them.
An astronomical thank you to the amazing Usborne Publishing team for making me feel like part of the family, albeit one who leaves with lots of your books in her handbag. There are approximately 130 million books in the world. Thank you for making it 130 million + 1. A hypergiant shout-out to the amazing people at Usborne Books at Home for your phenomenal support of Being Miss Nobody. I’m keeping my fingers crossed you love this one just as much.
A gigantic luminous-pink neon thank you to Will Steele and Katharine Millichope for Jemima Small’s beautiful cover design, and to Hannah Featherstone for your genius copyedits.
A gargantuan thank you to Martin Day, police officer and general superstar. Jemima’s story has changed dramatically since we met, but thank you for answering approximately a million questions and helping out an author in need. I may need you again for my next book!
I’m sending a super-colossal thank you across the world to Donican Lam for your assistance with all things Japanese. And an infinity of thank yous to Louisa Broad, my lovely friend and general Brainiac, for helping me out when I had a major case of brain freeze. A hypergiant shout-out to Bettina Haddon for your endless support, love and social media big-ups. You rock.
A supernova thank you to Rose and Dr Vilanova for your kindness and support, and for reminding me how far across the universe I’ve travelled to get here.
YouTuber Tabitha Hendrix is a fictional character, but she owes a big thank you to all the bloggers, vloggers and influencers out there encouraging us to feel happy about our bodies, whatever shape they are. You are beautiful. You are amazing. You are changing the world. I wish I had you in my childhood.
A supergiant thank you to all the authors, librarians, teachers, booksellers, journalists, bloggers and vloggers who shout about books every day, and are relentless in your pursuit of getting books into the hearts of young people. Thank you for also shouting about mine.
To my electrocardiogram BFFs Laura, Brajit and Lauren: thank you for your infinity-sized love and support (and massive cups of tea/wine). I could not find better friends in a million galaxies.
A galaxy-supercluster-sized thank you to my parents for supporting me in a million different ways, mostly with babysitting and forcing complete strangers to buy my books. I’m so lucky to have you. A super-colossal thank you to my sister, Kirsty, for your relentless belief, support, excitement and for your intricate understanding of the periodic table. Andrew, thank you for being an amazing brother with brilliant advice, first-aid skills and an extremely helpful design studio. You’re awesome siblings. Thank you for being my best friends too. I also want to take this opportunity to remind you that Jemima Small Versus the Universe is a work of fiction and any resemblance to actual family members is purely coincidental.
To my gravity-defying Felix – thank you for the love, craziness, wonder, joy, laughter and magic you bring to my life. Thank you for reminding me every day that I’m bigger than I sometimes feel. You’re my proof the universe is always listening.
And finally, a big-bang-sized thank you to my readers – for your beautiful words (and art!) about Being Miss Nobody and for choosing to read Jemima’s story out of the millions of other books in the universe. I hope it reminds you how amazing you are.
Rosalind hates her new secondary school. She’s the weird girl who doesn’t talk. The Mute
-ant. And it’s easy to pick on someone who can’t fight back. So Rosalind starts a blog – Miss Nobody; a place to speak up, a place where she has a voice. But there’s a problem…
Is Miss Nobody becoming a bully herself?
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First published in the UK in 2019 by Usborne Publishing Ltd., Usborne House, 83-85 Saffron Hill, London EC1N 8RT, England. www.usborne.com
Text copyright © Tamsin Winter, 2019
Author photo © Andrew Winter, 2017
The right of Tamsin Winter to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
Cover illustrations © Usborne Publishing, 2019
Emojis © Shutterstock/Maria Averburg
The name Usborne and the devices are Trade Marks of Usborne. All rights reserved. This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or used in any way except as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or loaned or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
EPUB: 9781474954839 KINDLE: 9781474954846
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