Behind the Book is an exclusive feature at Muggle-Born that gives readers an inside look into the editorial process of some of our favorite books. Plot changes, lost characters, and many more interesting topics are tackled in an interview with the author.
Pure by Julianna Baggott
Did You Know?
- Though Pure never went through title changes, the title for Book III has changed quite a lot
- A character named Arturo had to be cut from the book
- Read on to find out more Behind the Book info about PURE by Julianna Baggott!
How many months did it take for you to write the original draft of PURE?
Honestly, I have no idea. I worked on it for years — before I even knew that this was the shape it would take, and then I worked on it while no one was looking — squirreling away time and flying under the radar of other deadlines. Years — off and on.
How long did the overall production of your book take from the moment it was sent to your editor to the final publication date?
It was probably the fastest book in terms of publication turn-around.The book had gone through so many rounds of edits before it went to auction — polishing, polishing — so the edits weren’t overhaul variety. It sold in October of 2010 and will publish in February of 2012.
Throughout the editorial process were there any significant changes to your story in terms of plot?
BEFORE it went to my editor, there were major changes with each draft. There use to be this character I loved named Arturo. He had his own point of view, a hefty one. But he had to be cut. I miss him.
What was the most challenging part of writing and the editorial process?
Each novel teaches you how to write it. That’s humbling. You never know when a novel is going to twist on you like a fish and jump from your hands. You should welcome this moment — it means the characters have their own life. But it’s scary too.
Did PURE go through any title changes?
It didn’t. I was set on the title from the beginning. The title of Book III in the trilogy has been up for grabs, though, and has changed a few times.
Is there anything else that you could tell us about PURE that we wouldn’t know unless we were part of the editorial team at Grand Central?
Here’s the thing: in my heart of hearts, I want PURE to steal its way into the hands of a number of writers I admire. (I won’t go into a long list here, but if Neil Gaiman and/or Margaret Atwood stumble upon this page, well, I’d blush.) I aspire for PURE to eventually find its way to one of the shelves in their houses — alphabetized or not. It would make the glue and binding very very happy — as well as me.
Don’t forget to check out my book review of PURE by Julianna Baggott!
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Behind the Book - Author: Julianna Baggott, Book: Pure by Julianna Baggott, Series: Pure | 
628 words
PURE by Julianna Baggott Book Review
Series: Pure, #1
Publication Date: February 8th 2012 by Grand Central Publishing
Rating: 
– Acceptable | 
Book Summary: We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .
Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.
Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .
There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it’s his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.
When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.
Pure by Julianna Baggott Book Review Overview:
- Excellent world-building of a post-apocalyptic society
- Slow pacing that allows Julianna Baggott to develop the story
- Nail-biting conclusion that will make your jaw drop
What makes PURE by Julianna Baggott so different is the post-apocalyptic world that she has created. Her descriptive writing brings out the gore, mutilations, and sometimes the beauty from the pages. The writing is vivid that I can just close my eyes and see Julianna Baggott’s world come to life. The survivors of the Detonations are anything but pretty. They are strong and determined and unfortunately characterized by their mutilations.
PURE by Julianna Baggott is told from the perspective of various characters, but mainly focuses on the narratives of Pressia and Partridge. Though at first I thought that the other narratives were a bit distracting, they are integral to the overall story. Julianna Baggott does not include them just because. The characters’ narratives are seamlessly integrated by the end of the book.
Julianna Baggott takes the time to cultivate her characters and the world in PURE so the pacing was a bit slow. At first, PURE by Julianna Baggott was a page-turner because the world she has created is so novel and interesting, but after a while, the excitement plateaus when there is not a lot of action going on. Nothing really happens until the last third of the book. Usually, I would have Big Issues with this, but because PURE by Julianna Baggott is about a world that’s just so striking, I was willing to let the issue slide. Furthermore, that last third of PURE by Julianna Baggott was absolutely gripping and full of jaw-dropping awesomeness. The slow build-up made for a much more satisfying climax.
As a note, I do think that this one is more of an adult book than a young adult book, though the characters are mid to late teens. The themes in this book are a lot heavier than your typical young adult dystopian/post-apocalyptic. I think there is certainly a lot of young adult appeal for teen readers, but keep in mind that PURE by Julianna Baggott is a heavier read because yes, she makes you think. Julianna Baggott makes readers question the consequences of atomic and nuclear weapons. Yes, PURE is a work of fiction, but in reality, the effects of these weapons are scary, too. Julianna Baggott wants readers to think about Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The extent of the damage of the nuclear weapons used in World War II are still felt to this day. Furthermore, there was always the thought of what if lurking in my head as I read the book: what if this happened to us?
