Introducing Anna Dahlia
The Poppy-Dahlia Adventure series isn’t your average read.
One story, written as two books, told from each sister’s perspective.
In the first book, you will read the story from Anna Dahlia’s point of view. Then, continue with the second book to increase comprehension, add extra details, and story variations with the same story seen from her sister Zoe’s viewpoint.
Reading a book twice can dramatically increase reader comprehension. However, encouraging readers to read a story twice can be tough.
Providing the same story from another character’s point of view, bringing a change in perspective, and some alternate storylines will excite readers to take a deeper dive into what they have just read.
Introducing Anna Dahlia?
In this Poppy-Dahlia Adventure series, Anna Dahlia is one of the two primary characters. She is the older sister to Zoe Coquelicot (Coquelicot means poppy in French) and she is the focus of the first book in each of the stories of the series.
While I did draw the initial inspiration for Anna Dahlia from my older daughter, they are not meant to be the same person. I think it’s fun for her to see a similar character in a story. And my goal for two strong female lead characters in this story was to empower more young women to take the lead and blaze their own trails. I also want them to know that it’s ok to be afraid or worried sometimes and that with perseverance they can push beyond what they think is holding them back.
Who is Anna Dahlia?
Anna Dahlia lives in a suburb south of San Francisco. She is a 6th grader navigating the change from elementary to middle school, trying to figure out how to make it through stressful situations without letting them become overwhelming. Only now starting to feel slightly adult, but still growing out of the world of her youth.
Anna Dahlia does well academically but strives not to show off in class, trying hard not to get noticed. The stress of unwanted attention is regularly nagging at her. She hasn’t decided what she want’s to be known for yet. Until she does, she just wants to fade into the background.
Her love of reading has helped her excel in her English class, a favorite of her teacher. She also enjoys playing the viola with the school chamber orchestra. The rest of her classes are all pretty average.
On weekends her family often likes to take day trips around the San Francisco Bay Area. Her Papa is always on the lookout for another interesting spot to take the family out for a hike or a bike ride, maybe visiting some attraction. Occasionally they also enjoy family camping trips, some short ones during the spring and fall, and a longer one during the summer.
Earlier in the school year, Anna Dahlia had her first panic attack at school. Her doctor gave her some breathing exercises to help calm her nerves, and they have been working with some success. Sometimes she is able to calm her nerves quickly, other times it takes her awhile. She is working on getting better at handling her stress, and dealing with it faster when it becomes overwhelming.
As the older sister, Anna Dahlia feels guardianship over her energetic younger sister. Often as her parents give Zoe space to explore and express herself, Anna Dahlia gets nervous and protective for her sister, which can result in some conflict between the two. As Anna Dahlia has settled into middle school, she is more willing to let Zoe act how she wants and not be so controlling. She is somewhat envious of her sister’s freedom to unabashedly meet new people and try new things out.
Read more about Anna Dahlia by signing up for our mailing list. During the onboarding sequence, you can download a free digital copy of the first book in series: Lost at the Pinnacles. Or you can support our efforts by buying a copy on Amazon.