Check out our interview with Juno Dawson, the author of "Survival Show."

What was your inspiration behind Survival Show?

My editor asked what my dream YA novel would be and I said, without flinching, THE HUNGER GAMES meets THE SPICE GIRLS. This novel is the product of that conversation. I just write for myself now; what’s a book that I would be obsessed with. I love K-Pop, I love girl groups, and I love darkly satirical dystopian fiction. Hopefully someone else out there does too.

What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?

I think, right now, it’s not so much about Reading Rainbow as it is Reading without Censorship. Books featuring queer characters are literally under attack in the US, and it takes real defiance from readers, booksellers and librarians to ensure that we’re not living in an actual dystopia.

Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books? 

Because we are real? Because we live in the world, so it figures we should be represented in the fictional realm too.

Tell us a little more about Survival Show and why you decided to write it.

The novel concerns a young woman called Taryn, who lives in the UK about five minutes in the future. She’s been displaced due to climate change, and decides to audition for a talent show that will hopefully change her life for the better. However, she quickly realizes she’s sold her soul and is going to have to sing for her life…or die on live TV.

What can fans expect from your book?

It’s a pretty brutal satire on reality TV and the music industry but also a novel about what happens when girls come together. We’re so much more powerful than people think. I was very inspired by the resilience the group NEWJEANS have showed in defying their powerful record label bosses.

What's up next for you in the bookish world?

I’m working on a new adult fantasy series that will begin in 2027 and then the sequel to SURVIVAL SHOW will drop in 2028.

Buy the book here.