The 101st publication of PenThrill titled “Excerpts from a diary of a growing teenager”, written under a pen name- Nao Yokhe, was formally released by Children’s Pastor, Naga United Village Baptist Church, Lisi Shupao. The release event was held at Walker’s Library, Great Commission Higher Secondary School, Chümoukedima on April 17.
Giving comments on the book during the launch, proprietor, El Mizmor Music Academy, Aseno Terhuja Kavalov, spoke about how everyone could relate to the book as it does not pretend to have answers, but reminded that being human is messy and beautiful and deeply connected.
She further remarked that through entries about love, friendship, depression, betrayal, family, and forgiveness, the book shows them that the everyday experiences and little things one often overlook are where the real emotions live.
Describing the book as a soft voice in a loud world, she reiterated that it is a reminder that even the smallest feelings matter and that growing up, with all its ache and wonder, is a story worth telling again and again.
The author in her address recalled her experiences of growing up as a teenager and said that it was actually a spontaneous decision to put this book up for publication.
Meanwhile, publisher of PenThrill, Vishü Rita Krocha, noted that it takes extraordinary courage to write about things that were deeply personal, and drew similarities between entries in a diary and writing poetry, pointing that both requires writer to bare one’s thoughts and feelings.
Offering thoughts and experiences through the lens of a teenager, she added that anyone can resonate with the book since every adult had once been a teenager and young children would also become teenagers one day.