Carryduff’s Cara hoping to become a best seller

Carryduff’s Cara hoping to become a best seller

20 April 2022

CARA Mailey is celebrating another first in her young life — she’s just become an author.

The 12 year-old Carryduff girl has teamed up with co-author Chrissie Sains for the book, I Got This, which tells the story of a young girl with achonlasia, a form of dwarfism.

Cara was born with achondroplasia and has been shining a positive light on living with the condition with her numerous TV and media appearances over the last few years.

She and her family — her mother Tricia is a teacher at Cedar Integrated Primary School in Crossgar —appeared in a BBC One NI documentary, Truth North: Keeping Up With The Maileys.

Cara also featured in The Degineers and My Life: Made To Measure, which were both shown on CBBC.

Apart from her TV appearances, Cara, who attends Assumption Grammar School in Ballynahinch, has also designed a fashion range for other teens with achondroplasia.

Cara was introduced to Chrissie by publisher Scholastic which spotted her lively and engaging personality after seeing her on the BBC One documentary.

Erin, the main character in the book, reflects much of what Cara has experienced herself growing up as a small person. Her mother, Tricia, also has the same condition, as has her younger brother Noah.

For Cara, the book was a chance to represent someone like her to other young readers, something that she never encountered herself growing up.

She explained: “Any books I’ve read, I’ve never read about a girl with achondroplasia, never mind a mixed race girl with achondroplasia. 

“I honestly hope that this book is read in lots of classrooms and homes all over the world.

“It’s not only tells the readers what it’s like being different but also how we should treat people who are different. I think it’s important for all the other kids with dwarfism seeing themselves as a main character in a story.

“Hopefully, we can see other main characters with disabilities or differences in a story.”

Cara and Chrissie worked on the book via long Zoom calls last year but they quickly became the best of friends.

Chrissie said: “The best part of this all has been getting to know Cara and her family so well. They’ve welcomed me into their lives, shared their day to day challenges, their joys, their stories. We’ve built what I hope is a lifelong friendship.” 

Cara says her confidence has greatly increased over the last few years and that she is still pinching herself over all that has happened.

“I still can’t really believe that this has happened to be honest, I feel very lucky and grateful,” she added.

“I would love to write another book about Erin or even a series following her life after the book ends. We will have to wait and see.”

I Got This by Cara Mailey, in partnership with Chrissie Sains, Scholastic, £6.99 is available now.