![]() ![]() With a character like Zuri, I wanted to get into her head and her heart. Zuri is 17, and she's definitely not an old maid questioning the viability of marriage in early 1800s England. But I felt it might be a little too distancing for teen readers. IZ: An earlier draft was written in a sort of a snarky third-person omniscient point of view, very much like the original story. GR: What was your biggest challenge in writing a retelling? How did you balance the source material with your interpretation? ![]() So Zuri is Lizzie: supersmart, politically aware, has big questions about her place in this world, and, yes, falls in love. I wanted to update her so she could be relatable to teens. ![]() Elizabeth Bennet was the hero and love interest I didn't know I needed. Retelling Pride and Prejudice came up during a conversation about smart love stories. I needed a story arc that was equal parts sweet and woke to ground my story. My earlier drafts were filled with so much politics and maybe even a little anger. It was hard for me to focus on the sweetness of love. But there was so much going on in our country at the time, with the elections and all. Ibi Zoboi: Well, I really wanted to write a love story after American Street-something without trauma or tragedy, something sweet and thoughtful. ![]() Goodreads: So many readers are excited about your Pride and Prejudice retelling! What made you choose this particular Jane Austen classic? ![]()
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