Rutendo Shadaya is a teenage author from New Zealand. She began writing at the age of 9, creating a story as a gift for her best friend. In 2020, she published her first fantasy novel, “Rachel and the Enchanted Forest.” Two years later, she released the sequel, “Rachel and the Chevene Pirates.”
Now 17, Rutendo was named to Time magazine’s Girls of the Year 2025 list as an inspiring young writer. She speaks at youth events to encourage young women to believe in their voices and hopes to share more of her Zimbabwean heritage in future stories.
Sean Jung R&D Division Director kids/1757493487/1613368200
Rutendo Shadaya is a teenage author from New Zealand. She began writing at the age of 9, creating a story as a gift for her best friend. In 2020, she published her first fantasy novel, “Rachel and the Enchanted Forest.” Two years later, she released the sequel, “Rachel and the Chevene Pirates.”