UCLA Student Authored New Middle-Grade Fantasy Novel
A local university student wrote a book designed for advanced elementary readers that highlights Filipino cultural heritage.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Pre-Teens
Nikki Stampfl, a fourth-year English student at UCLA, wrote a middle-grade fantasy novel titled "The Key to the Cupcake Kingdom" that features Filipino cultural representation. The work aims to provide advanced reading material for elementary-aged students.
Why it matters
The book addresses a need for reading materials that offer higher lexical complexity for advanced elementary students. By incorporating Filipino heritage, the work also broadens cultural representation within youth fantasy literature.
Stampfl received the 2026 first place award for prose writing from the Palomar College literary journal. This recognition followed her academic transition from Palomar College to UCLA.
The players
Nikki Stampfl
A fourth-year English student at UCLA and author who focuses on middle-grade literature.
UCLA
A public research university where Stampfl is currently pursuing her English studies.
Palomar College
A community college where Stampfl previously studied and earned a prose writing award.
The details
The novel utilizes a higher lexical reading level specifically to engage advanced elementary students. Stampfl documents her creative development and interacts with her literary community through an Instagram account, @nikkiswritingjournal, where she shares vlogs and dresses as book characters.
Timeline
2024: Stampfl started her Instagram account.
2026: Stampfl won the Palomar College prose award.
Health Landscape
This story sits within the broader scope of student authorship fostered by the UCLA Department of English undergraduate writing program. It follows a pattern of creative output by students engaging in specialized literary projects during their academic tenure.
Encouraging advanced reading materials can support cognitive development and literacy skills in elementary-aged children. If your child expresses interest in challenging literature, discussing their reading preferences and cultural curiosity with a teacher can help identify engaging resources.
The takeaway
Engaging with literature that features diverse cultural narratives helps children develop both vocabulary and global perspective. Consider introducing your student to works that align with their reading level while celebrating heritage as a pathway to lifelong learning.
Further reading
For more on finding age-appropriate and intellectually stimulating books for your child, visit Pre-Teens.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Bruin.
