Bryan Elementary teacher publishes her first book

Congratulations to Janiya Stewart, a second grade associate teacher at Bryan Elementary School. She has published her first book, How the Chili Plant Grows. 

The book is a reflective coming-of-age memoir that explores the journey of finding faith, healing, and self-understanding through life’s challenges. Through honest storytelling, it examines themes of trauma, growth, and emotional resilience, capturing the complexity of navigating pain while learning to heal. The narrative blends personal experience with insight gained through reflection and therapy, offering readers a thoughtful and compassionate exploration of what it means to grow, to feel deeply, and to move forward with hope.

 

“Writing has helped me reframe negative thoughts and better understand myself and others,” said Stewart. “By leaning into my empathetic nature, I am able to delve into the intricacies of my own life and the lives of those around me, turning lived experiences into words that are honest, reflective, and healing. My hope is that readers find pieces of themselves within these poems and feel seen, understood, and less alone.”

 

The book may be purchased through Amazon.