Edmonds 9-Year-Old Publishing Second Book
Aug 11, 2026, 10:52 AM
425 Magazine
Oliver Popa, a 9-year-old who hails from Edmonds, is releasing his second book, “Am I a Planet?,” on Aug. 24 — a date that coincides with Pluto getting its planet status officially rescinded.
The book introduces readers to an anthropomorphized version of the dwarf planet and wonders what might have gone on in his head in the aftermath of his demotion, which results in an identity crisis that makes the floating sphere wonder where, exactly, he fits in the universe. “Am I a Planet?,” spoiler alert, will ultimately see Pluto figure out where he belongs.
“I found comic strips Oliver had drawn in his room, and I told him they’d make a great book,” said Popa’s mom, Whitney Popa — who’s also at the helm of the book’s publisher, Our West Press — in a news release. “As we talked through the idea, he suggested we launch it on Aug. 24 — Pluto’s demotion day. I didn’t even know that was a thing!”
Oliver Popa has been into space since he was 2 years old, when his grandma started showing him outer space-themed videos on YouTube, the release noted.
“Am I a Planet?” is illustrated by Elisabeth Sung, who also did the art for Popa’s debut, “Drippey Plants a Garden.” In the latter book, a humanoid bee named Drippey plants a garden and, in the process, discovers the power of sharing.
“This book feels like a natural next step for Oliver,” Whitney Popa said in the release. “In ‘Drippey,’ he explored friendship and community through a garden. In ‘Am I a Planet?,’ he’s tackling identity and belonging on a cosmic level. He’s a deep little man, and I am honored to bring his creative work to life.”
Three upcoming signing events are planned: one at Made in Washington’s Bellevue location from 1-4 p.m. on Aug. 22 and the others at the Edmonds Bookshop (1-3 p.m. on Sept. 6) and at Common Formme Story Time (9-10:30 a.m. on Sept. 9).
