Neal Shusterman wanted to explore how absolute contentment could disrupt power dynamics and challenge human desires and motivations, so he wrote, "All Better Now."
What was your inspiration behind "All Better Now?"
At a speaking event, someone commented that my darker books are often prophetic — and then they said, “Can’t you predict something happy?” Everyone laughed, but I took the challenge to heart. But, of course, not even an exploration of happiness can be all peaches-and-cream. Our society isn’t designed to function if everyone is happy. So, what are the consequences of a virus that threatens to bring about universal happiness? Developing this idea involved exploring how absolute contentment could disrupt power dynamics and challenge fundamental human desires and motivations.
What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?
Reading Rainbow means honoring the diversity of experiences, identities, and voices in literature. It’s about creating a space where every reader can see themselves reflected. For me, it’s also a call to action — to keep asking hard questions, to be inclusive, and to celebrate stories that may not have been previously given enough of a voice. Literature has the power to foster empathy and connection. It also means writing with pride. That we should not be afraid to tell our own stories, but also not be prevented from trying to put ourselves into other people’s shoes — because that’s what writing is: trying to see the world from other’s perspectives, so we can understand each other better.
Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?
Representation is crucial because it allows readers to find themselves in stories, which can be incredibly validating and empowering. Books have a unique way of broadening perspectives, showing us the beauty and complexity of lives different from our own. We can paint a more complete picture of humanity. For young readers especially, seeing themselves represented can shape how they view themselves and the world.
Tell us a little more about "All Better Now" and why you decided to write it.
The book took over a year to write, working on and off. As with all my books, there was a lot of soul-searching, questioning the world around me, and examining human nature (both the positive and negative sides). And, of course, world-building. Because, while the story begins in our world, it rapidly veers off into uncharted territory as we face the prospect of unbounded joy and contentment — which can be terrifying to some people… As for changing, the idea didn’t change as much as the depth and nuances of the questions did. For instance, I found myself looking at the global socio-political consequences of contentment and how that triggers dramatic social upheaval. These changes would ultimately be for the better, one would hope, but for those who are hell-bent on maintaining the status quo of fear, misery, and anger, how much will they destroy to maintain it?
What can fans expect from "All Better Now?"
The one thing you can expect is to not get what you were expecting!
What's up next for you in the bookish world?
I’m very excited to say that I'm working on a prequel for "SCYTHE" which takes place in the year humans become immortal. This also happens to be the year that the Thunderhead gains consciousness and changes life on Earth forever. The novel focuses on the original 12 Scythes (or 13 if you believe certain sources), how they met, and how they came up with the idea for the Scythedom. The book doesn't have a title yet, but I'm very excited to be working on it. I’m also working on "ALL OVER NOW," the second book in the Crown Royale Duology.
Neal Shusterman is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty award-winning books for children, teens, and adults, including the Unwind dystology, the Skinjacker trilogy, Downsiders, and Challenger Deep, which won the National Book Award. Scythe, the first book in his series Arc of a Scythe is a Michael L. Printz Honor Book. He also writes screenplays for motion pictures and television shows. Neal is the father of four, all of whom are talented writers and artists themselves. Visit Neal at StoryMan.com and Facebook.com/NealShusterman.
