Micaela Myers

Superhero Kids — They don't wear capes, but they're changing the world anyway.

Superhero Kids tells the true stories of 21 real-life young people using their courage, creativity, and compassion to make a difference — from local acts of kindness to movements that reached far beyond their hometowns.

While most books celebrate grown-up heroes, this one shines a light on the everyday kids proving that you don't have to wait until you're older to change the world.

Perfect for middle grades, young adults, and readers of all ages, Superhero Kids is a reminder that real superpowers look a lot like empathy, persistence, and heart.

Pre-orders at 25% off at panhandlecreek.com — $14.99 hardcover, $9.99 paperback, through launch day, Nov. 3, 2026 — along with classroom and library sets for schools. Amazon, Bookshop.org. Bookstore pre-orders open in mid-October.

Tyler Malkin, 16 — Greenwich, CT
Superpower: Improving Global Health
After experiencing iodine deficiency himself, Tyler invented an inexpensive, easy-to-use saliva test to help detect it — a diagnosis often out of reach in the developing countries that need it most. His research has earned national recognition, including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement.

Divisha Mandal, 14 — Bothell, WA
Superpower: Sewing for Animals
At age eight, Divisha started sewing bow ties to help shelter pets look more adoptable in their photos. What began as a small idea grew into Bow-Bow Ties, a business that's raised more than $10,000 for nearly 20 animal shelters and rescue groups.

Faridah Ismaila, 16 — Malvern, PA
Superpower: Giving the Gift of Art
When schools cut arts programs and kids needed an outlet during the pandemic, Faridah started free outdoor art classes in her neighborhood. That effort grew into A Paint-Full of Promise, a nonprofit now expanding to high schools across the Philadelphia area.

...and 18 more real kids using their courage, creativity, and compassion to change the world.

Why I Wrote This Book

When I was thirteen, I started volunteering at a therapeutic horseback riding facility. One day, I watched a boy my age named Kevin — paralyzed from the waist down — mount a highly-trained, high-strung horse named Kachina and ride her in smooth, effortless figure eights, all on his own. I relied on my legs for balance; Kevin had no such advantage, yet he rode flawlessly, lit up with confidence. Astride that horse, he could walk, run, and fly.

That moment sparked a lifelong love of volunteering — with animal rescues, nonprofits, my local fire department's fundraising arm, and inclusion committees. My parents raised me to see the world's problems as my own, and to try to do something about them.

When I set out to write Superhero Kids, I expected to find kids who enjoyed volunteering. What I found instead were young people who'd taken their passions so much further — inventing new treatments, starting their own nonprofits, launching movements. Interviewing them, I was blown away by their creativity, empathy, and drive.

They give me hope for our future. And the best part? We can all be superheroes — by finding a passion, pairing it with a cause we care about, and giving it our time and talent.

— Micaela Myers

What People Are Saying

"These deeply personal stories of young humans striving and succeeding will give you faith in the future of humanity."
— Tamara Linse, award-winning author of the Wyoming Chronicles

"What I loved most about Superhero Kids is that it left me feeling hopeful. Every story is a reminder that kindness, compassion, and determination can come from anyone, no matter their age... This book doesn't just tell inspiring stories — it quietly reminds us all that the world becomes a better place when ordinary people choose to care."
— Debra Schartz-Robinson, LSCSW

"The essays in Superhero Kids are more than stories of service — they are testaments to empathy, perseverance, and the power of young people to transform their communities... this is an invitation to believe in the extraordinary potential of young people, and a reminder that every act of kindness has the power to shape a better future."
— Tanessa Sanchez, M.Ed, Assistant Professor, Palomar College

"This wonderful book is the best writing I've seen about kids making a positive impact on society... The writing is crisp and clear, the stories from around the country are heartwarming and inspiring, and any reader will finish it unable to stop smiling."
— Stewart Bellus, author of The Villa and Moments of Truth

Join Us for the Launch

Two special events to celebrate the release of Superhero Kids

Niwot, Colorado
Friday, November 7 · 2:00 PM
Inkberry Bookstore

Oceanside, California
Friday, November 21 · 2:00 PM
MiraCosta College Child Development Center

About Micaela Myers

Micaela Myers began writing poems before she could write herself — appearing at her mother's bedside chanting, "I've got a poem, I've got a poem!" That early love of storytelling carried her through a bachelor's degree in literature and writing and an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her short fiction has appeared in Mississippi Review online, Boston Literary Magazine, Short Story, Paper Street, and Spire, and has won first place in the River Oak Review's fiction contest and Binnacle's Ultra-Short Competition.

By day, Micaela is an award-winning magazine editor. She began her career at Horse Illustrated Magazine and went on to serve as group editor for Firebrand Media in Laguna Beach, overseeing titles including Laguna Beach Magazine (a two-time Maggie Award winner), Newport Beach Magazine, and Montage Magazine, among others. Since 2013, she has been the writer and editor of the University of Wyoming's flagship publication, UWyo Magazine.

She is also the author of three equestrian books, including The Horse Illustrated Guide to Trail Riding and Trailering and Knack Leg and Hoofcare for Horses. Superhero Kids is her first book for young readers, published by Ardea Herodias Books. She is currently at work on a memoir.

You can contact Micaela Myers via LinkedIn.