Danielle Brown inspires young athletes to Shoot for the Stars!
About Author
Paralympian Danielle Brown encourages girls and young women to stay in sport - and enjoy it - in Shoot for the Stars.
is an award winning children's author, double Paralympic gold medallist in archery, and five time World Champion. She was World number one for her entire career, and made history when she became the first disabled athlete to represent England - and win gold - in an able-bodied category at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Interview
July 2025
Danielle Brown inspires young athletes with her new book, Shoot for the Stars! (Little Tiger)
Packed with stories from inspiring athletes, as well as Danielle's own experiences, Shoot for the Stars helps young athletes to 'dig deep' to achieve the sporting success they deserve. With practical advice, pep talks, quizzes and real life examples of sporting heroes, illustrated throughout by Jayde Perkin and Gabriela Menichetti, this book will get young athletes successfully across the finish line in their favourite sports!
ReadingZone spoke with Danielle to find out why she wanted to write a book inspiring young athletes, and why she feels young female athletes are still at a disadvantage in today's sporting world.
Review: 'This book is as creative as it is inspiring!' Read an extract from Shoot for the Stars
Q&A with Danielle Brown, exploring Shoot for the Stars
"As a Paralympian, one of my favourite things is working with young people to help them tap into their amazing potential
and find the confidence to achieve their goals on their terms."
1. Thank you for joining us on ReadingZone to talk about your new book, Shoot for the Stars! Many of our readers are already familiar with you as a paralympian - but what brought you to writing for young people?
I've always wanted to write books, but I took a bit of a detour along the way. After starting archery on my 15th birthday, I went on to have a fantastic career in sport. I won two gold medals at the Paralympic Games, became a five-time World Champion, and won gold at the Commonwealth Games, where I was the first disabled athlete to represent Team England in an able-bodied category.
My passion for writing and helping young people never dimmed during this time. As a Paralympian, one of my favourite things is visiting schools and working with young people to help them tap into their amazing potential and find the confidence to achieve their goals on their terms. Getting to share positive messages and the tools I picked up along the way to help others feel confident and capable is the best feeling.
2. What is your new book, Shoot for the Stars, about?
Shoot for the Stars is a confidence-building handbook for girls. It tackles the barriers that often push girls out of sport, like confidence issues, stereotypes, puberty and fear of failure, but in a really positive, honest, and practical way. It's a book to help girls stay in sport, enjoy it, and discover just how brilliant they are.
3. Why did you want to write this book, and what inspired you to sit down and do so? Is it the kind of book you would have wanted as a young athlete?
Yes! When I was younger, I didn't see many female athletes in books or on TV, so I didn't know sport could be a career option. More importantly, I didn't realise how much it could help me grow as a person.
I've spoken to many girls in schools who love sports but are stepping away from them because of puberty, peer pressure, a lack of confidence, or simply not feeling like they belong. I wanted to write the book that these girls need: something uplifting, relatable, and full of practical tools to help them build confidence and keep going.
4. So despite the growing successes of women athletes, you still feel that young female athletes face challenges?
Yes, unfortunately many of those challenges still exist. We see these in the statistics, which show that girls drop out of sport when they leave primary school and hit puberty at a much faster rate than boys.
There are lots of reasons for this. Girls often have fewer opportunities, face outdated stereotypes and are judged differently. All of this can chip away at their confidence and, when you add in things like body image worries, clothing that doesn't feel right, or the pressure to fit in, it's no surprise that so many girls drop out of sports during their teenage years.
We need to change the culture so that girls feel like sport is for them, not just physically, but socially and emotionally too.
5. Is Shoot for the Stars aimed only at readers who enjoy sports? What kinds of inspiration do you hope your readers will find in its pages?
The book is for anyone who wants to feel more confident, whether they love sport already or are just curious about it. Sport is the backdrop, but the themes go way beyond that. It's about building confidence, handling setbacks, setting goals, and believing in yourself. These are skills we can use in everyday life, in the classroom, at home, and in friendships, too. I hope readers come away from it thinking, "I can do this. I'm stronger than I think".
6. How is the book organised, and what kinds of subjects do you cover in each chapter?
Each chapter focuses on a different challenge that girls often face, such as self-doubt, perfectionism, puberty, and stereotypes. These topics are approached in a positive and encouraging way, with practical tips and activities to help readers build confidence and navigate each challenge.
The book features stories from athletes around the world, along with inspiring quotes to help motivate and uplift. I've also shared parts of my own journey and included personal anecdotes to bring some of these challenges to life. We explore each topic together, offering tools that girls can use both in and out of sport.
7. Shoot for the Stars is a mix of advice, activities and 'my story' sections. Why did you decide to take this approach to the book?
I wanted it to feel personal, supportive, and easy to dip in and out of. Sharing my own experiences helps show that everyone struggles sometimes and that it's okay to find things hard. The advice is there to offer tools and encouragement, and the activities help readers put things into practice in a way that works for them.
8. What do you think the illustrations by Jayde Perkin and Filigrana de Ideas bring to the pages?
I love them! Jayde and Filigrana are both very talented and added warmth, energy and personality to every page. They help bring the messages to life and make the book feel really friendly and engaging. Most importantly, they ensure that a wide range of girls can see themselves reflected in the pages. Representation matters, and I hope every reader feels recognised and inspired.
9. What kinds of discussions do you hope Shoot for the Stars will encourage?
I hope it opens up honest conversations about confidence, sport and identity. I want girls to talk about how they feel, what's holding them back, and how they can support each other. When we talk about these things, we start to shift the culture and that's when real change happens.
10. Do you still enjoy taking part in sports? What other kinds of activities do you enjoy when you want to relax?
Definitely! Sport will always be a big part of my life, but these days I do it more for fun and wellbeing rather than competition - although never say never! I love being outdoors and trying new activities like kayaking and paddleboarding. And of course, one of my favourite ways to relax is curling up with a good book.
Shoot for the Stars
