At eight years old, Hanh Bui and her family left war-torn Vietnam for safety and a new beginning. After nine days at sea, they were rescued by the United States Navy. Hanh will always be grateful for the kindness of her first American helpers.
Growing up, she connected with universal themes of family, friendship, and love in the books she read. However, she didn’t see stories about families similar to her own represented between the pages of books. There weren’t any characters she could identify with or who looked like her.
Gracie and Ruby, Hanh’s writing buddies
Inspired by her first American teacher at Fort Indiantown Gap, a refugee camp, Hanh grew up to also become a teacher. During her years as an educator, she was disappointed that there were few books with Asian American characters or stories written by Vietnamese American authors. She wanted all of the students in her class to see themselves represented in the books they read. When her own children’s love of books blossomed, Hanh decided to write stories based on her childhood refugee experiences and Vietnamese heritage. Hanh feels honored to add her voice to the countless diverse creators sharing their stories with young readers today. As noted by renowned school librarian, Dr. Rudine Bishop, Hanh hopes her books will be a “mirror” for more children to know their experiences matter and serve as a “window or sliding door” for all readers.
The second book, Ánh’s New Word illustrated by Bao Luu, released in 2024, is inspired by Hanh’s own refugee experience. It was written as a tribute to her grandparents and the teacher who taught her English at the refugee camp. Hanh hopes her book embodies the gratitude she feels for the teacher who helped her embrace her voice in a new country.