Adalyn Grace asked Sarah Carlson:

What about Belfast are you most excited to share with future readers?

Sarah Carlson Good question! Most teens have likely heard things in passing about conflicts in the Middle East, maybe Central America and Africa. They know about World War II. The vast majority of them likely have no idea about the Troubles, the conflict that tore apart a tiny place owned by the United Kingdom, but on the island of Ireland. And that even twenty years after the conflict is considered resolved with the Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland is still dealing with the aftermath. ALL THE WALLS OF BELFAST has the opportunity to teach something new and broaden the worldview of American teens by exposing them to a new culture and a bit of the history and the legacy of the Troubles.

But beyond that, I also want readers to leave knowing that Belfast and Northern Ireland are both vibrant and beautiful places that are not defined by their complicated past, and that the vast majority of Northern Ireland wants to leave the legacy of the Troubles behind and continue moving forward toward a brighter future.

flag