October 22: Child prodigies are rare but they do happen as evidenced by 12 year old Pema Euden.

Her book, Coming Home -was launched at the second national book fair in the capital a on Monday.

With the launch, she has become the youngest author in the kingdom.

The book was launched by the health minister Lyonpo Zangley Dukpa in the capital on 20th October.

Its author is a shy 12 year old girl. She is a class seven student of Lungtenzampa Middle Secondary School.

Teachers at the Lungtenzampa Middle Secondary School described the author as a voracious reader. They said she is an extremely shy girl and spends most of her time reading books.

Her book –Coming Home –is about Tashi Choden, a 14 year old girl. Like the author the protagonist is also a student of Lungtenzampa Middle Secondary School.

Tashi Choden’s mother commits suicide shortly after she gives birth. Her father has gone to the United States on a scholarship and does not know that he has a daughter.

She grows up with a kind hearted woman who adopts her as her own.

Later as the father learns about Tashi Choden, he returns home to take her to the United States with him where he is settled.

The story ends with Tashi Choden refusing to go with her biological father and choosing to stay with her adopted mother.

It vividly describes the anxiety and apprehension of children as they grow up and learn to socialize and make friends.

It illustrates their fear of being teased, not having friends, of being rejected and excluded by friends, and losing the love and affection of their parents and friends.

Teachers at her Lungtenzampa Middle Secondary School said they are very proud of Pema Euden. They said her book will encourage other children to read and express their feelings by writing.

Her friends and class mates described Pema Euden as a girl with a rich imagination and an avid reader.

Both Pema Euden’s parents are civil servants. Her father said it is a rare privilege for his daughter to launch her book in this year auspicious year as Bhutan celebrates the centenary of the monarchy and the coronation of His Majesty the King.

He said both Pema and her sister Tenzin Euden who came up with the plot of the story are passionate readers.

They as parents provided support by borrowing books for them.

Pema Euden is reserved and restrained.

The young author said writing is tough.

Coming Home is an emotionally engaging story. The 136 page book is available for 150 Ngultrums at the book fair.