Richards High School sophomore Ashlynn Goldizen has turned a deeply personal question, “Why did Christmas stop feeling like this?”, into her first published novel, a spiritual Christmas story she hopes will resonate with teens and adults alike.
Goldizen, 15 and soon to turn 16, independently released “Unwrapped” on Amazon on Nov. 21 through Kindle Direct Publishing. The novel in verse follows Adalynn, a young girl navigating faith, grief and the fading magic of Christmas as she grows older. The story centers on the idea of finding God in quiet moments and learning to “unwrap” the heart.
“It’s about a young girl named Adalynn going on a journey of faith, hope, grief and what it means to find God in the stillness,” Goldizen said. “Growing up can be hard, and you can feel distance from the Christmas holiday as you get older. But the book reminds us that God is in that stillness, you just have to unwrap your heart to see that.”
The idea first took hold last Christmas, when Goldizen found herself wrestling with the changing meaning of the holiday. She used that feeling, the very first line of the book, to build a story that allowed her to sit with questions, doubts and shifting emotions.
In February, during a winter camp retreat at Silver Birch Ranch, she decided it was finally time to begin writing. She committed to creating a story that reflected both her love of writing and her Christian faith.
“I wanted to make a book relatable to people,” she said. “It was a way to show my passion for writing and my religion.”
Publishing the novel herself was a milestone Goldizen had dreamed about since childhood. She said Amazon’s KDP platform made the process straightforward and accessible for a first-time author.
“I think it means to be an official author when you put a work out there that you’re proud of,” she said. “I put my book out there for the sole purpose of sharing my religion, putting my interests out there, and being proud of doing something I’ve wanted to do since I was little.”
Readers can find “Unwrapped” by searching “Unwrapped Ashlynn” on Amazon.
Goldizen, who has lived in Oak Lawn for five years, plans to continue writing but also has aspirations beyond authorship. After graduating, she hopes to attend Moraine Valley Community College to earn her associate degree before transferring to a university to pursue pediatric nursing, with plans to specialize later.
For now, she is celebrating the beginning of her journey as a young author, one rooted in faith, honesty and an earnest desire to let others know they are not alone.
“God is always there,” she said. “Even in the moments when everything feels different, everything feels quiet. That stillness is where you can find Him.”