Eighteen-year-old Sydney Sunderland didn含羞草研究社檛 set out to be a published author when she took on her Capstone Project last year, but here we are.
The Mark R. Isfeld grad and first-year student at Thompson Rivers University has written and illustrated a children含羞草研究社檚 book, titled I am Everything In Between.
The book hits the market next month.
含羞草研究社淲e had to do a Capstone Project for our graduation, so I decided to do a children含羞草研究社檚 book,含羞草研究社� said Sunderland, who turns 19 later this month. 含羞草研究社淎t the beginning, I didn含羞草研究社檛 really have any plans of publishing it, I just wanted to share it with some teachers and possibly the school library, but it just kept building and building (momentum).
含羞草研究社淚t began as just a school project but then I realized that I felt really passionate about the topic that the book is about含羞草研究社�. After I finished it I received a lot of feedback from my teachers and peers, encouraging me to publish it. So I ended up sending my copy of the book to several publishers, and one of them liked it.含羞草研究社�
I am Everything In Between is described on the publishing house website (Rebel Mountain Press) as a book that 含羞草研究社満卟菅芯可绂 highlights kids who don含羞草研究社檛 fit into stereotypical gender ideals. This book celebrates children and how they gender identify by sending a positive message that regardless of biological gender, it含羞草研究社檚 okay to feel like a girl, it含羞草研究社檚 okay to feel like a boy, and it含羞草研究社檚 okay to feel like 含羞草研究社楨verything In Between.含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫
Sunderland says there is a personal angle to the book.
含羞草研究社淭here is sort of a personal connection to it; when I was growing up, I didn含羞草研究社檛 necessarily know what gender identity was, but I definitely did present myself in ways that were different than how a typical little girl would dress and things,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淚 sometimes got negative comments and negative reactions from that, and that definitely affected me when I was younger, so I am hoping that the message can get out to any kids who might be feeling that way, because I know I would have really appreciated something like that.含羞草研究社�
Her mother, Becky Sunderland, said the book shows a side of Sydney that everyone who knows her sees every day.
含羞草研究社淭he strength that she has always had in her own character, and in knowing who she is, is spectacular,含羞草研究社� said Becky. 含羞草研究社淭hen, wanting to share that and confidence she has in herself, and showing other kids that it含羞草研究社檚 OK to literally just be yourself; that star shines so brightly in her.含羞草研究社�
According to the , Capstone is 含羞草研究社渁n opportunity for students to further develop and showcase their strengths, passions, and learning journey to a relevant audience. As a celebration of their learning journey, the Capstone is a place where students are encouraged to share successes both in school and out of school, including their reflections on Core Competency development, their contributions and aspirations, and their plans for post-graduation.含羞草研究社�
Sunderland said she didn含羞草研究社檛 totally buy into the concept at first, and begrudgingly took part only because she had to. The finished product turned out to be a lasting legacy.
含羞草研究社淎t the beginning, before I knew what I wanted to do, I thought 含羞草研究社榦h, this is a waste of time - why are we doing this?含羞草研究社� But then sometimes it can turn into something bigger, which I think is part of the idea of the Capstone. It can turn into something that you can go into in post-secondary, if it含羞草研究社檚 something you are passionate about.含羞草研究社�
Sunderland said that while she has no immediate plans for another book, she hasn含羞草研究社檛 discarded the possibility either.
含羞草研究社淚 am not sure about that. I am hoping to maybe create more books in the future. I don含羞草研究社檛 think that含羞草研究社檚 going to be the only one. But I don含羞草研究社檛 have anything planned right now.含羞草研究社�
Sunderland has had a busy freshman year at Thompson River University. She is studying for her bachelor of arts and has been a regular on the pitch for the TRU Wolfpack soccer team.
含羞草研究社淚t was mainly the soccer program that got me up here, for sure,含羞草研究社� said the former Riptide soccer player. 含羞草研究社淲e had kind of a rough season, but I have been enjoying it a lot and the team is really awesome.含羞草研究社�
Release date for the book is March 15. Pre-orders are being accepted now at
It will be available locally at Laughing Oyster Book Shop in Courtenay.
terry.farrell@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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