HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) – In our Children of Change segment, we feature local kids doing great things to make a positive impact on the community. 11-year-old Israel Veney of Hampton is one of those children. He is a 6th grader at Kilgore Gifted Center in Hampton.
He says his favorite subject is pre-algebra, so you might be surprised to learn he is now a published author!
“I started writing the book around the end of 3rd grade, and then I finished it around the end of 2023,” said Veney.
The title of Veney’s book is Buddy: The Scorpion Who Saved the Town .
“It’s about a scorpion who saves the town by getting help from other city leaders after a catastrophic event, a series of catastrophic events, called the unmentionable.”
Veney explained more about the role Buddy the scorpion plays in the book.
“He actually sneaks into the mayor’s office and finds a book that contains the truth about the past, and then, once he learns the truth, he goes to Ant Town and then he asks forgiveness for the past.”