Anderson’s Bookshop in LaGrange hosted author Jordan Sonnenblick’s book signing of “The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade” on Sept. 25. Community members filled the seats of the local bookstore to learn more about the book that appeals to middle school students and others.

Maverick, the main character, is inspired by Jack Kunkle ’14 and his ongoing response to hardships. Jack battled brain cancer starting in sixth grade, and later passed away the summer after he graduated in 2014.

“I was surprised [when I first learned about the book],” Jack’s mom, Ellen Kunkle, said. “We had seen how he touched the lives of so many people around him, but it never occurred to me that Jack’s life would affect others beyond our community.”

Jack first encountered Sonnenblick’s writing through “SuperSibs!”, an organization that reaches out to siblings of cancer patients. Jack’s sisters Leigh and Emily Kunkle were sent Sonnenblick’s book, “Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie” after Jack’s first diagnosis in sixth grade.  His sisters liked it so much that they encouraged Jack to read it.

“The experience [Sonnenblick] wrote about felt real,” Ellen said. “It was spot on with cancer drugs and the tough experiences that we could relate to. [Sonnenblick] created a real story that was accurate unlike other books we had read.”

After Jack read the novel, he was inspired to reach out to Sonnenblick and sent a fan letter, she said.

“In the letter, he told me that my book made him feel like he wasn’t alone being the bald kid in sixth grade,” Sonnenblick said. “He found a touching way of complimenting me on what I had done, and I could immediately sense that he was a special person.”

From there, the two kept in touch as pen pals, and Jack would also reach out to Sonnenblick requesting signed books for other cancer patients Jack knew, Sonnenblick said.

“The big thing about Jack was he always asked other people what he could do for them,” he said. “He was a superlatively selfless person.”

Jack’s passion for the performing arts began in fourth grade and continued during his tenure at LT, his father, John Kunkle, said.

During his treatment, he was able to maintain his helpful character towards classmates and faculty, Improv Teacher Mike Kuehl said.

“He looked at it as his job to make other people happy, and make sure that everyone came together,” he said. “He was brilliant, witty, hilarious and never cruel, judgmental or harsh in any scenes he did.”

The first Mr. LT competition occurred during Jack’s senior year. He entered, and was crowned the first ever Mr. LT, performing stand-up comedy as his talent.

“Despite his size and tough life, he was able to accomplish so much through his fun-loving spirit,” Theatre Board sponsor and playwriting teacher Lawrence Keller said. “There may be future Mr. LT’s who are as good or as worthy [of winning], but I don’t think there will ever be anyone better than Jack.”

During Jack’s senior year at LT, he was in the process of completing final round of cancer treatment. At this time, Sonnenblick was preoccupied with Jack’s health and wanted to help in any way that he could.

“Jack always loved Captain America,” he said. “Five days after his brain surgery, I gifted him a Captain America wallet. After that moment, I couldn’t stop picturing that star. That was when I came up with the idea for a new book.”

Though Sonnenblick was able to write and publish this book quickly, he struggled to come up with ideas for new books. He experienced two years of writer’s block, and was considering dropping writing and continuing to be a middle school teacher, he said.

“I was about to give up [on writing], and be an English teacher,” he said. “I was on a walk with my wife, and I told her that I was going to give up. But then, the star came to me again.”

In the book, Maverick always carries a toy sheriff star in is pocket while he tries to make his school and the world a better place as the “Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade.”

“What I wanted to capture about Jack was that you could not beat him down,” Sonnenblick said. “He couldn’t control the situation he was born into.  What he could control was how he treated other people.  That’s what [Maverick] does.  I was trying to teach the reader the same lessons that Jack taught me on how to respond to adversity.”

Keller also saw Jack’s unique demeanor towards his ongoing battle with cancer.

“We all complain every day,” he said. “Jack had a way of putting things in perspective.  He had a sense of embracing life and worrying about the most important thing:  others.”

When Jack was in his final month, Sonnenblick sent the first draft of his book to the Kunkles’ house so Jack could read Sonnenblick’s tribute. Jack read the copy, but he also contacted Sonnenblick asking how he could help with the writing process, Ellen said.

“He not only asked [Jordan] about how to help, but he physically put punctuation and grammar corrections on the copy,” she said. “It was a typical Jack move.”

After Leigh read it, she noted the similarities and the strength of the relationship between Sonnenblick and her brother, as well as the message that Sonnenblick was emulating through his story.

“[Sonnenblick] did a great job,” she said. “If Jack wrote a book, it would sound like this.  [Maverick] realizes that he’s doing a lot and can’t fix everything.  The book emphasizes to not get down on yourself because you can’t save the world.  What you can do is help the people around you.”

Both Jack and Maverick are able to positively impact their surroundings through both large or small acts, John said.

“You can’t change everything, but if you can cause a ripple that expands and touches other people in a positive way, you’re doing well,” he said. “Jack had a way of touching people and making them feel good.  Not always in a big way, but that made it even more impactful.  He wasn’t looking to change the world as much as he was trying to make it better for everyone around him.”

Now that “The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade” has been published, Sonnenblick will continue his momentum from this book and continue writing, he said.

“I would have quit writing,” Sonnenblick said. “But now, I have written two straight books.  Jack gave new life to my career.  You can’t see someone that heroic without feeling that you need to be a better version of yourself.  He was such a magnificently radiant version of what a person should be.”