Sammy Keyes: My Hero by Catherine

Sammy Keyes: My Hero by Catherine - April 2014 Scholarship Essay

If you’ve never read a Sammy Keyes book, you’re missing out. Sammy Keyes is brave, young detective, full of vigor and tenacity. She’s not your typical middle-school protagonist. When I first read Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief, I fell in love with the high-top-wearing junior high-school detective. I was in sixth grade and I wanted to be just like Sammy Keyes when I “grew up”.

Sammy Keyes is an inspiring character. Sammy is a detective, she searches for the truth in every situation and uses her skills as a detective to solve the case. She doesn’t have a perfect life. She’s never known her father and her mother is off in Hollywood, trying to become an actress. Sammy Keyes is stuck living with her grandmother in a high-rise apartment for seniors only. This leads to some problems when nosy neighbors find out... Despite her tough circumstances she does not become bitter or disheartened. She faces problems head on. Sammy Keyes is a normal girl. She’s not a princess in a far away kingdom. She has no superpowers. She’s just your average student. Her family life isn’t perfect. But despite these things she stands up and faces the world to find out what is true. Sammy Keyes is firm in what she believes. She is brave.

Sammy Keyes has been an inspiration to me since sixth grade. Her character demonstrates that we can be confident in who we are. Even if you are is aren’t from a two parent home. Even if you aren’t wealthy. Even if you aren’t part of the popular crowd. I loved Sammy Keyes so much as a kid that I tried to emulate her style by wearing high-tops, her signature clothing item. Even now, I want to live like Sammy Keyes: tenaciously seeking truth, bravely facing danger, and conquering my circumstances.