Of teens, life and relationships

Emma Hills, a teenage girl, is trying to lead a normal life. Having shifted to a new city right before summer, she must begin prepping for a new school, new friends, new frenemies and last but not the least, a new crush. But Emma has other hidden secrets. 

Will it be long before they are out? City resident Khushi Lalwani’s latest book Krazy Diaries attempts to take the reader on a roller-coaster ride through the wonderful world of Emma Hills’ life in school. 

Speaking about the inspiration behind her book, Lalwani, a Class 8 student at Guru Shree Shantivijai Jain Vidyalaya, Vepery, says, “Reading books has been one of the greatest pleasures of my life. Books transport me to an amazing world. Books have influenced the way I think, given me a better understanding of human emotions and that no one is alone. 

However, I observed that my friends and many others my age weren’t drawn to reading because they felt it was too boring and time consuming. So, one day I wondered if I could write a book that my friends could relate to and eventually inspire them to get the habit of reading. That’s how Krazy Diaries happened.” 

Lalwani has sketched her protagonist with many of her own traits and experiences. “Many of the characters and events in the book are based on real-life experiences. Just observing people around, gave birth to many characters like Cheryl, Holly etc. 

Many of the characters unfolded as I wrote the book. At the end of the day, I wanted to convey that every student goes through a face where they’re required to bid adieu to familiar surroundings and blend into a new environment and make new friends. 

For many of us, it is a little difficult than the others. However, in the end, everything, like I have written in my book, falls in place. Another important aspect I’ve tried to show is that, in the process of adapting yourself to change, you don’t have to change yourself. You must celebrate your uniqueness,” explains Lalwani with a wisdom much ahead of her years. Lalwani draws inspiration from not one, but several authors, who vary “depending on her mood”. 

“When I feel like exploring the world of magic, my first choice is JK Rowling. If I want to delve deep into someone’s intimate space, I read Rachel Renee Russell. When I’m in the mood to take a trip into the wilderness, I just pick one of Melissa J Morgan’s books,” adds the author whose book has been published by Notion Press and is available on Flipkart and Amazon.