Date of Award
4-7-2025
Document Type
Thesis
First Advisor
Julie Mitchiner
Second Advisor
Dolphia Butler
Abstract
My book was developed through research on creating believable characters and how to write effectively for elementary schoolers. The goal of this project was to have a book that, when finished being written, any child could pick up and find peace. I hoped that every reader would learn something new about a culture they are unfamiliar with or about themselves. For children, developing empathy and a deeper understanding of others can have a lasting impact. Not only does empathy and understanding provide a foundation for other skills, but it can also begin to evolve and grow over time. Brain Fog: An Adventure: Part One is a creative writing children’s mystery chapter book about two elementary school students who solve a mystery. The main characters, Sam and Beckett, are deaf and are 11 and 12 years old. Throughout this book, Sam and Beckett notice strange things happening in their town. Being two curious kids, they explore and solve the mystery while encountering many challenges (i.e., deceptive people). This middle-grade book (for ages 8-12) aims to provide young deaf readers with characters who reflect their experiences. It reinforces a “deaf can” perspective rather than a “deaf cannot” mindset in that Deaf people can solve crime, be smart, etc. Ultimately, my book will answer why the representation of disabled characters is important in children’s literature.
Recommended Citation
Mihalakakos, Amalia, "Brain Fog: An Adventure: Part One" (2025). Undergraduate University Honors Capstones. 130.
https://ida.gallaudet.edu/honors_capstones/130
Comments
This capstone resulted in a creative product. As a result, due to the request of the author, the creative product has been removed from this capstone.