Teen Author Self Publishes

            Not only is Bree LeFavor a local author, but she is also a 15-year-old sophomore at Old Rochester
Regional High School. LeFavor recently released Splash Safe With Sandy The Starfish: A
Swim Safety Story, an independently published story written to teach readers valuable lessons to stay safe in the water.

            The story follows Sandy the Starfish and her friend Benny on a sunny day at Silvershell Beach, as they navigate a day at the beach and explain water-safety skills they’ve learned in their time at sea.

            But the lessons aren’t just learned from a starfish, Bree learned them herself through her own time at the beach in the past. We talked to Bree’s mother, Julie LeFavor, who told The Wanderer she made the beach in her story Silvershell due to her time going there as a kid.

            She also told us some of the reasons Bree wants to highlight the importance of beach safety. “She almost drowned when she was little,” Julie said. “She has very, very vague memories of looking up from the water.” Julie described the family’s trip to the Caribbean, where Bree began to go under, and Julie had to ask the lifeguards for help as “the adults had too many children and didn’t see her go under.” She remembers the whistles blowing and herself screaming for help. She ran out and said she was lucky to find Bree as her hat floated away.

            She then said roughly two years ago, Bree and her father were out on their boat around Thanksgiving when her father went overboard. Though they were wearing their life jackets, his leg was pinned and he was under the boat. The Harbormaster had to help in the rescue, as Bree and her dad almost had hypothermia.

            Thus explains the importance Bree LeFavor places on ocean, pool, and beach safety. Along with being on the ORRHS swim team and recently being Miss Somerset’s Teen, Bree often visits local preschools to read swim safety books and draw in coloring books with students. She often volunteers her time to help teach about its importance and was inspired to write her own book. Bree wrote and illustrated the story over the last few months. She published the book, which is now available on Amazon.

By Sam Bishop