It’s not every day you see a children’s author swap fairy tales for teenage power plays. But that’s exactly what Soman Chainani has done with his new YA novel, *Young World*, released Tuesday by Penguin Random House. The book, told through diary entries and over 150 neon-orange visuals, follows an average teen thrust into the role of president during a national crisis. No magic spells. No enchanted forests. Just real-time decisions under fire.

I first noticed the cover while waiting for my grandkids at the library. The bold orange visuals jumped off the shelf. I flipped through it—fast, sharp, intense. Not the kind of story I’d hand to my 13-year-old without a talk. But that’s the point, isn’t it? This isn’t just fiction. It’s a mirror. And time is the most important thing we have to shape it.

1. A Teen President? Yes — And It’s Not Just Fantasy

Chainani’s new book centers on a 16-year-old named Eli who becomes acting president after a sudden political collapse. That’s not a stretch in today’s world. We’ve seen young leaders rise in times of crisis—whether it’s a 22-year-old running a school board campaign or a 19-year-old leading a community relief effort after a storm.

But here’s the kicker: the book doesn’t shy from the hard choices. It shows how decisions on food, energy, and national security ripple through families. That’s real. That’s time-sensitive. One scene shows Eli weighing whether to ration fuel during a blackout—just like what happened in parts of Florida during Hurricane Ian.

Look, I don’t want my kids to grow up thinking politics is all drama. But they do need to know time is not a luxury. It’s a resource. And every moment in power matters.

2. The Neon Orange Visuals Are No Accident — They’re a Warning

Over 150 neon-orange illustrations flood the pages of *Young World*. They’re not just eye-catching—they’re intentional. Chainani has said the color was chosen to symbolize urgency, like a flashing red light. That’s not design flair. That’s a message.

Think about it: when a child sees that color on every page, it’s not just a story. It’s a signal. Like a fire alarm. Like the red light on a school bus. Time is running. You must act.

I saw this in my own neighborhood last winter. A 14-year-old boy used a flashlight to guide a lost hiker back to the trail. The light was orange. Bright. Impossible to ignore. That’s the same kind of signal Chainani is sending. Not fear. Focus. Time to act.

3. It’s Not About the Plot — It’s About the Pause

One of the most powerful moments in the book isn’t a battle or a speech. It’s a quiet scene where Eli sits alone, staring at a photo of his family. He’s not thinking about votes. He’s thinking about time. How fast it moves. How little of it he has.

That moment hit me. My husband passed last year. I still remember sitting in his favorite chair, holding his old baseball glove. Time doesn’t wait. It doesn’t ask. It just… goes.

And that’s the heart of *Young World*. It’s not about winning. It’s about being present. Being ready. That’s what we teach our kids—not just how to lead, but how to live in the time we’re given.

4. Real-World Echoes — From Florida to the Field

Yes, the book is fiction. But it echoes real events. On April 21, a K-9 in Jacksonville, Florida, found a missing autistic teen by sniffing his sock. The dog didn’t wait. It acted. Fast. Precise. The boy was safe. Why? Because time was on the clock.

That’s the same energy in *Young World*. When Eli makes a decision, it’s not hypothetical. It’s real. It’s life-or-death. Just like that K-9, the story says: don’t wait. Time is not a backup plan.

And here’s the kicker: that same dog was trained by a veteran police officer who once said, “The first 90 seconds decide everything.” That’s the same kind of time pressure Eli faces. Not drama. Reality.

5. What This Means for Our Families — and Our Future

Chainani isn’t just writing a novel. He’s asking a question: What kind of leaders will we raise? Not just leaders with titles, but ones who understand time. Who know that one decision can save a life. Or end a dream.

I’ve seen it. My daughter’s son, now 15, helped organize a food drive during a winter storm. No one told him to. He just saw a need. And he acted. That’s time. That’s leadership. That’s what *Young World* is trying to spark.

But we can’t just hand kids a book and say “good luck.” We have to talk. We have to show them how time shapes choices. How one moment can change everything.

So here’s the truth: the time we spend teaching our kids about responsibility, courage, and consequence—*that* is the real story. Not the plot. Not the page count. The time.

Key Takeaways

  • Time is not a luxury—it’s the most urgent resource in leadership and life.

  • Neon-orange visuals in *Young World* are a deliberate signal: act now, don’t wait.

  • Real-life moments—from K-9 rescues to teenage volunteers—prove that time matters in every decision.

Sarah Mitchell

Sarah Mitchell is a political commentator covering national security, immigration, and constitutional issues for AXIOM News.

This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team.


This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team. For questions, contact [email protected].