“Under the sky with a lush green frame” is a long story collection that has won the Dế Mèn Aspiration Award at the 5th Dế Mèn Children's Award.
The collection has a volume of 140 pages, divided into 14 chapters, recreating the vibrant and lively atmosphere of the children's village, Đồi, in Ghe Village, which is surrounded by mountains and rivers on all sides.
Those childhood memories, though poor and lacking, were filled with love, poetry, and great beauty. In that place, readers can immerse themselves in the natural rhythm of childhood in the fascinating journey of the village children, who from a young age were self-sufficient, supportive, and shared with each other and the community.
Parallel to the storyline, author Lữ Mai has vividly depicted the beauty of nature and rural life with winding rivers, covered mountains, ponds, fields, and seasons harmoniously blending with the peaceful, simple, and richly characteristic rural lifestyle.
The work is like a painting overflowing with green colors and many details with dikes, pond banks, smoke, hill fragrances, insects... that the author has described quite meticulously and carefully.
The connection between the storyline is the spiritual value shown through the bond, love, and various emotional levels of human beings, which are touching, mysterious, and profound, and most importantly, the connection and gratitude of future generations to history, to the glorious past of the nation, and the heroes who made the land and village names.
“Under the lush green frame” is not only directed at children but also like a part of the memories of the late 8X and early 9X generations - the same time as the author and all people who love literature, love nature, and are moved by the deep human values, wanting to return to the peaceful rural scenery to calm their souls in the noisy and bustling society.
Regarding the work, author Lữ Mai said: “The story collection is full of my childhood memories. Most of them are true stories, and I have experienced them with all emotional levels.
When I was a child, I always recorded stories around my family, village, and school in the most natural way. And then, as I grew up, I gradually lost that habit, and I also lost many of my childhood writings.”
As a children's literature work, the author did not forget the connection of memories by “We move towards the future but never forget the past. Recognition and gratitude are essential and must be entirely selfless and voluntary.
When we think about the past, even if it's very far away, we won't experience it, then we will receive very profound values that are not easy to measure or explain. It helps each step and thought of ours become more meaningful.”
