McBride student to hold book signing at autism fund raiser April 9

Jenny Struble was delighted when her book was published on her 12th birthday on Jan. 22.
She will have a book signing from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, during the annual autism fund raiser at Belleville High School gymnasium. Books will be $6 and Jenny will sign only her name.
This is the first book she has ever written and it was done on a computer since her handwriting is illegible.
Jenny’s mother Gina said, “It’s amazing she can do this” given her autism, seizures and nonstop movement.
Jenny is a student at McBride Middle School in the special education classroom of teacher June Youngoldis and paraprofessional Linda Massant,
Jenny’s mother said Youngoldis should get an award or a raise in pay for her work with her daughter since other teachers in the past have given up on Jenny. Youngoldis didn’t give up.
And, Massant’s work is praiseworthy, too, she said. The two educators say they are very proud of her work and she is a gifted writer.
Jenny’s book is “Lost in the Woods: The Adventures of Midnight.” She is taking a break before beginning on her next book, “Midnight and the Falcon.”
Midnight is a horse and Jenny has always liked horses. She hopes to have her own horse someday.
Before writing the book Jenny studied and learned about her subject.
Gina said Jenny wrote the story on her computer and her teacher helped get it into shape.
Youngoldis explained that McBride Media Specialist Chris Morton offered an opportunity to the whole student body during National Novel Writing Month. Twenty-five students came to the first meeting, including Jenny. The students were asked to set a goal and write a novel of 1,000 words.
Jenny had already written a story of 480 words and so Youngoldis asked her if she could do 1,000 words, and Jenny signed on. Within a month’s time, Jenny had reached her goal, actually writing more than 2,000 words including the words about the author. One other student met her goal, but her book is yet to be printed.
Part of the program was if you set your goal, register, and meet your goal, your book is self-published for free by Fast Pencil.
“She writes well and has a great voice and continuity,” Youngoldis said. “I’m very proud of her efforts. I just got out of her way when writing and she did it all.”
Youngoldis said she did help a little with the polishing, but she didn’t touch the computer. The teacher told her about quotation marks and other details and Jenny made the changes herself.
“She’s got a talent and it’s great to see it moving ahead,” Youngoldis said.
Jenny’s father is Greg Struble and her sister is Erica, 15. The family lives in Van Buren Township with their dogs and a cat.