Different from the rural space of the Central region that was associated with many works before, this time Nguyen Nhat Anh brings readers back to Saigon in the 80s. The city is now famous for its nostalgic break-ins: Palikao Bridge, old apartment buildings, narrow alleys, District 5 (old), District 6 (old) with a community of Vietnamese people of Chinese origin, Quang Dong voice interspersed with Vietnamese. Without a dense description, a few small details are enough to evoke the rhythm of life that was once difficult but full of humanity.
In that context, the story focuses on childhood, friendship, intimacy and simple kindness between ordinary people. Thieu, Tuong, Man - the characters that readers have met in "I see yellow flowers on green grass" left the grassy countryside to become the city. They live in an old apartment, next to the family of A Lin and Mrs. A Pho, poor but loyal neighbors. The cramped living space, sparse meals, little furniture... make the urban picture appear realistic, especially for immigrant families.
One of the haunting images is the scene where A Lin sat studying on two low chairs, one for sitting, one for changing tables. Every time he bowed down, his back was bent like a shrimp, rolling and falling. From Tuong's perspective, that hardship appeared as a "sad thread" seeping into the carpet of childhood. Small details but touching emotions, show the way the writer sees the hardships of the poor with a gentle, unmissioned look.
On the deeper level, The little Neighbor and the Four Candy is a book about kindness and kindness in times of need. Poor neighbors are still willing to take care of each other, lend houses, take care of other children, give each other every portion of food, in the spirit of "the healthy leaves cover the torn leaves, the less torn leaves cover the more torn leaves". That care not only helps the character overcome difficulties, but also helps readers review themselves, realize that they are living a more prosperous life than many people and know how to appreciate things that seem normal.
Sharing about the reason for the book's birth, Nguyen Nhat Anh said that it was the curiosity of readers about the "transfer" of characters that made him "have to use a book to answer a book". After "I see yellow flowers on green grass", many people wondered if Man would find his father, if Thieu and Man would meet each other again, how their relationship would be in the future? The author said that he was equally curious, so he was forced to continue writing to explore the character's fate in the new context.
However, The little girl and the four candy bars is not the official second part of I see yellow flowers on the green grass. This is an independent work, people who have never read before can still enjoy it completely. The return of the old character comes from the reasonableness of the setting and time, rather than the intention to extend a successful "brand". Thanks to that, the book can both satisfy long-time readers and new readers.
Another interesting meaning of the book is memories of the golden age of paper newspapers. The work recalls humorous, poetic, literary and painting sections that once made readers look forward to each issue of the newspaper. Just writing well and drawing beautifully can become a collaborator, and the joy of "having a newspaper post" is not only in the pens but also in the feeling of pride. In the context of the development of artificial intelligence, soulless passages can be born from a commandment, a book that evokes the joy of slow creativity through words and drawings.
The illustration by artist Do Hoang Tuong with more than 20 paintings also contributes significantly to creating attraction. Old Saigon, old apartment buildings, teenagers, small corners of Chinese neighborhoods... appear vividly, helping readers - especially young readers - visualize more clearly the setting where the story takes place. From there, the nostalgic emotions of the older generation of readers were also awakened, creating a bridge between generations.
At the age of being attached to literature for decades, Nguyen Nhat Anh still said that he did not think about " stopping writing". For him, writing is a way to live, to keep positive energy, so that time "do not catch up".
The little sister and the four candy is therefore not only a new long story for teenagers, but also a testament to the endurance of a writer who always renews himself, but does not lose the core: the belief in kindness, kindness and human ability to keep the feeling of all four seasons are Spring in his heart, even when life is full of worries.
