There’s a long-standing tradition at Garrison Forest School in Owings Mills. In their junior year, high school students are asked to complete a “passion project,” unrelated to their studies, that they would like to explore in depth.
When it was her time to choose a project, Baltimore County resident Ava K. Perlin didn’t hesitate. She knew right away she wanted to focus on her younger sister, Millie, who lives with Down syndrome.
Ava says she was inspired by Millie because she “wanted to make sure people treated Millie the way she treats other people, because she’s the kindest soul.”
After consulting with her English teacher, Ava decided to write a children’s book aimed at elementary school-age readers, especially siblings of children with disabilities.
When the book was completed, it received such an overwhelmingly positive reception from Garrison Forest students and teachers that Ava decided to take the project a step further.
She submitted “One in a Millieon” — a pun on Millie’s name — to Amazon’s publishing arm, Kindle Direct Publishing. After a rigorous editorial process, the book — a 37-page paperback with colorful illustrations and rhyming words — was released on June 1.
Told from Ava’s point of view, the book introduces Millie, a delightful young girl who loves to sing and dance. “One in a Millieon” teaches readers about the importance of kindness and inclusion, while encouraging them to “stand up, speak out and to love someone just as they are.”
Ava’s commitment to Millie started early in her life.
“I’m very overprotective over Millie,” she says. “We haven’t gone to school together since elementary school, but it was always important to me that Millie was treated the same way other kids were, that she had good friends and people were kind to her. From a young age, I knew I was one of the best people that could be there to help her because we’re close in age, and we’re friends.”
But it wasn’t always easy being the sister of a girl with Down syndrome.
“One story that comes to mind is when I was in the bathroom in elementary school and heard other kids say, ‘Why does Millie look weird?’” recalls Ava. “It’s hard, [particularly] for younger kids to understand … especially because she’s likely the first person they’ve ever seen that looks different than them and can act differently than them, too.”
While writing the book, Ava took great care to include the challenges faced by siblings.
“I wanted to write something I wish I could have had when I was in school with Millie,” she says. “I wanted siblings to know it’s OK to be embarrassed sometimes. Millie likes to sing very loudly in places, and a lot of times we are the center of attention. It’s OK to be embarrassed or confused or even not to like [that behavior] sometimes. But above all else, we have to protect and inspire kindness amongst other people.”
These days, Millie has good friends at Ridgely Middle School in Lutherville and Camp Louise, where the sisters spend summers. Ava is looking forward to working as a counselor-in-training this season. In the fall, Millie will begin attending Dulaney High School in Towson, while Ava will be a senior at Garrison Forest.
When she heads to college next year, Ava plans to study engineering.
“This past semester, I was able to work as an intern at Johns Hopkins [University], where I worked in a lab that studied genetics and engineering,” she says. “I plan to go into a field that merges genetics and engineering because I’m fascinated by the science of Down syndrome, not just the social aspect of it. So Millie has sparked a professional interest, too.”
Ava’s parents, Lauren and Ryan S. Perlin, are beyond proud of their eldest daughter’s accomplishment and sense of compassion.
“This wasn’t something we pushed her towards,” says Lauren. “This wasn’t something that we sat and worked with her on. It was a long and intense experience for Ava, and I think she had to dig deep emotionally to get to where she got. It wasn’t until the English department at Garrison Forest asked Ava to come read the book to the entire lower school — which is hundreds of kids — and probably 30 staff members came up to us afterwards and said, ‘We have to buy this book,’ that we thought, ‘Wow, maybe this really does have legs. Maybe there is a need for a children’s book that in a really kind way talks about inclusion and what it means to be curious.’”
What does Millie herself think of her sudden fame?
“I think there’s a part of Millie that’s somewhat embarrassed by this whole thing,” says Lauren. “Ava sold hundreds of copies of this book already, and we’re out and about. As much as Millie likes singing, I don’t know if she necessarily loves the spotlight on her.
“We also have a third daughter, our youngest, Sadie, who is a sixth grader at [Krieger] Schechter [Day School],” she says. “I think sometimes [she wonders], ‘Who’s going to write a book about me?’
To purchase a copy of “One in a Millieon,” visit Amazon.com.
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