Kagan Brewer has an impressive resume given he’s just in third grade. The actor, model, basketball player and honor student recently added award-winning author to the list for his book, “Shaping Olives.”
“It took me about five months to write ‘Shaping Olives,'” said Kagan, who won the 2017 Indian Prairie School District 204 Young Author Award. “I knew mom and dad would like it a lot but I didn’t know my teachers would like it as much as they did.”
Brewer was a second-grader at Cowlishaw Elementary School in Naperville when he began writing “Shaping Olives.” When he learned of the District 204 Young Author contest, it was simply a bonus.
“As a mom, it was neat to see your child following his dreams and then an opportunity like this happens,” his mother Tanje Brewer said. “He had already started writing books way before this (contest), and we were excited for him to be able to submit his creativity.”
Brewer represented Cowlishaw at the annual district-wide competition for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. His story was then chosen from more than 1,000 entries to represent District 204 at the 2017 Young Authors Conference held in May at Illinois State University.
In its 43rd year, the annual conference celebrates exceptional writing by Illinois students. District winners are invited to attend the one-day event, where their books are read and discussed and they have the opportunity to meet with published authors and fellow writers.
More Top Picks Best Commercial Mini Splits For Offices
“Winning the Young Author’s Award meant that people enjoyed my book and that it was a blessing to the lives of others,” said Kagan, who is now a third-grader at Wheatlands Elementary School in Aurora. “It also means that I can be a best-selling author and make good books for people.”
Tanje Brewer said her son began reading at 16 months, and his fervor for it has continued to grow. The inspiration for “Shaping Olives” came from a Bible verse, and tells the story of a young olive named James who learns many life lessons while attending school.
“We went to a scripture (Psalm 128:3) that said your children will be like olive shoots around your table,” Kagan said. “I decided to use olives in my book.”
“Shaping Olives” is currently available at www.amazon.com. Kagan will soon be releasing the sequel, “Shaping Olives 2,” his mother said.
Jane Donahue is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.