In an era where young people live on stories surrounding model-perfect teenagers marred only by boyfriend troubles and the occasional case of vampirism, fiction featuring the types of people you meet in everyday life can be refreshing.
Locally based Grow Wings and Fly Publishing produces adventures, thrillers and fairytales starring characters with learning differences. The books aren’t about those differences, publisher Mike Crowell says. That just happens to be a part of the story. The idea is to “change attitudes, myths and misconceptions that surround the world of children with learning differences,” he says.
Grow Wings and Fly recently published Lake Highlands resident Nancy Davenport’s book “Donavan and the Big Hole”, a “Texas tale” about kids who dig up a mysterious box and wind up in the middle of an adventure. The story is narrated by 14-year-old Donavan, who has Down syndrome, which gives the lighthearted work a uniquely poignant perspective.
For years, Davenport — whose now 32-year-old son, Austin, has Down syndrome — wrote a weekly parenting column for the Richardson News. This is her first foray into fiction.
“It is a lot more fun than I thought it would be,” she says. “Once I started writing — and I guess I hear writers say this sometimes — the story sort of wrote itself.”
Not only did she enjoy unraveling her plot, but she also had fun weaving in Lake Highlands landmarks — the creek that flows alongside the Merriman Park neighborhood is a big player — and tidbits of history. The central character, Donavan, has a thought process similar to most boys his age, but he doesn’t express himself as easily as others — this is one of the important things Davenport tries to convey to the reader.
Austin, who attended Lake Highlands schools through high school, just married and lives in the area. What does he think of the book?
“Just another one of mom’s projects,” Austin’s mother says. “It’s mildly interesting that his photo appears on the inside cover, but he doesn’t really seem phased by it.”
“Donavan and the Big Hole” is available at
or
. Some of the proceeds from book sales will be donated to National Down Syndrome Congress.
