Were you a pre-New Jersey or post-New Jersey Jane as a teen, or were you part of the elite? (Or should that be 'friends'? READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT) (That shameless plug brought to you by Michele's Stomach, craving tacos 24/7) non-ridiculeable choices about clothes/hair/makeup/what to eat for lunch, so there's a bit of the Awesome Nerd in everyone and I hoped to capture that for both Jane and her friends. Why thank you (fluffing up hair, recrossing legs at ankles)! I think even super popular people have questions about who they are and struggle to make the 'right' i.e. What inspired you to write her? Also, I liked the insight into the popular girls - so much YA makes the cool girls out to be nothing but selfish bitches, but you've shown they're selfish bitches with feelings, too. I loved Jane - she was such a great normal girl, who managed to hang on to a little of her nerdiness even when she got to be popular.

You're RIGHT - there aren't tacos! No WONDER it's a dystopia! I might write something dystopic one day, but I'm going to have to figure out a way around the fact that there are probably no tacos in dystopia and also bad clothes. Rosebush is a slight departure because Jane isn't quite dead (yet) but in order to stay not dead she has to figure out who was trying to kill her, review her own past and decisions, so it was an interesting challenge. They are so cooperative and soothing and they never talk back and you can read their diaries and stuff without feeling guilty. What made you skip the dystopia train and write a mystery instead?īasically I think its because I love working with dead people.

We've talked a lot on our site about how really good mysteries are seriously lacking in YA right now. So while you're waiting in line at the bookstore to get a copy of Rosebush, learn a few things about Michele and see why she's just the latest author to get our bff charm! And you know what else is awesome? That's right - Michele Jaffe agreed to do an interview with us! And she's even more awesome than her book, and has the hair to prove it. So hurry, quick, go get it because it's AWESOME. A few weeks ago, I reviewed Rosebush by Michele Jaffe.