I'll Stop the World FAQ
I'll Stop the World FAQ
1. Is there an audio version of I'll Stop the World?
Yes! The audio version of I'll Stop the World is available to purchase through Libro.fm and Audible. The nine-person cast stars Michael Crouch as Justin, Natasha Tina Liu as Rose, and features Alaska Jackson, Brian Holden, Mark Sanderlin, Sarah Naughton, Scott Merriman, Marcus Stewart, and David de Vries in supporting roles.
2. Is I'll Stop the World a YA book?
Age categorizations for books can be tricky, especially when it comes to books featuring teenage characters. I'll Stop the World is not a typical YA book in that its narrators range in age from 12 to mid-20s, neither of which sits comfortably within a traditional YA range. But the central protagonists of the book, as well as a large portion of the supporting cast (including multiple other narrators) are 17 and 18 years old and in high school. A significant portion of the plot is also centered in and around the high school, making it not out of place within the YA category.
That said, I'll Stop the World has been positioned by my publisher as a “crossover” title, meaning it can appeal equally to both teens and adults, rather than YA, which is targeted primarily at teens (although adults definitely can and do enjoy it).
As for me, I don’t like to put upper age limits on books; I’m a big proponent of reading what appeals to you, regardless of how old (or young) the target audience for the book is. I like to think of YA as “teens and up,” Middle Grade as “tweens and up,” etc.
So with that said, I'll Stop the World is kind of YA, kind of not, but I don’t think that ultimately matters. Its intended audience is teens and adults who enjoy mysteries, time travel, ensemble casts, multiple points of view, and stories that explore themes of friendship and family. Due to the intensity of certain scenes, I would recommend parents of kids below high school age read it first in order to determine appropriateness.
3. Does I'll Stop the World include any potentially triggering content?
I'll Stop the World contains depictions of emotional abuse, alcoholism and excessive drinking, underage drinking, smoking, racism, discussions of homophobia, and violent bullying.
To view a complete list of content warnings for I’LL STOP THE WORLD, please go here.
4. What sort of diversity and representation is in I'll Stop the World?
I'll Stop the World may take place in a small town (and mostly in the ‘80s), but one of the reasons I chose to make the location both fictional and geographically vague was because I wanted to depict a group of characters that was as diverse as the world we currently inhabit, without having to worry about whether the demographics of Stone Lake were “accurate” to the other small towns I drew from for inspiration.
I'll Stop the World counts among its core cast characters from a variety of backgrounds, including multiple characters who identify as Chinese, Black, Latinx, or white. Some of these characters are biracial. There are also major and supporting characters who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, one of the main protagonists has been diagnosed with ADHD, and several characters experience undiagnosed anxiety.
Obviously, even in a book with a large ensemble cast and multiple narrators, I still can’t represent every variation of life experience—no one book can do that—but I hope that I'll Stop the World helps contribute to the growing pool of stories that allows readers from all sorts of backgrounds to find themselves in books.
5. Is there a discussion guide for I'll Stop the World?
Not yet, but I’ve been asked about this a lot, so I’m working on one! Stay tuned!
6. What does the title I'll Stop the World mean?
The title for I'll Stop the World came from the song “I Melt With You” by Modern English, which I listened to approximately nine thousand times while writing this book.
7. Will there be a movie version of I'll Stop the World?
There are no current plans in the works to turn I'll Stop the World into a movie or TV series, but it would be awesome if it happened.
8. Will there be a sequel to I'll Stop the World?
While I try to never say never, I conceived of and wrote I'll Stop the World as a standalone novel, and my intent is to keep it that way.