Chinese literary wunderkind Zhou Yuanyuan's latest novel, Live on the Island, hit bookshelf stores on Sunday, with the author himself in attendance at a release and signing party at Beijing's Xidan Book Center.

Following the adventures of a mildly autistic boy facing the challenges of adulthood, the novel, Zhou's second book after I'm Happy to be Lonely, is meant to reflect the so-called "culture of isolation" afflicting children born after the implementation of China's one-child policy, according to Zhou.

In the novel's unnamed lead character, Zhou said he created a personality not unlike his own, despite the fact that the story "isn't autobiographical in the slightest." Frustrated by his inability to connect with others, the boy often retreats into his imagination, visualizing himself alone on a deserted island. After winning an online blogging contest, however, he achieves sudden fame and notoriety, but must balance these new demands against the safer, more comfortable world of his inner mind.

Zhou, 24, admitted he too finds solace retreating away from the world and into fantasy.

Quoting a line from the preface during the release party, he spoke of the "calm and tranquil island" in his heart that contains "all good things, always there."

The party was attended by Douban celebrity Zhang Xinyuan, Xu Shanshan, wife of singer Gao Xiaosong, and folk singer Platanus.

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