Book smart! 10-year-old set to have second story published

ONE OF Britain's youngest authors is releasing his second book at the end of the month. Jordan Takpi, 10, from Newham, east London, wrote his first book, Jordan and His Spots, at the tender age of six and had it published when he was just seven.

The young man is now in the process of releasing his second book, The Adventure of Shakershock. The book is about how a boy, Maxi, discovers he has super 'shaking' powers. He morphs into his alter-ego, a superhero called 'Shakershock', to rescue his friends from a giant alien goblin on a school trip to Thorpe Park.

Jordan appears to have followed in the steps of his mother, Zoe Cameron-Dove, who is herself a writer.

"Jordan has always loved stories. When he was too young to write he would tell stories," said Cameron-Dove, 35.

"His first book, Jordan and His Spots, is based on a true story. He experienced a break out of spots on his face, and no matter what we did at the time the spots would not disappear."

Impressed

Jordan told her he wanted to have his book published. "I was impressed that he wanted to write, a book. I did not limit him, instead I was extremely supportive and I published it for him," Cameron-Dove said.

"Jordan wrote his second book at the age of eight, but I've only been able to get it published only recently. When I asked him why he wanted to write a superhero book, he told me that there were not enough black superheroes in this country, which is why he wanted to create one."

Jordan has epilepsy which sometimes results in memory loss, but his proud mother commends her son for his persistence.

She said: "I used to suffer from epilepsy but I never thought of writing a book and giving some of the money towards the Epilepsy Association. Not because I don't enjoy giving, because I do, but having such a mentality at his age I was really impressed and amazed."

Inspiring others

Jordan's writing success has also inspired his peers at school, some of whom now want to follow in his footsteps.

Cameron-Dove urged other parents to engage with and support their children. "Parents need to invest in their children a lot more. There is a negative stereotype of black youth which, we as parents, can change," she said.

"I always encourage Jordan that he can do more than one thing in life, he doesn't just need to stick to one career choice, he can be what he wants. The sky is the limit."