PVLF 2025

Ten Year Old Bibliophile Becomes Author with Debut Book 'The Dancing River'

Young authors Anil and Thanusree, passionate readers and writers, share their literary journeys, inspirations, and aspirations for future creative success.
on Nov 04, 2024

Ten Year Bibliophile Debuts Dancing River

The 12-year-old has recently launched her debut book, The Magic in Poems and Stories. This collection comprises all her literary creations to date.

Like many authors, Anil’s aspiration to write originated from her passion for reading. A fan of the Harry Potter series, she chose to dive into books at a time when most kids her age were drawn to screens.

“Anil has always been a passionate reader. Even in her early years, she displayed a curious nature and frequently asked numerous questions. Perhaps she discovered ways to answer them herself through reading,” shares Lizabeth Abraham, her mother.

Sudha Murthy and Ruskin Bond are her favorite authors. “Their narratives are naturally humorous and also quite reflective,” Anil notes.

The young writer attributes her love for reading to her parents. “They are my inspiration. They motivated me to write and gave me recommendations to enhance my work without imposing any changes. They respected my desire for authenticity in my writing, allowing me to learn from my mistakes and grow,” she explains.

Abraham, who operates a Montessori preschool and is motivated by her daughter’s passion for reading and writing, has integrated reading into her students' routines.

“I’ve observed how reading elevates children’s curiosity about their environment and the world around them. I have, therefore, purchased more books for these kids,” she states.

Besides reading and writing, Anil enjoys dancing too.

When asked about her future aspirations in English literature, the emerging author replies confidently, “I aspire to be a voice-over artist as well, but primarily, I want to be an author.”

Ages have passed, and new individuals have come, varying in wisdom and virtue. With them, a new queen arrived, destined to reign.

So begins a prophecy in The Dancing River, a book penned by Thanusree Shyamkumar, which narrates the adventurous quest of a trio who go to great lengths to achieve their goal.

Perhaps it serves as a metaphor for the writer’s own literary journey. Even though she is only 10, Thanusree has read countless books across all genres. For this Malayali living in Dubai, her passion for reading ignited at the age of three.

“Even as a toddler, she would listen intently to the stories we shared with her. Now, she is capable of reading and writing on her own. Yet, her fascination with stories has not waned,” remarks Shyamkumar, Thanusree’s father.

From Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book to Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days, her interests have evolved into classics of English literature, such as The Scarlet Letter, David Copperfield, and Frankenstein. These treasures now populate her personal library.

Thanusree is currently exploring various genres. Her most recent endeavor is non-fiction, particularly books about influential figures in science and politics.

“Mahatma Gandhi, Subash Chandra Bose, Lal Bahadur Shastri, A P J Abdul Kalam, Ratan Tata… you can ask her about any remarkable person,” her father says with pride.

“I have a passion for Indian history, our freedom struggle, and the heroes who contributed significantly to it,” says Thanushree, who has perused over 500 books and frequently visits a nearby library.

The young girl's journey as a lover of books began during the Covid lockdown.

“I couldn’t go outdoors or meet my friends during that period. I was quite bored. That’s when my father brought home some books from the library. The Amar Chitra Katha comics were my first choice,” she remembers.

Thanusree’s interests extend beyond literature. She is also passionate about martial arts and Carnatic music. What’s truly remarkable is that this young girl speaks five languages, including Sanskrit, for which she takes lessons from a tutor.

While Thanusree has honed her writing skills, she aspires to build a career in science. She has also successfully passed several levels in various Olympiads.

“I aim to be a scientist. But I also want to write. Hopefully, I will create many, many books,” Thanusree states, her small eyes shining with hope.