For example, in “Chapter 1,” Dillon writes, “One winter day, it’s a crisis!”
In his ‘Crismis’ story, Dillon, the main character and the author, goes on a time travel adventure after the star explodes on the tree.
“Santa is coming,” he said, explaining the next part of the plot. Afterwards, Dillon encounters five trees, and one of them “was like a tree portal.”
The portal takes him back in time to the “first Thanksgiving” in 1621, a date he had to confirm with his mother, Ms. Helbig said.
“His imagination is just incredible,” she said.
Dillon has been writing “comic books” since he was five, his mother said, but this is certainly his most successful book. The library gave him the first-ever “Whoodini Award” for best young novelist, an award they created for him.
“It’s been quite a whirlwind,” said Mrs. Helbig.
After news of Dillon’s literary triumph was reported in January by The Idaho Press and KTVB, a Boise television station, his classmates told him he had inspired them to write their own books.
“They said, ‘It was really cool; I wish I were you,” he said.
Children have also told Mr. Hartman, the library manager, that they too want to write books for the library. A local author, Cristianne Lane, has volunteered to work with Dillon to create a writing workshop for children at the branch.