Linh, a city girl obsessed with capturing the "perfect" social-media-worthy photo, travels to the Mu Cang Chai rice terraces during the harvest season. Through her interactions with her hardworking cousins and a humbling fall into the mud, she realizes that true beauty isn't found in untouched landscapes, but in the grit, sweat, and communal joy of the people who shape the land.
Ah Boy, a quiet twelve-year-old boy, spends his weekends as an apprentice at the Southern Heritage Zoo in Johor, finding a sense of purpose he lacks in his daily school life. Under the guidance of his gruff but wise mentor, Uncle Musa, Ah Boy learns that zookeeping is a profound responsibility that involves protecting wild spirits and educating the public. Through his bond with a gentle tapir...
The Tides of Desaru Beach follows twelve-year-old Hana, a curious girl living in a Malaysian coastal town, who discovers a mysterious message in a bottle washed up on the shore. The cryptic note leads her on a journey through her family’s history, eventually uncovering the truth about her great-grandfather’s lost ship, the Seri Desaru. By solving the puzzle of "where the hibiscus meets the salt,"...
A Starry Night Over the National Planetarium follows Eddy, a boy living in a cramped city apartment who uses the local planetarium as a sanctuary from his parents' constant arguing. Alongside a new friend named Miki, Eddy learns to view his family’s struggles through the lens of astronomy, realizing that just as city lights hide the stars without destroying them, his current hardships are only...
In the heart of a changing Malaysian neighborhood, twelve-year-old Maya copes with her father’s absence by confiding in an old rain tree outside her flat in Taman TAR. When developers announce plans to cut it down for a convenience store, Maya discovers a hidden journal left by her father—filled with memories of their time together beneath its branches. Fueled by love and loss, she rallies her...
After devastating monsoon floods leave her neighborhood of Air Itam scarred and silent, thirteen-year-old Bell—a shy, artistic girl with a sketchbook full of unspoken feelings—begins transforming cracked, damaged walls into vibrant murals using leftover house paint. Her colorful creations breathe life back into the community, turning sorrow into shared beauty. But when a developer moves in to...
In The Ghost Festival Mix-Up, twelve-year-old Mei accidentally invites a talkative, nostalgic ghost named Ah-Boh into her life after misplacing a pineapple tart during Hungry Ghost Month. Now stuck with a well-meaning but overly enthusiastic spirit who refuses to leave, Mei must sneak him through school, hawker centers, and a bustling temple festival—all while avoiding supernatural chaos and...
Penang Bridge’s Whispering Winds follows Eddy, a 17-year-old on the eve of leaving his home island for university in Sydney, as he takes one final bus ride across the Penang Bridge. Through quiet reflection, fragmented memories, and the weight of unspoken goodbyes—especially with Anna, Lily, Bell, and the others—he grapples with the bittersweet ache of growing up. The journey becomes a metaphor...
"Jellyfish Summer at Monkey Beach" is a heartwarming coming-of-age story about Lily, a shy girl whose quiet summer holiday takes an unexpected turn when she experiences a jellyfish sting. Initially overwhelmed by fear of the ocean and hesitant to make new friends, Lily gradually finds her courage with the gentle encouragement of Eddy and Anna. Through a beach treasure hunt, she not only confronts...
"The Komtar Kid's Climb" tells the heartwarming story of Eddy, a shy Penang boy who reluctantly participates in a race up the towering Komtar building. With the unwavering support of his best friend Anna and other classmates like Lily, Bell, Vivian, Emma, and Hyuga, Eddy confronts his deep-seated shyness and physical challenges. Along the way, he even helps a younger boy, Pye, find his courage...
