Before they became saints, they were girls. They dreamed, struggled, wondered, made mistakes and learned to listen for God’s call. Claire Swinarski’s new “Fiat Girls”
series, published by Ascension, invites a new generation of young readers to meet St. Rose of Lima, St. Thérèse of Lisieux and St. Teresa of Calcutta, not only as saints but also as girls whose ordinary choices shaped extraordinary lives.
For Swinarski, an Edgar Award-nominated author and member of St. Charles, Hartford, the idea grew out of a desire to make the saints relatable to young readers. The historical fiction series follows each saint as a 9-year-old girl, imagining events that either did happen — or could have happened — in her childhood. The books are primarily geared toward girls ages 6 to 12, though Swinarski says boys may enjoy them as well.
The three saints were deliberately chosen for their individual personalities, historical eras and spiritual gifts.
“I think readers will be surprised by how much they can relate to the Little Flower,” Swinarski said of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. “I think her story can be so empowering for girls, albeit in a surprising way.” “They might not think they have much in common with a pious young girl who entered the convent at such a young age, but I think readers will be surprised by how much they can relate to the Little Flower.”
For St. Rose of Lima, the challenge was to make a complex story accessible to young readers while helping girls understand that physical beauty is only one part of who they are.
“Her story is so nuanced and interesting, but it can be frightening if not handled in the proper context,” said Swinarski, adding, “How can we help young girls fall in love with Rose without confusing them?”
The story of St. Teresa of Calcutta encourages girls to be bold and to use their voices in ways that matter.
“We were interested in a more modern saint,” Swinarski explained. “Many of us who read these books to our children can remember the impact this incredible saint had on culture. Sharing her with our daughters is a special experience.”
Together, the stories convey a wider message: Sainthood isn’t reserved for extraordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.
“The theme of the series overall is that no matter who you are, where you live or what time period God has plopped you in, you can become a saint if you commit your life to Jesus and his teachings,” Swinarski said.
That message is especially personal for Swinarski, who remembers having a very different image of the saints as a child.
“I thought saints were boring old nuns I read about in Catechism class,” she said. “They weren’t interesting or attainable — I certainly never thought I could be one.”
Writing “Fiat Girls” has allowed Swinarski to challenge that perception among a new generation.
She hopes young readers will finish the books with a greater understanding of what sainthood can look like — and with the realization that God calls every person to holiness.
“He equips the bold, the shy, the homeschooled, the missionary, the feisty, the meek, the only child and the orphan,” she said. “Every one of us can achieve sainthood if we discern his plans for us and open our hearts to his will.”
The series takes its name from the Latin word fiat, meaning “let it be done,” which refers to Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation. Its tagline, “Changing the world, one yes at a time,” captures the approach behind the books: Young people need not wait until adulthood to respond to God.
Each book pairs an imagined childhood story with a biography of the real saint, ushering readers from historical fiction to the saint’s actual life.
For Swinarski, a wife and mother of three, writing stories for children carries a particular responsibility.
Claire Swinarski, a member of St. Charles Hartland, is the author of “Fiat Girls,” a new historical fiction series introducing young readers to the childhoods of Catholic saints. (Submitted photo)
“I’m a children’s book author, and I take that job very seriously: how can we form the young souls we’ve been trusted with?” she said. “What part can literature play in that?”
For Swinarski, those questions go beyond entertainment. Swinarski believes children should learn the history of their faith with the same attention given to subjects such as math, grammar and geography.
“We should be just as focused on ensuring they’re familiar with the rich history of our Church,” she said.
She also views the series as an opportunity to introduce young readers to the women of the Catholic Church and the many ways they have lived out their faith.
“One of the reasons I’m so honored to be Catholic is the way our Church loves, respects and elevates women,” Swinarski said. “Being able to pass this legacy on to the next generation by helping them understand it, and to do so through historical fiction, is a dream come true.”
The “Fiat Girls” series currently includes books about St. Rose of Lima, St. Thérèse of Lisieux and St. Teresa of Calcutta, with additional books about those saints and other saints planned for the future.
Ultimately, Swinarski hopes the girls who read “Fiat Girls” will see themselves in the young saints — and recognize that holiness does not require becoming someone else.
“I hope each girl walks away from these stories knowing that she, too, can become a saint — not in spite of who she is but because of who God made her to be,” she said.
