Two of Southeast Polk’s talented young students, Jodi Fertig and Sydney Miller, recently achieved an incredible milestone—each of their authored books has been published!
Under the pen name, Jodi Harger, an 8th grader when she authored Bonded by Fate, takes readers on a gripping journey across America. Written in just a few months, the novel is about six strangers who are invited to a seemingly great social experiment: fifty days traveling America in a luxury recreational vehicle with virtually unlimited funds. The participants range from a homeless person to a billionaire. They join the experiment under the impression that they’d get a free vacation to help monetize an up-and-coming RV company. However, they are unaware of the dark side of the “experiment.” When they get involved in a mass felony, their trust is tested dangerously close to the core. Bonded by Fate is geared toward junior high and high school readers, and Jodi’s storytelling captures suspense, drama, and complex relationships.
Leslie Debrower, Southeast Polk 8th Grade English teacher, shared, “Bonded by Fate is the kind of book that is hard to put down. I had to know how this social experiment would turn out and stayed up late to find out.”
Jr. High Librarian Michelle Hukvari held a book signing with Jodi in the Jr. High library.The book was entered the Scholastic Art & Writing Contest and won a silver key.
Jodi’s book is available for purchase on Lulu. Just click on this QR Code:
Sydney Miller, as a 5th grader at Willowbrook, wrote a bilingual children’s book, Juana’s First Day. Alexandra Hernandez Gutierrez, a 6th grader at that time, illustrated the book, adding vibrant visuals that bring Juana’s journey to life. The book is uniquely designed in that it’s written in English and, when flipped over, is written in Spanish. The short novel tells the story of Juana’s first day in a new school, an experience many young students can relate to. Sydney, who spent two years of TAG (Talented and Gifted) time learning Spanish, was inspired to create a book to share with younger readers after reading bilingual books to kindergarteners. Copies of Juana’s First Day were purchased for distribution across the district, including TAG and EL (English Learners) rooms at each elementary school.
The Southeast Polk community is incredibly proud of Jodi, Sydney, and Alexandra, who have shown the power of storytelling and artistic expression at such a young age. Their hard work, creativity, and unique perspectives inspire students across the district. Congratulations!
