SANDPOINT — No one should ever be bullied.

Bonner County teen Addie Naccarato is working to spread that message through a graphic novel she is creating as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project.

Similar to the Eagle Scout Award in Boy Scouts, the Gold Award honors Girl Scouts who demonstrate leadership through a community service project.

Naccarato, 16, has raised about $1,000 of the estimated $3,000 she will need to produce the graphic novel, which she is both writing and illustrating. As part of the project, she is creating a script and prototypes, and reaching out to area schools and hospitals to distribute the novel once it’s complete.

Knowing teens who have been bullied and recognizing the need for a solution for all sides, Naccarato took inspiration from Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low. A longtime artist and fan of "Sailor Moon," a popular manga series by Naoko Takeuchi, she knew that other youths would love the medium and find inspiration in its anti-bullying message.

The novel, titled "Shoes," tells the story of walking in someone else’s shoes, using animal characters to convey the message.

“It’s a story about empathy,” Naccarato said. “People tend to think they’re the only person who’s ever felt that way. It’s a natural human feeling, but what some people don’t realize is that others feel the same way.”

Often, when asked how they would feel under similar circumstances, a common response from youth is, “But I’m not them.” It’s hard for some to put themselves in another person’s shoes, she said.

The different characters — a black cat, a polar bear, a bat, a fox, and possibly a ferret or a spider — include one who is initially only seen as a shadow in the background, largely ignored by the others. It isn’t until the end that anyone realizes the character lost to the shadows has an amazing story, one no one thought to ask about.

The artwork will be largely in black and white, with pops of color found in each character’s shoes, each featuring a unique color.

By telling the story through animals, Naccarato said the focus remains on the message, allowing readers to feel more seen and interpret the characters in their own way.

She anticipates it will take about a month to six weeks to complete a rough draft, with a goal to finish revisions and polish the artwork by December.

Naccarato has completed prototypes for the novel and roughed out sketches for each character. She is now focused on writing the script to organize the dialogue. Once that’s done, she said it’s easier to draw each scene.

“I’m able to picture the scenes much easier in my head,” she said.

Naccarato has always expressed her feelings through art, but also loves creative writing and storytelling. The graphic novel allows her to combine those two passions — and her desire to help others by addressing a problem that affects so many.

“I think visually,” she said. “Instead of words, I see images in my head. I can envision really vivid images of stories, almost like a full-length animation.”

She has been in Girl Scouts since third grade, when she saw scouts selling popcorn outside a store and thought it looked like fun. When she asked her dad, Chris Naccarato, if she could join, he agreed — and it wasn’t long before she attended her first meeting.

At that meeting, the troop carved pumpkins and Naccarato earned her first badge.

“I felt such a sense of sisterhood,” she said.

The other scouts were fun, and they bonded over carving pumpkins. Future excursions included camping trips near Hope, hikes, and hanging out on the dock making s’mores. Another trip included a sleepover at City Hall with friends from the troop.

“I just feel such a sense of community in scouting that I don’t get anywhere else,” Naccarato said.

She also draws inspiration from Low, who was born in 1860 in Savannah, Georgia. Low came from a family of strong, independent women and was known for her compassion and adventurous spirit.

“She always asked, ‘What can I do for others?’” Naccarato said. “That’s kind of what I want to do.”

Low’s practice of empathy and compassion inspired Naccarato to stand up for those being bullied and help those on either side of the issue. She wants to offer hope to those being bullied, and guidance and empathy to those who may not realize how their actions affect others.

“I’m very empathetic with people and their struggles, and I feel sad when I can’t do anything to fix it — and nobody else is doing anything to fix it either,” she said. “Or people just complain about the issue and don’t do anything to actually solve it.”

To help raise funds for the project, Naccarato has taken several of her favorite pieces of artwork and had them made into tumblers, which she is offering for sale. Donations toward the project can also be sent to: GSEWNI, 1404 N. Ash St., Spokane, WA 99201, For: Adaline Naccarato Troop 2571 Gold Award Account.