Student Authors Children's Book

Notre Dame Preparatory junior Briar O’Donnell ’27 is the creator of The Adventures of Buck and Chuck, a children's book series inspired by her younger brother, Brick, who lives with Type 1 Diabetes, and his best friend, Charlie, who does not.

Briar recently shared her inspiring story on FOX 10 Phoenix, highlighting the mission behind her books and the impact they are already making within the Type 1 Diabetes community.

The idea for the series came to Briar after seeing the overwhelmingly positive response to the release of a Type 1 Diabetes Barbie doll last summer.

“I saw the extremely positive impact it had on many young girls living with Type 1,” Briar said. “Many of them were overcome with emotion from getting the doll. It made me realize how underrepresented children with Type 1 Diabetes are in popular culture and inspired me to think about what I could do to help change that.”

After months of brainstorming and writing throughout her junior year at NDP, Briar created The Adventures of Buck and Chuck. The series follows two best friends as they navigate everyday life, exciting experiences, and the challenges of Type 1 Diabetes. The stories are based on real-life adventures Briar’s family has experienced and highlight how life changes after a Type 1 diagnosis while emphasizing friendship, resilience, humor, and adventure.

Briar hopes the books provide encouragement and representation for children living with Type 1 Diabetes while also helping friends, siblings, classmates, and extended family members better understand the condition.

“When Brick was first diagnosed, I was shocked at how little people knew and understood what Type 1 was or what it meant for our family,” Briar said. “These books not only make kids with Type 1 feel seen, but also serve to educate their friends, family, and siblings.”

The impact of Briar’s project is already reaching families nationwide. She and her family recently achieved a milestone by partnering with and mailing books to 11 hospitals across the country, helping provide support and connection to children newly navigating a Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis.

In addition to the books, Briar’s family launched the website  Adventures of Buck and Chuck to share their stories and build connections within the Type 1 Diabetes community. Even more inspiring, 100 percent of the proceeds from book sales are donated to Type 1 Diabetes research and to helping provide supplies to families in need.

“I truly created these stories to bring encouragement, representation, and hope to families navigating this journey,” Briar said.

Notre Dame Preparatory is proud to celebrate Briar for her creativity, compassion, and entrepreneurial spirit in making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Her work exemplifies what it means to use one's talents in service of the community and to bring hope to families facing the challenges of Type 1 Diabetes.

To learn more about The Adventures of Buck and Chuck, visit adventuresofbuckandchuck.com.