Teen fiction: Sao Thay Khong Mai Teen Teen (Why isn't My Teacher in His Teens Forever?) by director Le Hoang was released in HCM City this week. — Photo phuongnambook.com.vn

HCM CITY (VNS) — After several years of working in film, the talented director Le Hoang has written his first book, Sao Thay Khong Mai Teen Teen (Why Isn't My Teacher in His Teens Forever?), which was released in HCM City this week.

The 280-page book includes dozens of lively works by young painters from the HCM City Culture and Art Publishing House.

It tells stories about a 17-year-old girl, Ly Cun, and her classmates, who discover life and love together. The book also provides information on the history of HCM City, a subject that many youth know little about.

Hoang told the local media that he had decided to write a book aimed at teenagers because he thought it "was critical that teenagers have access to good-quality books suitable to their needs".

The book highlights teens' loves and dreams, written with the author's great imagination and flair.

More than 10,000 copies of the book have been printed and distributed by the HCM City Culture and Arts Publishing House and Phuong Nam Book.

"I'm a fan of Hoang's movies. I think Hoang's book will be popular with both teenagers and adults because they are full of mythical beings and realistic features," said Vu Hoang Diep, a first-year student at the HCM City Law University.

"I believe Hoang knows what young people think and want," she added.

Many parents and educators are troubled by teenagers turning to readily available Vietnamese and foreign adult books, as good-quality teenager books are sorely lacking in the market.

Commenting on the situation, a high school teacher said that teenagers were not mature enough to fully understand the content in adult books, and thus might be negatively affected by it.

Moreover, foreign adult books could even be more harmful because teenagers find alien the western way of thinking.

"I become worried when some of my students get more excited about social relationships, money, crime and sex as depicted in adult books than about schoolwork and friends," said Phan Thi Nguyet Anh, core teacher at the Hong Ha School in Tan Binh District.

Many parents allow their teenagers to indulge in adult books, and efforts need to be made to change this attitude, she added.

Unfortunately, Vietnamese teenage books are few and far between, and many are boring. Thus, they lose out to exciting productions from the US, France, Japan and other countries.

"I think local authors prefer to write for adults and young children. They are under the misperception that teenagers will enjoy children's books," said Diep, adding that her parents bought children's books for her when she was at high school. — VNS