In the new book “An adventure for two”, author Thaís Oliveira , known for co-authoring “Corajosas”, delves into the challenges of adolescence through the story of Mabel, a 17-year-old girl suffocated by family and religious expectations. Inspired by “The Little Mermaid”, the work narrates Mabel’s journey in search of freedom and self-knowledge, while also addressing themes such as identity, alcohol consumption and family relationships. Through her own experiences, Thaís highlights the importance of keeping God at the center of decisions, showing that even impulsive choices can lead to redemption.
What inspired the creation of Mabel and her adventures in the plot? Is there any personal connection between your own youth and the character?
The idea of writing Mabel came after I showed a Disney film to my younger sister 10 years ago. As we watched, some of Ariel’s characteristics not only caught my attention but also made me reflect. I noticed that, just like the Little Mermaid , many girls have the desire to explore the world and sometimes let themselves be carried away by impulsiveness and emotions, which leads them to collect a hurt little heart and pain that can mark them forever. I knew very well how difficult it was to act in a different way than Ariel, after all, just two years before I had let myself be carried away by similar desires and taken risks on some adventures following the typical teenage motto: “You only live once”. Those reflections accompanied me for a few days and soon a desire made my heart burn: what if I wrote a story inspired by Ariel that could help girls who had the same desire? Well, this story was born 10 years ago.
How do you explore the issue of identity and the dilemmas of adolescence in An Adventure for Two? How are these themes addressed in the story?
Motivated by my desire to help girls, I created a character full of dilemmas and flaws, who deals with as many challenges as they do. It is in Mabel’s daily life, amidst her adventures and misadventures, that readers will be able to learn some precious lessons about identity and other essential issues of Christian life. Mabel grew up in an imperfect family. Some attitudes taken by her parents, as well as her superficial relationship with the Lord, contributed to her developing some identity problems. She doesn’t really like what she sees in the mirror, she is insecure and is very easily guided by other people’s opinions. These and other problems arise in the plot.
Mabel faces a conflict between following her family’s rules and exploring new experiences. How did you develop this conflict and what does it represent in the character’s journey?
Although she grew up in a Christian home, Mabel is at a stage where she questions her faith and everything that surrounds her. She’s tired of the “rules” and can’t stand her parents picking on her anymore. When her father proposes an agreement to improve this behavior, Mabel sees an opportunity to put her greatest desire on paper: achieving “freedom”. The arrival of a neighbor with green eyes and a crooked smile helps fuel the fire, giving her the courage she needs to act. This little push allows Mabel to explore new experiences, she just doesn’t know how much some reckless decisions can change her life forever. As readers follow these adventures, they can extract precious lessons and mature alongside Mabel.
The story makes references to elements of pop culture, such as Suddenly 30 and The Walking Dead . How do these references contribute to the narrative and the development of the main character?
When building Mabel, I made sure to create a protagonist who felt real to the readers, a girl they could imagine meeting in the school hallway. Therefore, she has tastes and hobbies that so many other girls have, such as her love for romantic comedy books and films. Mabel also loves expressing herself through her favorite music and films, which is why they always appear in the narrative, giving it more depth and creating a bridge of connection with readers.
How important is it to show the consequences of Mabel’s impulsive decisions and how does this align with the book’s Christian message?
As an avid reader of young adult books, I’m used to seeing protagonists living great adventures and, most of the time, acting impulsively without reaping almost any fruit from their choices. Life, however, is not like that. Therefore, in Christian fiction, we are concerned with working on our characters’ dilemmas in the light of the Scriptures, promoting reflection and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, transformation. That’s what I seek to do through Mabel’s story. I invite readers to reflect on many of the feelings that invade them, especially during adolescence, and I encourage them to think about the consequences they can bring. Of course, the book is not a Sunday sermon. Girls can reflect while having fun and being excited.
How did your experience with the Official Adoring Princesses ministry influence the message you want to convey with this work?
Adoring Princesses began when I was still a teenager, as the Lord restored my identity and encouraged me to share everything I was learning with other girls. For more than 12 years, we have been using the internet to talk to girls from all over Brazil about identity, divine fatherhood and Christian life. With this ministry, the Lord sharpened me and prepared me to address some of these themes in An Adventure for Two . In fact, if I could list some of the themes that appear most in the plot, I would say: identity and divine paternity. Throughout my adolescence and youth, the Lord healed wounds in my heart and taught me to see myself as He does. All these lessons supported the work I carried out with girls, of all ages, in recent years, and were essential for the construction of Mabel and her adventures.
Mabel finds herself in publicly singing praises and supporting a friend. How do you see the relationship between faith and personal discovery in the young woman’s life?
For many years, Mabel’s faith was not hers, but her parents’. As she gets closer to the Lord, she comes to truly know Him and builds a solid relationship with Him. This coming closer to the One who created her allows Mabel to finally understand who she was created to be and begin to live out her purposes. from heaven to her. I believe that there is no other way to know ourselves other than by knowing the One who shaped us!
The book deals with issues such as excessive alcohol consumption and complicated relationships. What was your approach to addressing these sensitive topics in a way that is appropriate for young audiences?
I tried to bring these themes lightly into the narrative, so that the work could be read by younger and older girls. And intentionally. The themes are not just there to give more “weight” to the scenes, but to provoke reflection in readers. After all, they also hear about it in schools, social networks or circles of friends. Treated in the light of the Gospel, such discussions can help girls to build a more solid vision regarding what the Bible says about these dilemmas, as well as provide opportunities for healing for those girls who have already been hurt by getting involved in a toxic romantic relationship, for example. example.
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