• Age: 6 to 9
• Grade: 1 to 4
• Reading age: 6 to 9

“Engaging and empowering.” —STARRED review, Nonstop Reader

A charming early chapter book series that explores Vietnamese culture and identity through the eyes of the Nguyen siblings, with elements of the supernatural, spirituality, and social justice woven in.

Organized and introspective nine-year-old Anne Nguyen misses her Grandma Nội, a lot. But even though Grandma Nội passed away, it doesn’t mean she’s disappeared.

When Anne and her younger siblings Jacob and Liz are given gifts passed on to them by Grandma, Anne soon realizes that hers—a beautiful jade bangle—has a secret power. One that might just give her the strength to stand up to her ballet teacher, who treats her differently than her white classmates, and embrace her Vietnamese identity through cooking Grandma’s recipes. No matter how difficult things get, Anne learns that the love of her ancestors is always with her.

LINDA TRINH is a Vietnamese Canadian author who writes fiction and non-fiction for children and adults. Her work has appeared in anthologies and literary magazines. She explores identity, cultural background, and spirituality. The Nguyen Kids is her first children's book series. She lives with her family in Winnipeg.

Linda Trinh's profile page

CLAYTON NGUYEN is an illustrator and animation student at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.

Clayton Nguyen's profile page

• Joint winner, Eileen McTavish Sykes Award
• Short-listed, Panda Book Awards
• Joint winner, Best Books for Kids & Teens, starred selection, Canadian Children’s Book Center
• Short-listed, Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award
• Commended, Windows and Mirrors List, NEIBA
• Commended, Best Canadian Kids & YA Books, CBC Books
• Nominated, The Outstanding Works of Literature Award, BookPal
• Joint winner, New York Public Library Best Books for Kids

“An emotionally intelligent, straightforwardly told family story, it’s the first installment of a series centered on Anne and her siblings.”

Publishers Weekly

“This is a sweet title that handles the concepts surrounding racism as experienced by younger children in a relatable and age-appropriate way; it should be considered for all chapter book collections.”

School Library Journal

“A solid chapter book laced with themes of cultural confidence and family.”

Kirkus Reviews

“Engaging and empowering . . . Despite the action filled plot . . . the author manages to delve into deeper and meaningful themes such as integration and isolation, respect for culture, honesty, integrity, dealing constructively with racism, activism, and family in an age-appropriate manner.”

Nonstop Reader, *starred review

“Fans of Mindy Kim and Junie B. Jones—check this out! . . . The first book is about discovering who you are, valuing your heritage and understanding your ancestral background. It is also about standing up for your culture and standing up against racism—all folded into a child-friendly story.”

Bedashruti Mitra Basu, Bookstagrammer @bedashrutimitrabasu