He is only 11 years old, but Ayden Johnson, a 5th grader at Magee Elementary School (MES) has become something in life others may only dream about. On January 25, 2025, he became a self published author.
In addition to this accomplishment, Ayden has won numerous awards during his years at MES including first place in the spelling bee on November 14, 2024. He read the most books in 4th grade AR and is currently a member of MES Beta Club and FLAG. He regularly makes the Superintendent’s List too.
During Christmas break Ayden began writing his first book, The Awkmards. His mother, Kawanzza Funches, says he has always had an active, vivid imagination. Ayden says the book is about “growing up and seeing the world as it really is. The characters in the story, mostly all of them are good. If there was a bad guy it would be the Awkmards, which are the things sucking all the color and imagination from the world.”
Ayden explained the book’s premise. “The main character, who speaks in first person, has a big imagination. He sees the world a lot more colorful. But his friend Joseph – he calls him Joe – is practical and sees the world very dull and monotone. When the inky portal sucks all the color out of the sky his friend acts like it’s just pollution, but the main character that speaks in first person starts to see what it really is. They both understand what’s happening. They assemble a team and go into space and they meet the Awkmards. At the end of the story they are able to beat the Awkmards and they receive color back into the world!”
Funches admits it is amazing to watch her son’s mind works and to listen to his stories, seeing his imagination come to life. “My mind is blown. Like some of the words he uses I don’t even know what they mean. Sometimes I’m like ‘okay Ayden’ and brush it off because he’s always doing stuff.”
About the book she said, “I really didn’t take him seriously until he said ‘I need your bank card information.’ I was like ‘for what? What are you trying to do?’ Then he showed me he wrote a book so we’re just going to go with it; let’s see what it’s going to do. How do you have that type of imagination at 11 years old? I’m thankful; we’re really proud of Ayden.” At this writing the book has sold three Kindle copies.
Ayden devised the title by changing the spelling of an everyday word. “Awkmards came in my mind one day when I was thinking about awkward. I wanted to come up with something unique. I decided to replace the ‘w’ in awkward with an ‘m’.”
English/Language Arts in Ayden’s favorite subject in school but truthfully he likes all his classes. Science is a close second including biology, space and the ocean. He has not yet made up his mind what he wants to do with his life but being a teacher of English or science is a possibility. Ayden also loves all things weather, and meteorology is in the running too. “He’s very smart; he loves to lead, to take charge. I can see him being a teacher if that’s what he wants to do,” Funches added.
Ayden does want to continue writing even into adulthood, as a part-time gig, he says. He has already begun his second book that he believes will be complete by the time school dismisses in May. Its title is The Stone of Piporia and is about a city that has a moonstone.
Funches believes reading to young children is important. She read to Ayden in his formative years and now reads to her younger sons, who are five and three. Ayden also shares that responsibility sometimes with his mom and reads to his brothers. He also enjoys spending time with them, playing, helping them develop their imaginations as well. Ayden currently is reading a series called “The Heroes of Olympus.”
Mom said that she and dad, Rickey Funches, are proud of Ayden and his accomplishments. “Whatever he sets his mind to he’s going to do just that. We’re behind him 100 percent.”
The Awkmards is available on Amazon in Kindle ($5.10) and paperback ($9.98) formats.
