The Director of TIMES Publishing House and its editorial team were astonished when they first received a “substantial English manuscript” of more than 400 pages written by a 13-year-old author. Previously, the longest manuscripts submitted by young writers had been around 100 pages. Even more impressive, this manuscript marks only the beginning of a long-running series. Recognizing the potential of a large-scale English novel series, TIMES Publishing House officially published A World Divided — the debut work of Trí Dũng (9Zurich).
Having earned the Dewey Talent Scholarship for three consecutive years and being a familiar face in academic competitions, many might assume that Trí Dũng’s world revolves solely around textbooks. However, this young student is far more versatile: at times a determined competitive swimmer, at others an expressive pianist, and notably, a young writer passionate about the fantasy genre.
Dũng’s writing journey began by chance when he “accidentally” wrote 12 pages for an essay on mythology. Ms. Downing Grace, a humanities teacher, was surprised by his writing ability and became the first person to encourage him to try writing a book. Dũng began writing A World Divided when he was in Grade 7. Inspired by magical worlds such as Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings, he gradually crafted the adventure of the character Chris Crough. Without reminders or pressure from anyone, Dũng dedicated one hour every evening to writing.
Ideas came to him naturally, supported by the rich vocabulary and expressive language he accumulated through his reading habit. Dũng shared that he has never faced language barriers. From primary school, he became accustomed to presenting in English and using the language as a tool for self-learning, research, and classroom projects. “In every English lesson, our teacher usually sets aside 10 minutes for reading and discussion. Instead of approaching knowledge purely through textbooks, Humanities topics are connected to specific books, giving us opportunities to reflect and develop our own understanding,” Dũng explained.
Editor Lê Thắm from TIMES Publishing House also praised Dũng for his strong personality, independent thinking, and critical mindset. “During the collaboration with illustrators and the publishing team, Dũng demonstrated initiative, actively discussing and debating to select the most suitable book cover and illustrations.”
Aspiring to pursue higher education in the United States, Trí Dũng hopes his debut novel and passion for writing will serve as a bridge toward achieving his goals. He also plans to donate all book sale profits to The Dewey West of West Lake Community Fund, hoping to support and inspire less fortunate children. Dũng’s book also conveys a message to young creative minds, as he once wrote: “Don’t let creativity fall asleep or fade away within you. You may be busy or hesitant, but be brave enough to try. Trying is always better than standing still and doing nothing. Even if you fail, it is still an opportunity to become a better version of yourself.”
