What does it mean to grow up in a world where childhood is anything but conventional? That’s the heart of Naked Girl, Janna Brooke Wallack’s striking novel about resilience, neglect, and the search for stability.
The story follows siblings Sienna and Siddartha, left to raise themselves in a condemned mansion filled with spiritual seekers and drifters. Their father, Jackson, is a charismatic leader who gathers lost souls, offering them a sense of belonging while his own children struggle in the margins. Set in
1980s Miami Beach, the novel blends beauty with decay, freedom with chaos, and spirituality with survival.
Janna describes Naked Girl as a coming-of-age story wrapped in what she calls a “dysfunctional family dramedy.” While the book is fiction, it draws from the emotional truth of her own childhood. Growing up between two vastly different households—one conventional, the other filled with alternative lifestyles—she developed a unique perspective on independence, family, and belonging.
In our conversation, Janna also reflects on the generational shifts in parenting. Gen X kids often experienced a level of independence that today’s children don’t, leading many of them to become more involved, even overprotective, parents. But what’s the right balance? And how do our childhood experiences shape the way we raise our own children?
Beyond its compelling themes, Naked Girl is an immersive read, rich with metaphor and atmospheric detail. Janna’s writing captures the surreal beauty of a fading mansion overtaken by nature, mirroring the unpredictable lives of its inhabitants.
A semifinalist for the 2024 Publishers Weekly Book Life Prize in Fiction, Naked Girl has been praised for its raw honesty and vivid storytelling. Whether you’re drawn to coming-of-age stories, tales of resilience, or explorations of unconventional upbringings, this is a book that lingers long after the last page.
Find Naked Girl wherever books are sold—but be sure to search for it alongside Janna Brooke Wallack’s name. Otherwise, you might find yourself in unexpected corners of the internet!
