Conrady Eighth-Grader Already a Published Author

Words just seem to flow from Amanda Hoeksema. Not just any words. But words that together form coherent sentences, structured paragraphs, flowing pages and, ultimately, a must-read story complete with theme and protagonist.

In her most recent work, the Conrady eighth grader put together words and ideas that formed an 82-page fantasy novel titled “Winged Wars” that she had published under the name “Mandy A. Hoeksema.” Copies of her book are available at the Green Hills Public Library.

“I just thought Mandy sounded softer than Amanda,” she said.

Mandy called writing a “talent that I discovered a few years ago.” She credits her older brother, Kevin Ross, whom she called a “very talented writer,” for providing her with the inspiration.

She said she loves to read and has a voracious appetite for books. “I’ll read whatever I can get my hands on. I’ve found that the more I read, the better writer I am.”

In “Winged Wars,” Mandy writes about how the “human city is falling into ruins, and in the other world, the winged beings – Zoranins – are destroying themselves. Hetuen – the protagonist – lives with the humans within their dusty city where he learns the hardships of simple survival. He is taken to another world and learns that he is a Zoranin, chosen to end the destruction of both civilizations.

As Heteun explores and learns about his new world, he begins to question the actions of the other Zoranins. With his raven companion, Raviner, Heteun must defeat the force torturing both worlds.

Mandy began working on the book last summer during a month-long Open Books program in Downtown Chicago. She took the train three days a week with her mother who works Downtown. She then went back to her mother’s work and stayed there until the workday was done and the two would take the train home together.

“The summer program was a great experience and I hope to do it again this summer,” she said. “I’ve learned a lot from Ms. Sweiss that has helped me in my writing.”

Ms. Sweiss returned the compliment. “Amanda is very creative and academically very strong. Her vocabulary is broad and she uses words well.”

She cited a recent poem that Mandy wrote titled “Folly by a Clock”

It begins: “Time has passed me by

Quite swifter than you would know.

For you do not know the lie

Of the nefarious echo:

The accursed scream of Cronus…

Mandy said her dream job is to be a high school English/writing teacher. Her favorite subject, not surprisingly, is English Language Arts.

—Submitted by North Palos District 117