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Published independently by: Amanda J Edwin Contact the author at hello@amandaedwin.com MALLY FINDS HER VOICE Copyright © 2026 by Amanda J. Edwin All rights reserved. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without prior written permission, except for brief quotations in reviews. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Written by: Amanda J. Edwin Illustrations by: AI-assisted artwork, directed and designed by Amanda J. Edwin.
For every child, from every background and every story, may you always know that you are enough.
Brr! Mally shivered as she curled up under her fuzzy blankets. Outside her window, the world was quiet and pale. The ground was covered in a cold, powdery white that seemed to stretch forever. Winter in Canada always felt long, and today she wished she could stay in bed until the grass turned green again.
Whenever she felt this way, Mally let her mind drift back home-to the Caribbean. There, the warmth wrapped around her like a hug. Just thinking about it made her heart feel lighter. On her dresser, sat a large pink conch shell. Mally hopped out of bed, picked it up, and pressed it to her ear. The soft roar of the ocean filled her imagination.
Suddenly, Mally was standing barefoot on golden sand while the sun warmed her freckled face. Her eyes sparkled with the memory. Mally missed home. She missed her friends. But, she missed Grandma Sita most of all.
Mally came from a small village called Mayaro. She lived in a simple red brick house with her mother, Lily, her grandmother, Sita, and her baby sister, Mya. Grandma Sita was the person Mally loved spending time with most. Every evening, they sang together in the kitchen while Grandma Sita stirred pots of their favourite meals. Their voices floated through the house, soft and sweet mixing with the warm smells of curry, rice, and spices.
From Mally’s house, you could hear the waves crashing along the seashore. Many afternoons after school, the whole family played barefoot on the beach. They swam in the warm water, built sandcastles, and collected seashells of every colour. Their laughter mixed with the sound of the waves.
When she was not at the beach, Mally played with her best friends, Zack and Sophie. They skipped rope, played hopscotch, or sat under the mango tree and shared secrets. Every morning she walked to the village school, stopping at Ms. Sandra's shop for snacks. The sun warmed her skin as she greeted familiar faces along the way. Life felt simple then. Mally felt safe and happy.
In Canada, Mally felt that she was different. Each morning before school, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She had cinnamon-brown skin, freckled cheeks, a head full of dark untamed curls and bright hazel eyes. She did not like what stared back at her. She felt shy about her lisp, especially when words were hard to say. But, Mally was beautiful; she just could not see it.
On the school bus, Mally always sat at the back. She stared out the window, hoping no one would talk to her. Mally's classmates liked to make fun of her on the bus and at school. They mimicked her lisp which made her feel furious...and different. Sometimes, Mally imagined doing something to get back at them, and one day, she did.
Mally played a prank on Alice, one of the kindest girls in class. At first, Alice had been friendly to Mally, but recently, Alice had laughed at Mally's lisp. So, Mally decided to hide Alice's lunch bag, thinking it would be funny. It wasn't. When it was time for lunch, Alice searched everywhere. Her eyes filled with tears. When Alice finally began to sob, Mally was riddled with guilt. She did not mean to hurt her friend. She only wanted someone else to feel how she felt.
With tears streaming down her own face, Mally retrieved the lunch bag and handed it to Alice. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "When you all laugh at how I talk, it hurts and I wanted to hurt you too." Alice wiped her cheeks. "I'm sorry for laughing at you, Mally. That was wrong. You're my friend." They hugged, and something inside Mally softened. Her mind wandered back to the Caribbean and now she missed Zack and Sophie even more.
That afternoon, when Mally returned home from school, the smell of her favourite curry floated toward her. Only Grandma Sita made it smell that good. Mally ran to the kitchen, smiling from ear to ear. Warmth rushed over her the moment she saw Grandma Sita standing there. Suddenly, Mally’s world felt whole again.
Mally blinked in surprise. She had not noticed that at all. "Sweetheart," Grandma Sita said, her voice gentle and proud, "you sound better than I did at your age. Your voice is angelic. And do you know something? Your lisp disappears when you sing." The next evening, while Mally swept the front porch, she hummed softly to herself.
