Check out our interview with Sonido Reyes, the author of "To Our Untamed Core."
What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?
Initially, To Our Untamed Core started as a thought experiment when I was asked if there was any book I wish I had written. I said The Hunger Games, but with the caveat that--as with anything I write--I would have to make it Mexican. From there, I imagined the Capitol being more like the conquistadores and played around with Catholic-inspired world-building, and the rest was history. I've always loved dystopian, and while The Hunger Games remains a huge inspiration, I wanted to make this book something uniquely my own.
What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?
Reading Rainbow is reading unapologetically queer stories. It's seeing ourselves in our favorite books and loving the characters so much we can't help but love ourselves, too. It's intentionally uplifting the stories that are most likely to be banned simply for having queer characters. It's loving our stories louder than anyone else can hate them.
Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?
Everyone deserves to see themselves in fiction. Sometimes it can be hard to believe we deserve that happily ever after until we see someone we relate to get it. When the same characters are the heroes over and over, we are forced to see ourselves as the villains, or not to see ourselves at all. I'm a firm believer that the "gay agenda" isn't complete until we can ALL feel seen in whatever narrative we enjoy most.
Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.
To Our Untamed Core follows a trans boy who, in the beginning, just wants to put his head down and get by. On its surface, it is a dystopian YA with a deadly tournament and a love triangle with lots of yearning, but it's ultimately a book about love and celebration in the face of a world that wants us silent. I wanted to tell a story that explored religious indoctrination alongside colonization and detribalization, and I felt like this world was the perfect place to explore that concept.
What can fans expect from your book?
With all my books, but especially with this one, I want readers to experience a wide range of emotions. This book can be devastating and romantic, and full of both violence and joy, but no matter what, I want it to be hopeful.
What's up next for you in the bookish world?
I'm working on some very fun projects that I can't talk too much about just yet, but I will say this: Whatever comes next, whether it's Mesoamerican-inspired YA fantasy or telenovela-inspired adult romantic dramedy, I don't see myself stopping with the queer love stories any time soon.
