Monique Turner on Sweet and Sour and the best contemporary novels for early teens

We’re excited to share this exclusive Q&A with Monique Turner, author of Sweet and Sour, the thrilling new AI-inspired novel for early teens featured this month for our Macaw subscribers. Exploring influencer culture, online fame, and the dark side of AI, Sweet and Sour delivers a Black Mirror-style twist through a funny, dramatic story that will keep tech-curious readers hooked. In the Q&A below, Monique talks about the real-life inspirations behind the book, her views on AI and internet culture, and what the future holds for Mikah and his friends.

What inspired you to write Sweet and Sour?

I’ve always been intrigued by fandoms, parasocial relationships, content creation, and what makes people chase fame. I’ve found myself deep-diving into these topics time and again over the years, so I always knew that I’d one day write books based on the things I’d observed. When mukbang exploded with popularity, I knew I wanted this to be a major plot point, because it’s fascinating how something as simple as eating on camera can be so polarising for the viewer, you either love it or you can’t stand it.

Did researching and writing the book change the way you feel about AI?

My stance on AI has always been that it’s no good for our brains or the environment, and has decreased our ability to use critical thinking. My research for Sweet and Sour only solidified what I already knew to be true. One thing that has changed though, is how I view those who use AI without considering the consequences. A recent trend where people use AI to create videos of themselves with their favourite celebrities in various scenarios has shown me how normalised it’s become to cross the boundaries of fandom into parasocial behaviour. Which is why I think the message in this book is so important.

What do you hope young readers will take away from the story?

The easiest thing to do isn’t always the right thing to do and going against the crowd can be painful and lonely, but forging a new path is the only way to make real, impactful change.

Be the change you want to see in the world. You matter. Your voice matters.

Who would you say is ultimately responsible for the events that unfold – and the outcome for Mikah?

Initially, you can’t pin it down to one singular person or reason and I think that’s what makes Mikah’s story so tragic and disturbing. There are so many elements at play in the story, leading us to the end result, that any one of them could have been the final nail in the coffin and any one of the characters could have interjected and stopped it from happening.

Mr Tanaki knew what would happen but stood by and watched.

Mikah’s friends were too afraid to speak up.

Si put his own reputation above Mikah’s health and safety.

Mikah’s fans didn’t care what happened to him, so long as they were entertained, and even encouraged the stalking and harassment of him.

This is why critical thinking is so important, because if Mikah stopped listening to the noise around him, he would’ve understood the dangerous position he was in and realised that, ultimately, his fate was in his own hands.

Can you tell us anything about what the future holds for Mikah and his friends?

Mikah, unfortunately, finds himself in a rather perilous position by the end of the novel. Once you’ve reached a level of fame where your name and face are everywhere, it’s impossible to fade into the background again. He’s been given a reason to continue his mukbang channel, but it’s already cost him so much that continuing would be like giving away the last part of himself. His friends are also scarred by the experience and now must decide how they’re going to move forward with their lives while supporting Mikah through his transitional period. The level of trauma experienced by these characters cannot be understated, so what comes next for them is a period of processing and recovery. After that. . . well, you’ll just have to wait and see.

Why did you choose to write books for this age group?

To this day, all my favourite books are the ones I read in my pre-teens and early teens, they’re the ones that shaped me and my view of the world. Our experiences in adolescence greatly impact the rest of our lives and I want to help build those sturdy foundation blocks for the next generation. Books are a safe place to experience all the horrors of the world, so that we can be prepared for whatever life throws at us. Books are friends when we have none, healing when we’re a little broken, and a dash of magic when we need it most. In times like this, when everything feels bleak, books are what we need. There’s a massive gap between middle grade fiction and young adult fiction, where teen readers are often forgotten about. I’m determined to make reading accessible for them again.

Do you have a favourite place to write?

I love writing in my car! I’ll often drive somewhere near the coast, park up with a view of the sea, and spend a few hours typing away until the battery dies on my laptop. I’m easily distracted so getting away from the internet helps me stay productive and focused.

I also love writing at my parents’ house for some reason, maybe because it’s nostalgic and reminds me of being a pre-teen with no responsibility, writing Lord of the Rings fanfic. I get loads of inspiration there.

Which other contemporary novels for early teens would you recommend our subscribers read next?

Livia in Rome by Bruna De Luca: Sixteen-year-old Scottish–Italian Livia feels like an outsider, spending the summer in her grandmother’s bar in Rome. Smug local boy Giulio works there too, and quickly becomes Livia’s nemesis. She is not going to be the cliché foreign girl who has a summer romance. But as Livia navigates family drama, new-found friendships and . . . Giulio, she starts to see the city – and herself – in a new light . . .

What Happens Online by Nathanael Lessore: Online, Fred goes by Existor@stmarks. His alter ego is the best gamer around - constantly on a winning streak, with tonnes of followers, and the confidence to go with it. But offline, Fred's life is miserable. His dad's always working, his mum's struggling, and at school, everyone looks straight through him. Until Existor's notoriety spreads to his school, and Fred sees an opportunity: everyone listens to what Existor has to say, so why not use that? Soon, Fred is coming up with outlandish rumours about his classmates, and everyone's lapping it up. His bullies are shunned, and people are finally taking notice of him. But it's a slippery slope and Fred struggles to keep track of all the stuff he's posted as his lies start to wreak unexpected havoc.

Copies of our Sweet and Sour pack, including a copy of the book and loads of fun activities to go with it, are now available for individual purchase. Grab a copy while stocks last!