She may be only seven but Malaikah Abdul-Jabbar has a big voice — and yesterday she used it to lead a crowd of people outside City Hall in a rousing chant.

The young writer encouraged those who attended the launch of her first book — an anti-violence tract inspired by the murder of a classmate's father — to repeatedly shout out its title: "Stop the shooting!"

Those joining in included Valerie Williams, principal at Victor Scott Primary School, where Malaikah is a pupil and where another father was gunned down on Good Friday in front of his children.

Mrs. Williams told the audience: "There's an expression that says nothing happens before its time. However, this statement does not ring true for our students at Victor Scott school.

"Unfortunately, in their tender young years, they have had to face things that some of us in our older years have never had to face.

"We've had armed gunmen using our field as an escape route. We had a murder scene just above our field. We had two of our fathers gunned down between January and March."

The principal said students and staff were staying strong and resilient despite the violence. She thanked the community for its support and praised Malaikah for the book.

"Another expression is that at the end of every dark cloud there is a silver lining," she added. "We are so happy to say that Malaikah is the silver lining at Victor Scott school."

Deputy Premier Paula Cox opened the book launch by suggesting that Malaikah could be Bermuda's youngest-ever published author.

"She calls it as she sees it," said Ms Cox. "She writes in very simple language but language that everyone can understand and it resonates."

She added: "Let's support Malaikah and others like her. Let's buy the book, let's stop the shooting."

A thousand copies of the book have been published with help from various organisations, including YouthNet, where the youngster attends a reading programme.

YouthNet executive director Clare Mello said proceeds would go in part towards a fund to help other young people work on peace initiatives. A peace club may also be formed.

Malaikah's mother Maaida Coleman, 29, who is originally from Brooklyn and is expecting her fourth child in two weeks, said the family used to live in the Friswells Hill area, which has suffered from gun and gang attacks.

"She didn't really understand the concept of death," said Ms Coleman. "When we explained it to her, it really affected her. She poured everything out into this book."

Father Mukhtar Abdul-Jabbar, 27, said: "I'm very proud of her. She writes books about everything. At first, this wasn't anything special because we were so used to her writing books. But after she took it into school to show her teacher, it went from there."

Malaikah said the murder of her friend's dad left her "upset, confused but mostly angry". "Just because I am young does not mean I do not have a voice," she told the audience.

• For more information on the book visit the website at www.stoptheshooting.com.