Maélia loved Olivier madly. An intense first love. However, after months of swimming in happiness, the fifth-year secondary school student discovered a narcissistic and manipulative side in her lover.
In Until it goes banga finalist for the Montreal Libraries Youth Book Award in 2023, we witnessed the crumbling of Maélia and Olivier’s couple. Its sequel, The universe can only be born onceshows the wounds that an unhealthy relationship can leave even after it has ended.
“What Maélia is experiencing is called gaslighting [détournement cognitif]explains Alexandra Larochelle. With Olivier, every time she brings up something that doesn’t work, it backfires on her. He tells her: “You make me sad to accuse me of this or that thing.”
In her relationship, the heroine often feels like she’s “dumb” and “inadequate.” “Walk on eggshells. Don’t make things worse. Don’t say anything stupid,” becomes her mantra, until she decides to end this destructive relationship.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Alexandra Larochelle
It is unfortunately extremely common, gaslighting, not only in love. Sadly, many people on social networks and at book fairs told me that they recognized themselves in the character of Maélia.
Alexandra Larochelle
If she wanted to highlight this type of toxic relationship in a novel for young adults, it’s because everyone can face it at some point. “The younger you are exposed to this kind of dynamic, which is very insidious, the more likely you are to detect it as you get older,” she believes.
In both volumes, we also find the character of Martin, who is beaten by his lover. “I liked the idea of the parallel between violence that is very obvious and violence that is more underhanded,” confides Alexandra Larochelle.
Although Maélia’s story is not inspired by her own experience, the author admits to having already “been in a dynamic that was psychologically toxic.” At the time, when she heard horrible stories of battered women in the media, she came to minimize the consequences of her own relationship, as her heroine does. “When we compare ourselves, we console ourselves,” the expression goes. “It makes no sense to think that. It’s not because it’s not physical that it’s not devastating,” she says indignantly.
“Romantic violence has no gender and no age,” the author wishes to remind us, emphasizing that even if she is proud of all her projects, Maélia’s story occupies a very special place in her heart.
Back in 2004
And that’s saying something, since the 31-year-old writer has written more than thirty books to date. Titles aimed at primary school children, teenagers and young adults.
Alexandra Larochelle has published her first book, volume 1 of the series Beyond the universein 2004, when she was only 10 years old.
It was a beautiful coincidence. I wrote a novel at school. My director had a friend who worked for The Sunin Quebec. He called him.
Alexandra Larochelle, on the publication of her first book, when she was only 10 years old
The story caught the attention of other media outlets… and publishing houses. “I received a lot of offers. […] It really took off. That period of my life was pretty crazy. It lasted five years. I published six novels, which sold 130,000 copies,” she still marvels.
PHOTO ANDRÉ TREMBLAY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Alexandra Larochelle at the Montreal Book Fair in 2005
In the photo archives of The Presswe found a photo of the young author at the Montreal Book Fair in 2005. What does she remember about that day? “I remember the crowds. There were so many people. It was crazy!” […] There was a two or three hour line in front of me.”
This year, she was busy at book fairs, but never this busy, she says with a laugh.
In the coming months, she will begin two new series: one that will explore romantic relationships in the vein of First date and another that will immerse young readers in the world of video games.
She will also publish a children’s album inspired by the very first story she wrote… at the age of 5. “I can’t wait,” she says.
The universe can only be born once
Editions of the Bagnole
From 14 years old