Fort Myers teen publishes first book in ‘BelieveNMe’ series

Natasha Agarwal, who founded the nonprofit BelieveNBooks at age 14, has published her debut book. Titled “Tales of African Women Trailblazers,” the book is the first in her new “BelieveNMe” children’s series, which explores successful historical figures through a collection of stories and illustrations.

“Tales of African Women Trailblazers” offers an in-depth look at powerful African-born women whose bravery, courage, dedication and leadership helped rewrite history and challenge gender stigmas. The 86-page paperback is designed for readers ages 10 to 18 and explores the lives of 21 women who have overcome adversity to become successful in various industries. Featured are some of the most notable figures in African history, including singer and activist Miriam Makeba, freedom fighter Yaa Asantewaa, former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and environmental activist Wangari Maathai.

“This book is all about exposing young girls to the breadth of possibilities awaiting them,” said Agarwal, a 17-year-old senior at Canterbury School in Fort Myers. “The trailblazers I wrote about envisioned bright futures for themselves, allowing them to achieve their goals in the face of adversity. By reading these stories, I hope girls in Africa will be inspired to dream big, show resilience and challenge existing stereotypes. My goal is to represent and appeal to as many girls as possible, so women from a variety of African countries and professional backgrounds are highlighted.”

Agarwal’s work as an advocate for children’s education and literacy began years ago with the launch of BelieveNBooks, an organization that donates books to underserved children. Through her nonprofit, Agarwal partners with schools, offices and neighborhoods to host book drives, where she collects new and gently used children’s books. The books are then sorted, packed and delivered to one of BelieveNBooks’ 25 partner organizations to be distributed. Agarwal recently celebrated the distribution of her 100,000th book in March 2024. She drew inspiration to create a book series in 2023 when thinking about how to maximize her impact on a global scale.

Paperback and e-book options of Agarwal’s “Tales of African Women Trailblazers” are available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Agarwal hopes to publish additional books under the “BelieveNMe” collection in the future to share the stories of female role models native to other continents.

“All proceeds collected from ‘Trailblazers’ will help purchase additional copies for girls in Africa,” Agarwal said. “They will be delivered at no cost to schools and organizations in Africa that will share them with girls across the continent. I hope to see this book in as many households, academic centers, libraries and bookstores as possible.”

To purchase “Tales of African Women Trailblazers,” please visit AfricanTrailblazers.org. The price is $14 for a paperback and 99 cents for the e-book. Visitors to that page can also make a donation and ship copies directly to girls in Africa for a discounted price.