WYOMING, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Writing projects for most elementary school students are usually limited to a couple of sentences, or maybe a paragraph or two, but a local girl did much more than that: She wrote a book for kids to help them understand life and loss.
Meet Mya Ann Wasko, a published author at the age of nine.
"Every human is connected to one another, either way, if they don't like each other, if they like each other, they're still connected," Mya said.
Mya tackles some pretty complex issues for someone so young in her debut children's book called The Diary of God: A Journey of Love, Life and the Power Within.
"I want everyone to know that God is always by your side, even in hard times," Mya explained.
Mya shares her personal reflections on everything she learned about life, love, and being fearless.
The first chapter is called The Devil Is Fear, and Fear Is an Illusion.
"We were trying to make it so that it's darkness being happy, and we didn't want to make it look scary," Mya added.
Mya's mother helped her with the book.
"So, before the idea of a book began, there was a lot of dark stuff that happened to us last year," Mya's Mother, Angelia Sampino, said.
Robotics class sends off high-altitude weather balloon
Mya's grandmother and a family pet both passed away.
Her great-grandparents were seriously injured in a fire that destroyed their home.
Her great-grandmother lost her life a few months later.
Mya began using her cell phone to put her emotions into written words.
"A lot of people have passed away in my family, and it's basically about how I love them and like how you really have a true bond with people that you love," Mya continued.
After seeing what her daughter had written, Mya's mom had an epiphany.
"And the more and more I thought about it, it really made it clear that it was really book-worthy and that showing her, you know, she could do great things, and good things can come out of dark places," Sampino told 28/22 News.
"A lot of kids go, go through rough times and I hadn't noticed that until I went through a really rough time, and I wanted to write a book and hope that my words could go out to all the other children that don't understand and I hope that my book will help them more," Mya said.
After a couple of months of writing, The Diary of God was published.
Mya leaves a personal message for readers at the end of the book.
"And it's basically about to be thankful for everybody you have, thank you for everybody and especially my mom," Mya stated.
In her spare time, Mya likes to draw, ride her bike, and play video games
She says she is working on a Diary of God Two, but is unsure if she will have it published.
Mya will be signing her book at the Avenue Restaurant in Wyoming on Sunday, July 13, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Here's to you, Mya.
If you have a kid you think should be featured on Here's To You Kid!, send in a nomination online.
