PWHS author Alyssa J. Avery visits where her writing career began

Mrs. D’Aulerio’s second grade class welcomed a visiting author with a surprising past; she also had Mrs. D’Aulerio as a teacher! Alyssa J. Avery, now a senior at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, returned to Whitemarsh Elementary School to share her book, The Girl Who Sits Alone, with Mrs. D’Aulerio’s class.

Second grader Maeve Cushing enjoyed the story’s message. “It inspires you to be yourself and make sure you’re comfortable in the way you are,” she said.

After reading her story to the students, Alyssa led a discussion about kindness, self confidence, and children who sit alone. “My favorite thing about coming back was just seeing the kids and getting to have some conversations that I felt I didn’t have when I was their age,” she said.

Alyssa credits her English Language Arts lessons at Whitemarsh Elementary School as giving her the tools to be a successful writer. “As early as first and second grade, I began reading stories, then thinking about what stories I would like to tell, and then learning how to craft my own voice as a writer. That all started here.” 

Those same foundational skills are still being built at Whitemarsh Elementary School. When Alyssa asked students about the writing process, the second graders were quick to talk about brainstorming and prewriting, making a rough draft, and revising and editing. For student Gianni Kwakye, he saw a little of himself in the author. “I love to write, and I like to make books, also,” he said.

While Alyssa wrote and illustrated The Girl Who Sits Alone and made it available on Amazon in 2024, it’s not the first time she’s been published. While she was still in elementary school, Alyssa participated in writing contests at the William Jeanes Library and has stories in two books in the library’s collection.