My Favorite Fictional Character
I was looking for Blog ideas to start 2023; there were many great ones. There were the start your year right ones, the don’t look back ones, the make a resolution that lasts ones, but I came across an idea that I loved! My favorite fictional book character…
If you know me well or have read my past blogs, you know that I recently left teaching and began a freelance writing career. The best part of this job switch is that it has allowed me to follow my passion and finish writing my very first chapter book! I have always loved the written word and have a passion for helping kids who are struggling to read, so I am thrilled that I have had the chance to put them both together.
As a special education teacher, I saw first-hand how hard it was for my 4th and 5th-grade students to find “cool” looking chapter books that were at their reading level. The majority of my students had reading levels markedly below that of their peers. It was a constant balance of looking for easy-to-read books that didn’t look like “baby” books so that my students would actually want to read more. One of the best predictors of becoming a better reader is reading more, so when you don’t like to read, or reading for fun is hard, you kind of just stop all together or only read during reading groups in school.
Life is hard in elementary school, and beyond, when you know you are below grade level academically but have friends who are sailing through. It kind of blows your mind that your buddy can check out a Harry Potter book from the library and actually READ all the words in it. Watching many of my students struggle with reading age-similar chapter books was crushing. I felt their pain and embarrassment of always being in the lowest reading groups and being the ones pulled out for extra help. Giving up on another grade-level reading assignment because they simply could not read it was commonplace.
One of the amazing parts of my job was that I got to witness my students’ bravery every single day. I got to see them hold their heads up high when their behind-the-scenes work in my room helped them be able to do something in their general classrooms. I got to be a moment in their day when they could be themselves and not feel less than their peers and it was THE most rewarding time of my life. As my teaching career was coming to an end, I couldn’t stop thinking about writing a book series that could be enjoyed by ANY age, and actually read if you were reading at a lower level than your friends. I could picture in my mind’s eye the highest reader in a fifth-grade classroom checking out the exact same book that a struggling reader could also check out...and actually reading with pride right alongside her best friend.
As a reader of anything I can get my hands on, I have many favorite characters. From Professor Snape in the Harry Potter series to Harry himself, to Kay Scarpetta in Patricia Cornwell’s books, to Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I’ve fallen in love with some amazing personalities. There are too many others to name in one-off books I’ve read, but suffice it to say, characters you fall in love with are what writers do best. I do not count myself in the same league, or even ballpark, as the authors I’ve mentioned above, but my hope is for the characters in my book to be loveable and relatable to people who need them the most.
So, without further ado, I would like to introduce my new favorite character, Myles Knight. He’s kind of like having my first baby all over again. (Don’t worry, Will, you are still more amazing!) Myles is the star of Adventures of Blue Eagle Elementary, Book 1: Myles and His Wish. This book will not hit shelves for several years, but I couldn’t help but introduce him today. Myles is an 11-year-old who struggles with having a stutter and with reading, and even more difficult math problems. He has the burden of moving to another new school and having to make friends again. His parents know moving is hard for him, but they have NO idea just how hard. The embarrassment he feels and the desire to be “normal” almost take their toll on Myles.
Thankfully, he finds two amazing friends who see past his stutter and truly like him for him. Cav and Sofia are the kind of characters I always hoped my own kids would be to others and to find for themselves. While Myles wants desperately to fit in, the trio stumbles upon some magic in the school that just might give Myles everything he thinks he’s ever wanted. Even with that, his internal struggle continues to be real. His story is basically one of loving yourself, even the parts you’d give anything to change. Myles has people around him loving him and championing for him all the time, but he doesn’t feel the same way about himself that everyone else does, and he’s desperate to find anything that allows him to be “normal.” I can certainly relate to that and I hope that thousands of kids will be able to, too!
Sadly, you won’t be able to get to know Myles for yourself for quite a while, but I hope you have characters in stories you can relate to. I hope when you open a book, or even watch a show, that you can see yourself in the people on the pages or screen and know that there is power inside of you. Power to effect a personal change or a worldwide change. Power to be brave and face a really tricky world. Power to humble yourself or elevate yourself, and the wisdom to know the difference.
As 2022 fades and 2023 comes into focus, I hope that things you struggle with become easier. I hope that loads become lighter and you see your place in the world is right where you are supposed to be. I hope a friend comes along and helps you see yourself through their eyes.
Thank you for reading a little about Myles and I can’t wait for his adventure to be in print and enjoyed by you and others!
