Saanvi Shrivastava’s debut novel, ‘Her Quests for Virtue’, is a compelling anthology of short stories, resonating profoundly with the intricate tapestry of the emotions of young adults involved in choosing the right over the wrong in their pursuit of individual identity.
The book, set in a plethora of global backdrops in times historical, dystopian and realistic, explores what it means to have integrity through the lens of young adults. Daring protagonists lead the way through complex obstacles, emerging as valiant victors due to their moral values. They are not the dashing superheroes with unique abilities shown in movies; they are regular teenagers with a spark of fire in their bellies, fuelling them towards the right actions, not the popular ones. The book has eight distinct stories talking about a particular value/belief which has been displayed by the protagonists through their actions.
Saanvi’s prowess in creative writing coupled with her command over the language is remarkable considering the fact that she is 16 years old and presently a student of class 11. She has dabbled in narratives, descriptive writing and some full-fledged stories in the past before trying her hands in short story telling in her first book.
For example, Decision-making talks about the predicament of the story lead in selecting the ‘easier wrong’ or the ‘harder right’ in her growth path. Paul Fisher, a Language Arts facilitator working in the Czech Republic has aptly commented on this story – ‘This is a great but challenging choice for a short piece like this; it’s a classical rendering of a coming-to-a-decision moment. Saanvi has included so much beautiful language and imagery. The indecisive wind and hesitant sun are great details that connect to the protagonist. I think Saanvi skillfully shifts from description to flashback to the present moment.’
‘Her Quests for Virtue’ by Saanvi Shrivastava is a profound exploration of singular values like Resilience and Adaptability amongst many others which define the basic fabric of an individual. This book is a must for all growing teenagers to find their true self amongst the cobwebs of lurking distractions of make-belief fallacies which continue to corrode humanity.
The book is available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats.
