A sophomore at Highline's Health Sciences and Human Services High School (HS3) will read from her first novel and sign copies of her book at an event April 1 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on the Evergreen campus in North Highline.

Manoush Casteñada-Vizcarra wrote "The Way of the Owls" when she was 14. She recently self-published the book and is currently working on a new novel.

Set in her parents' native Mexico, "The Way of the Owls" tells the story of a young woman determined to overcome oppression.

"The Ways of the Owls deals with profound issues of gender oppression and personal freedom that draws the reader into the lives of the young Mexican girl Maximiana and those around her," says John Griffith, University of Washington Associate Professor of English.

Manoush was inspired to write the book while living in Mexico for a year when she was ten years old.

Her parents had purchased a 17th century hacienda and were renovating it into a rural public library. Friends of her grandparents, who had grown up in the area, frequently visited and told Manoush stories of the people and past events of the region. Manoush began recording these in her diary.

At age 12, after returning to the U.S., Manoush was diagnosed with dystonia, a neurological disorder that affects muscle control. Manoush immersed herself in writing to distract her from painful muscle spasms. She melded the stories she had recorded in her diary with the character Maximiana, based on her great-great-grandmother.

"I grew up learning about her as a very strong and intelligent woman who fought for women's rights in her own way," says Manoush.

The free event is hosted by Community Schools Collaboration and Evergreen Campus library. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.