The world-building is fantastic and Julianna Baggott knows how to put her readers at the edge of her seat. But because of the slow beginning, I do believe that PURE by Julianna Baggott is suited for older readers who are already established fans of the dystopian/post-apocalyptic genre. I would suggest Borrowing this book before buying it, unless you really, really love this genre.
Other Book Reviews:
Book Monkey
The Paper Planes
See It or Read It
About the Author
Critically acclaimed, bestselling author Julianna Baggott has published fourteen books over the last ten years with five novels slated for publication in the next four years. She began publishing when she was twenty-two and sold her first novel while still in her twenties. There are thirty-one foreign editions of her novels to date. |
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Also writes under the pen names 
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Book Review, Three Stars - Audience: Adult, Audience: Young Adult, Author: Julianna Baggott, Book: Pure by Julianna Baggott, Genre: Dystopia, Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Genre: Science Fiction, Publisher: Grand Central, Series: Pure | 1277 words
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
A Great and Terrible Beauty meets Cassandra Clare in this spellbinding fantasy
Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.
Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.
If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.
Expected Publication Date: February 7th 2012 by Putnam Juvenile
I fell in love with the trailer for Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood. Plus, I’ve been in the mood lately to pick up witchy books!
Pure by Julianna Baggott
We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .
Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .
There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it’s his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.
Expected Publication Date: February 8th 2012 by Grand Central Publishing
I’ve been hearing great buzz about this one after reading great reviews. I’m still hesitant to read dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels but I’m willing to give this one a try.
Scarlet by AC Gaughen
Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance.
Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in. It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.
Expected Publication Date: February 14th 2012 by Walker Books for Young Readers
Okay, I’m not the biggest fan of the cover. But listen to this: I’m pretty sure I read this when the manuscript had been circulating around different publishers and I had been an intern at Scholastic. I remember it being one of the few manuscripts that I had actually passed on to my supervisor. I never thought this day would happen…
The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen
Pretty in Pink meets Anna and the French Kiss in this charming romantic comedy
Ella is nearly invisible at the Willing School, and that’s just fine by her. She’s got her friends – the fabulous Frankie and their sweet cohort Sadie. She’s got her art – and her idol, the unappreciated 19th-century painter Edward Willing. Still, it’s hard being a nobody and having a crush on the biggest somebody in the school: Alex Bainbridge. Especially when he is your French tutor, and lessons have started becoming, well, certainly more interesting than French ever has been before. But can the invisible girl actually end up with a happily ever after with the golden boy, when no one even knows they’re dating? And is Ella going to dare to be that girl?
Expected Publication Date: February 16th 2012 by Speak
I’ve already read this one and I absolutely loved it. Keep an eye out for my review and interview with the author, Y.S. Lee, in February! I can’t wait to get my hands on a final copy of this book.
The Traitor in the Tunnel by YS Lee
Get steeped in suspense, romance, and high Victorian intrigue as Mary goes undercover at Buckingham Palace – and learns a startling secret at the Tower of London.
Queen Victoria has a little problem: there’s a petty thief at work in Buckingham Palace. Charged with discretion, the Agency puts quickwitted Mary Quinn on the case, where she must pose as a domestic while fending off the attentions of a feckless Prince of Wales. But when the prince witnesses the murder of one of his friends in an opium den, the potential for scandal looms large. And Mary faces an even more unsettling possibility: the accused killer, a Chinese sailor imprisoned in the Tower of London, shares a name with her long-lost father. Meanwhile, engineer James Easton, Mary’s onetime paramour, is at work shoring up the sewers beneath the palace, where an unexpected tunnel seems to be very much in use. Can Mary and James trust each other (and put their simmering feelings aside) long enough to solve the mystery and protect the Royal Family? Hoist on your waders for Mary’s most personal case yet, where the stakes couldn’t be higher – and she has everything to lose.
Expected Publication Date: February 28th 2012 by Candlewick Press
I am a huge fan of YS Lee. I’ve already read this one and I absolutely loved it. Keep an eye out for my review and interview with the author, Y.S. Lee, in February! I can’t wait to get my hands on a final copy of this book.
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Memes, Waiting on Wednesdays - Author: AC Gaughen, Author: Jessica Spotswood, Author: Julianna Baggott, Author: Melissa Jensen, Author: YS Lee, Book: Born Wicked, Book: Pure, Book: Scarlet, Book: The Fine Art of Truth or Dare, Book: The Traitor and the Tunnel, Series: Pure, Series: The Agency, Series: The Cahill Witch Chronicles | 1581 words
- Action Packed
- Hahaha Funny
- Keeps You Guessing
- Heartwarmer
- Must Buy
- Page-Turner
- Poetic Prose
- Romantic Read
- Tear-Jerker
