Local author Malcolm Mejin explores this fantasy in his book series “Diary of a Rich Kid”, where a group of young friends go on wild and imaginative adventures across the globe together.
In the first instalment, the kids travel via private jet to the Bahamas for an exotic vacation that doesn’t quite go as planned. And in the second, they embark on a road trip around Sarawak to explore nature – and hijinks ensue.
This light-hearted and exciting series can be enjoyed by young and old alike, and will keep you on your toes while leaving you in tears of laughter.
Mejin self-published the first book – “a novel with the coolest secrets” – in 2020 and, encouraged by positive reception, released “Road Trip” and “Secrets of the Sea” in April and September 2021, respectively.
The Kuching-born author includes East Malaysian attractions such as the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre and Bako National Park, as well as local delicacies such as Sarawak laksa and durians, all accompanied by detailed illustrations.
He says such references allow the stories to be more relatable for Malaysians, while introducing the diversity and beauty of the country to non-locals.
Drawing on real life
Mejin, who is in his 30s and has been writing since he was six, explains that “rich” in the title has two meanings.
“It obviously refers to some of the characters being wealthy, but also to the meaningful bond of friendship they form as they embark on their adventures together,” he tells FMT.
“I hope my readers are able to relate to the characters and see themselves in them, whether they are going through moments of joy, sadness, anger or loneliness.”
As he used to keep a diary of his own growing up, it seemed fitting to him for these books to be written in a similar format.
And although he did not live a lavish lifestyle, Mejin notes that some of the adventures his characters go on are based on his own real-life experiences – such as their near-death brush with sharks in the first book.
“It’s based on my close encounter with a huge but harmless shark while snorkelling,” he laughs. “That sparked my creative juices to write that suspenseful scene.”
While the series has generally been well received, Mejin acknowledges he has also been the subject of criticism.
“Many have said my book is similar to ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid'” – the bestselling book series by United States author Jeff Kinney that has been made into several movies – “because of the name and the graphics used.
“I even had the original book cover of ‘Rich Kid’ revamped to avoid confusion,” he reveals, insisting that his work is original.
While these are the first physical books he has published, Mejin is not new to the industry, having previously released the “Zany Zombie” series in 2010 and a novel titled “Cool Diary” two years later, both as e-books.
“Deciding to go down the self-publishing route was nerve-wracking,” he says, “but I am glad I took this step to share my work with everyone.”
The ‘Diary of a Rich Kid’ series is available in Kinokuniya, Popular and MPH bookstores nationwide.