November is National Novel Writing Month! Every year, writers across the globe celebrate "NaNoWriMo" by attempting to write an entire novel within the mere 30 days of November. Sometimes it takes me one full month just to read a book, much less write one! Phew! During the challenge, participants are encouraged to set their own goals, since every writer is different in their respective practices, but it's common for people to challenge themselves with a goal of 50,000 words.
Whatever your writing goals may be, having strong role models can make it easier to achieve them. Read on for some inspiring stories about middle-graders who loved stories so much that they decided to write their own.
Have you ever considered how every single word that you know and use every day was, at one point, made up by someone else? In the beloved classic Frindle, fifth-grader Nick Allen unlocks a new understanding of language when he invents a new word. While a single word may seem small compared to 50,000, Nick is in for a challenge that will take just as much commitment.
If you enjoy stories where the characters process their grief through making art, look no further than Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero When reading his father’s old journals, Isaiah Dunn finds stories about a superhero with Isaiah’s exact same name! He is deeply inspired by the character his father made up and named after him, but in his everyday life, he feels far from super. Perhaps if Isaiah tries his own hand at writing, there will be even more superpowers to discover and unleash.
The Partition Project is a prime example of how stories can change lives by connecting us to the past and our ancestors. As Maha gets to know her grandmother who recently relocated from Pakistan, she is inspired by what she learns about the historic Partition of India. She sets out to make her documentary project about the Partition and is surprised to feel more connected to her own heritage along the way.
What are your favorite stories about middle-graders finding and embracing the power of stories?
Add a comment to: National Novel Writing Month: Books About Kids who Write