The author of The Diamond Heist, Sai Daksh Shetty, was 11 when he wrote the book. What can I say except that I remember writing poems at that age, extremely embarrassed to show it to anyone and extremely angry when someone read it? Getting a story out at that age needs courage, because there’s so much to learn yet, but you have a milestone to remember that will shape your future for you. Maybe not in concrete, but the way your mind thinks and your personality.
I got a free review copy in exchange for an honest review. Here goes nothing.
The Diamond Heist is a children’s detective novel, something that intrigued me to no end. I wasn’t surprised that such a young boy had become a published author. After all, that is the age when you start forming ideas. That is the time when many know what they want to do with life. And for Sai Daksh to have gotten the opportunity to put the story into words is hope for a better morrow where more and more kids will know that their talent is precious, too.
I don’t usually read and review children’s books. But this one seemed cute enough, with its cover showing me 7 little Shikari Shambus around a glass case, trying to investigate a case. [Wow, that wasn’t intentional!] Like any other novel I read, I am going to list out what I liked and did not like about the book.
The biggest thing about the book that I absolutely loved was how unquestionably the girls are shown to participate in fights in the story. And I don’t mean just kick and punch. It’s straight out smashing the bad guys’ faces! They are termed ‘bossy’ and lightly made fun of by the boys, but at the end of the day, the respect is there. They accept it because they know right from wrong. Or how would they be called detectives?
And then there is the fact that the author, 11 when he wrote The Diamond Heist and 13 now, tried to dig his hands into writing. In this time and age, when gadgets and games are the life and soul of a childhood (regrettably so), a child trying to write and adding to the author population gives me a lot of hope. Keep going, Daksh! There’s a lot more where this came from. I know it!
Before I begin on the not-so-rosy parts of the story, I want to tell the author Sai Daksh something. In your lifetime, you will go on to write a many more books if you keep this passion up. There will be ups and downs in your life as an author. But remember that you will always have scope for improvement. Reviews might gush about your books or diss it. But it is how you take the reviews that will shape your thinking as a writer. Similarly, as I write about how you could improve your writing, do know that it’s all constructive feedback.
On that note: The Diamond Heist has been written by a boy in his early teenage, yes. While keeping in mind this point, I must say that even for this, there is a lot of scope for improvement language-wise. Plot-wise, I’d say it is Daksh’s story to tell. But how he chooses to put it is his prerogative. And for that, we come back to the language bit. While I wouldn’t say it is bad – it is entertaining in its moments – there is a lot of time for him to develop and hone his writing style and come up with something that everyone across the world can read.
All in all, a sweet read!
All the best to the author for a great learning experience and for coming up with a crazily awesome second book!
Rating: 3/5 stars
Until next time, keep reading and add melodrama to your life. 🙂
The Melodramatic Bookworm 