That night, Grandma Sita asked Mally to sing again just like she used to back home. When she finished singing, Grandma Sita smiled proudly and said, “Mally, you have such a beautiful voice. You need to believe in yourself. Repeat after me: “I AM BRAVE. I AM GIFTED. I AM ENOUGH.” Mally took a deep breath and started softly. Her voice shook at first, but Grandma Sita nodded her head and tapped her knee to a familiar beat.
For the first time since moving to Canada, Mally felt a spark of confidence flicker inside her. Each time, Mally grew more confident and sang more sweetly. Her lisp was still there when she spoke, but now, it did not bother her as much. For the next few weeks, they practised together-humming, laughing, and singing songs from back home. A slow smile spread across her face. Grandma Sita's words wrapped around her like a blanket. Itwas comforting, encouraging, and full of love.
Even school felt different now. Mally smiled more and she did not feel as shy to talk in class anymore. Her classmates were kinder to her and asked her to play with them. At recess, Mally sat on a bench and began to sing one of her favourite songs. Quietly at first. A few of her new friends stopped playing to listen. Mally felt that little flutter of fear in her chest, but then, she remembered Grandma Sita’s words:
She was gifted. Grandma Sita was right. All Mally’s self-doubt disappeared. “I AM BRAVE. I AM GIFTED. I AM ENOUGH.” So, she took a breath and kept singing. When she finished, Mally froze. The playground fell silent. A few moments later, her friends burst into cheers and clapped loudly.
Grandma Sita listened proudly and hummed along to the sweet melodies. At home, she practised every evening. Her voice filled their small apartment, filling the rooms with sunshine. Mally felt braver. So, a few weeks later when her teacher announced the upcoming Easter concert, Mally said she wanted to sing.
When the day of the concert arrived, Mally was nervous, but she felt ready. Her curls framed her face beautifully, and her smile glowed under the Iights. Mally felt joy swell inside her. It was warm, bright, and powerful. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and let her voice soar. It was clear. It was strong. It was hers.
A girl was had found her courage. A girl who had found her voice. A girl who belonged-here, in Canada, and anywhere she chose to shine. That night, as she looked at herself in the mirror, she did not just see curls and freckles. She saw a girl who was beautiful just as she was.
Mally had learned something important. Home was still part of her. So was her confidence. It had been inside her all along. She still missed Mayaro, the mango trees, and the warm Caribbean Sea. Mayaro would always be home and she would carry its memories in her heart.
Affirmation -a positive sentence you say to build confidence. Conch shell - a large spiral sea shell that can "echo" ocean sounds. Confidence - believing in yourself and your abilities. Drift - to slowly move or let your mind wander. Encourage - giving someone support or confidence. Guilt -an uncomfortable feeling when you know you did something wrong. Imagine - create a picture or idea in your mind. Mimic - to copy someone's voice or actions, often to tease. Prank - a trick played on someone, usually meant to be funny. Soar -to rise or fly high; to sing strongly and beautifully. Words From Mally’s World
1. Where did Mally live before moving to Canada? 2. What item on her dresser helped her remember home? 3. What special thing did Grandma Sita tell Mally about her singing? 4. When the story says Molly's confidence "soared," what does that mean? 5. Why is it important to apologize when we hurt someone? 6. How can classmates help someone who feels shy or different? 7. What part of Molly's journey do you connect with the most, and why? 8. Who do you admire most in your life? Tell us why. Discussion
A Note to Parents and Teachers Dear Parents, Caregivers, and Educators, Thank you for sharing Mally Finds Her Voice: Discovering the Beauty Within with a child in your life. Mally's story is about more than finding confidence—it is about discovering that every child has unique gifts, strengths, and a voice that deserves to be heard. Through her journey, children are encouraged to embrace who they are, celebrate their differences, and believe that they are enough just as they are. As you read together, take time to pause, ask questions, and listen to your child's thoughts and feelings. The discussion questions and activities at the end of the book are designed to help children: ● ● ● ● ● build self-confidence and self-esteem, develop empathy and kindness, appreciate their own unique qualities, recognize the importance of encouragement and belonging, and find the courage to express themselves. Every child grows at their own pace. Sometimes, all they need is one caring adult who believes in them and reminds them that their voice matters. Thank you for being that person. With hope, Amanda J. Edwin Author, Educator, and Founder of Spark Hope For Kids