Young writer’s debut book shows readers how to deal with hard times
Kamani Brodie, author of
March is designated as National Reading Month and with her first published book, 10-year-old Kamani Brodie is encouraging readers to be fearless when facing obstacles and hard times.
“As Brave As You,” is a heartwarming tale of a young girl named Mia, who loved exploring but often hesitates when faced with challenges. With help from her close friend Lily, those fears begin to subside, until one day she is forced to face her fears alone.
As Mia ventures into a mysterious forest, she discovers that true bravery isn’t just about confronting danger but also about understanding, compassion and believing in herself.
Kamani, a native of Raleigh and a fourth grader at North Carolina Virtual Academy, was inspired to write the book after her mother suffered a severe heart attack. Kamani said one day she just started writing, and she quickly realized it was a way to express her feelings. After writing for a few weeks, Kamani approached her grandmother with the book idea.
“I wanted to make something that helped other people be brave,” Kamani said.
Rosetta Brodie, Kamani’s grandmother, who is also a published author, said she was excited when Kamani approached her with the idea. “She wrote the book first then she came to me,” she said.
“I’m so proud of her because at her age I know for a fact this wasn’t something I was doing. For her to grasp on to that to me, that’s amazing.”
Brodie confirmed that Kamani has already started working on her second book. And don’t be surprised if you see her name on the big screen one day. When she’s not at school or playing video games, Kamani enjoys writing movie scripts. “I want to make movies,” she said when talking to The Chronicle last week.
“As Brave As You” can be purchased on Amazon.
