At ten years old, Alyson Miguel had already been to seven different shelters, but he never gave up hope of being adopted, even though he had already reached an age considered advanced for adoption.
That was when Toni and David entered the boy's life and, although there was a strangeness at first, it didn't take long for the couple to win over the boy and vice versa. With adoption, Alyson, who is “Carioca at heart and Curitiba by adoption” and is now 13 years old, changed her life, school, city and wrote a book. Check out an exclusive interview with the young author of: "Jamily, the Black Dutchwoman: The Story of a Same-Sex Adoption":
Redaction: How did the idea for the book come about?
Alyson: I was adopted in 2011 by Toni and David. From the first month they encouraged me to read. I read three books a month. I write reviews and dissertations that are published in my blog reviews.
I had the idea in 2012. I was in my room thinking about it and I felt like it. I told my dad Toni: "dad, next year I want to write a book”, and he even made fun of me thinking that I wasn't going to write anything. In September last year I started and showed him “dad, look here, now I’m designing the cover of my book”, which was Jamily’s design. In October, I had started writing some things about my story and some invented things.
Redaction: Why did you create Jamily instead of writing about yourself?
Alyson: Because Jamily was my best friend in high school, but she left. So I decided to pay homage to her as the main character in my book. It would also be very difficult for me to expose myself in person.
Redaction: Have you ever suffered any type of discrimination for having two parents?
Alyson: Yes, but who hasn't suffered? In my high school class there are 34 students. It's the biggest class at school and everyone suffers some type of discrimination. For example: black people are called coal, poop; Japanese, slanted eyes; Koreans imitate slanted eyes; tall, quince stick; thin, toothpick; and so on.
When I was discriminated against, I told my parents. They went to talk to the director and the pedagogues. They even wrote a letter. Now I don't care anymore. I give a peck on the shoulder to discriminate and the repression goes away.
Redaction: Do you intend to be a writer when you grow up or do you have any other profession in mind?
Alyson: I have in mind to be a firefighter, to save people, but I'm still very young and I'll probably change. But for now I'm going to be a firefighter.
I've thought about being a singer, dancer or choreographer. Really like to dance.
