HCM CITY – The Phương Nam Book Company has republished a collection of eight books called Tuổi Hoa (Childhood), which was very popular among teenagers in the south before 1975.

The collection is divided into three labels of red, purple and blue.

The red-label books feature thrilling adventurous stories, including Tiếng Chuông Dưới Đáy Biển (Bell Ring Sound under the Sea) by Nguyễn Trường Sơn, Ngục Thất Giữa Rừng Sâu (Prison in the Forest) by Minh Quân and Mỹ Lan, and Pho Tượng Rồng Vàng (Golden Dragon Statue) and Mật Lệnh U Đỏ (Red Command) by Hoàng Đăng Cấp.

The purple-label works tell love stories among schoolboys and schoolgirls. They are Con Đường Lá Me (Road Covered by Tamarind Leaves) by Thùy An and Ngày Tháng Nào (Memorial Date) by Tôn Nữ Thùy Dung.

The two remaining books, Lòng Mẹ (Mother’s Love) by Nhật Lệ Giang và Chiếc Lá Thuộc Bài (Magical Leaf) by Nguyễn Thái Hải, highlight love to family, friends and people.

The collection is part of the Tuổi Hoa bookshelf consisting of stories published in the Tuổi Hoa monthly magazine.

The magazine was first introduced in June 1962 and had been published for nearly 30 years.

“I’m a fan of Tuổi Hoa books. They contain lessons about life, love and humanity. I’m excited that my grandson has a chance to read and enjoy these books,” said Nguyễn Văn Hùng, a grandfather of a grandson aged 9.

Huỳnh Như Phương, lecturer of the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said, “Tuổi Hoa books are my childhood friends. I’m happy to see my old friends.”

“We aim to provide more titles for teenagers this summer,” a representative of the Phương Nam Book Company said. 

The company plans to release more books from the Tuổi Hoa catalog to serve Vietnamese teenagers who are turning to foreign books.

Hùng said that he saw hundreds of foreign books for teenagers in bookstores, but books by Vietnamese writers were rare. Most of them were Nguyễn Nhật Ánh’s works.

Ánh is one of the country’s very few writers involved in writing books for teenagers with series such as Chuyện Xứ Lang Biang (Tales of Lang Biang) and Kính Vạn Hoa (Kaleidoscope).

“It’s necessary to reintroduce classic books such as Tuổi Hoa. Foreign books can bring general knowledge for both children and parents, but they may not be suitable to Vietnamese tradition and culture,” Hùng said. – VNS