Regina Grade 5 student publishes first novel

It is an exciting year for 11-year-old Chidera Igwe,but not for a reason common to girls her age.

The Grade 5 student at St.Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School in Reginajust published her first book,The Carnival Boy.

The fictional novelfollows the adventure of Melissa, a lover of carnivals who loses her way during a family vacation. Her encounter with a young boy changes her life as she tries to find a way out of the carnival.

Igwestarted writing in Grade 3 and has written more than a dozen stories. The Carnival Boy hasreceived more acclaim than any of her previous work.

"I published this one because when I got people to read it, like my friends or my teachers, they really just had that enjoyment feeling," she said. "I'd write manuscripts and they would read it and they liked it, but this one they saidwas as if they were reading an actual book."

Since self-publishingwith the help of her father, Igwe has received much praise for her debut novel. This has inspired her to write even more. The book was published in collaboration with Regina-based INCH Communications and is currently available on Amazon.

"I'm gonna keep writing books so more people can read them and enjoy them and maybe make a part two of this one since so many people like it," she said.

Igwewas veryexcited when she held the first physical copy of the bookin her hands.

"I was so excited and I couldn't believe that I pulled this off," Igwe said. "I want to make sure that each school library within the city that is interested in keeping copies of The Carnival Boy is able to get one."

Her fatherChidi Igwe, a lecturer at the University of Regina and the author of Taking Back Nigeria from 419, saidhe is proud of his daughter's accomplishment and the effect that it's having on her classmates.

"After we took the book to her school and shared it with her friends, some of her friends began to say'I have my own story,'"he said."I didn't realize it'd go beyond motivating her and that it would actually be a source of motivation for her classmates."

Chidera Igwe, 11, has published her first novel

3 years ago

Duration 2:10

An eleven-year-old girl in Regina is inspiring her classmates to get their creative works out in the world

Igwe plans to be in the school band in Grade 6. In addition to her school work, she is learning the necessary skills to be successful in the television and movie industry through a program offered by a California-based talent company.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.