A Grade 7 student in the Upper Grand District School Board‘s remote learning program has published her second book. Amaya James, a 13-year-old enrolled in the Elementary Remote Learning Program based in Guelph, released Emmie’s Next Chapter on May 20, 2026. The 100-page graphic chapter book was written and illustrated by Amaya herself.
Amaya first entered the literary world at age 9 with her debut book Afro, No!, released in October 2022. That book explored the relationships young Black girls have with their hair and became an Amazon bestseller in Canada, climbing to number one in the beauty category. It has since sold nearly 1,000 copies and found its way into classrooms and school libraries across Ontario.
Emmie’s Next Chapter tells the story of a girl who must cope with moving from San Francisco to New York City, a narrative Amaya describes as speaking to “any kid who has ever had to start over.” The book marks a shift from her earlier picture book format to a longer graphic chapter book aimed at readers aged 8 to 12.
Beyond writing, Amaya has spoken to more than 15,000 students across over 60 schools and multiple Ontario school boards. Her achievements highlight how students in virtual learning programs can excel creatively. The Elementary Remote Learning Program serves students from Grade 1 to Grade 8 through a partnership of several Ontario school boards and is based at 500 Victoria Road North in Guelph.
Emmie’s Next Chapter is available through Summer Hill Publishing.
