For most 11-year-olds, middle school brings plenty of new adventures. For St. Louis area sixth-grader Ava-Marie McDonald, there’s another milestone to celebrate: She’s officially a published author.
Her debut book, The Moon Crystal, is a 43-page science-fiction adventure filled with mysterious gems, alien visitors, distant planets, and a young heroine tasked with protecting a powerful crystal. Published in August, the book grew out of a handwritten story Ava began developing during the summer after fifth grade.
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For Ava, who has been writing stories since elementary school, the inspiration came from a longtime fascination with the universe.
“I’m kind of a scientist,” she says. “I’m very into science and stuff like with space.”
In The Moon Crystal, a young girl named Ava discovers a mysterious gem after hearing a legend about it at school. What follows is an intergalactic adventure involving her friend Brooklyn, space scientists, futuristic robots, and a powerful villain named Queen Sirentade, who wants the crystal for herself. As Ava travels beyond Earth, she must learn to harness the crystal’s powers and protect it from falling into the wrong hands.
The story blends Ava’s interest in astronomy with her imagination, taking readers on a journey through a universe filled with discoveries and danger.
And though writing and publishing a book might sound like a daunting project for an elementary school student, Ava remembers the experience a little differently.
“There were all kinds of best parts, but there was no hard part,” she says.
One of her favorite moments was writing about discovering the Moon Crystal itself. But an even bigger moment came when she finally held a finished copy of her book.
“It felt amazing,” Ava says. “I felt inspired, happy, proud, and like I was just ready for something.”
From handwritten stories to published author
Ava’s mother, Raven McDonald, says her daughter’s creativity has been evident for years. By third grade, Ava was already writing stories, and by fourth or fifth grade, she was exploring other creative pursuits, including painting and selling her artwork to family members.
But it was Ava’s father, Greg McDonald, who helped turn her dream of publishing a book into reality. Greg, who is also working on a book of his own, supported Ava through the process of bringing her handwritten story to readers.
Raven says the family’s role was to encourage Ava while helping her see what was possible.
“We supported Ava by just consistently telling her that she can do it,” Raven says. “Anything that she puts her mind to, she can get accomplished.”
For the McDonalds, that encouragement is about more than publishing a book. Ava is autistic, as is her younger brother, Maverick, who communicates nonverbally. Raven says the family works to help both children recognize and embrace their individual strengths.
“That’s what we’ve tried to teach Ava and her little brother, Maverick, is to embrace those things that make us different because they can become strengths in our lives,” she says.
Watching Ava become a published author has been especially meaningful for Raven, who hopes the accomplishment encourages other children to take their own creative interests seriously.
“It’s really made her proud of herself,” Raven says. “It’s shown her that she is capable of doing incredible things and to just believe in herself.”
She hopes other young writers, artists, and creators will see Ava’s story as a reminder that a hobby can become something more with dedication and support.
The next chapter
With her first book published and sixth grade underway, Ava is already thinking about what comes next.
Her next potential project, tentatively titled The Movie Star Job, would take her storytelling in a different direction. Instead of traveling across the galaxy, Ava imagines a story about landing a famous job and traveling around the world.
For now, she’s enjoying the excitement of seeing her first book available to readers, while continuing to explore the interests that sparked her creativity in the first place.
And for other kids who dream of writing a book but aren’t sure where to begin, the young author has a simple message.
“Just don’t give up,” Ava says. “Follow your dreams.”
The Moon Crystal by Ava-Marie McDonald is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. The book is recommended for readers ages 9-12.
