Palos South 8th Grader Publishes First Book

PALOS PARK, IL — A Palos South eighth-grader Sarah Zaibak has published her first young adult novel.

"Counter Clockwise" tells the coming-of-age story of Brooke, a teen who, on her first day of school, finds herself transported through time back to 1979 where she meets the young versions of her parents and almost prevents the moment they fall in love from happening. Before she travels back to her own time, she sets things right with the help of her friend Ella and singer Billy Joel.

Zaibak said that she first started writing "Counter Clockwise" in seventh grade for the school’s Young Authors Competition last year. Her story won first place, and after receiving positive feedback from her teachers, family and friends, she was encouraged to publish it as a book.

The young author said that she’s always loved to read and write, logging a few pages each day in a journal in addition to writing fiction. She cites the book "I Will Always Write Back" as one of her favorites.

"Counter Clockwise" isn’t Zaibak's first brush with authorship, having won the Young Authors Competition in fifth grade with her story "Trigger."

After middle school, Zaibak said she will be heading to Benet Academy for high school and may study law or medicine for a career.

Palos South Media Clerk Teri Atkenson said that she learned about the Zaibak’s first book when the eighth-grader brought her a copy to place in the school library’s collection.

Her Accelerated Learning Program teacher Lori Swan said that she is not surprised that Sarah has published a book, citing her love of writing and her boundless creativity.

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