Linda Trinh is a Vietnamese Canadian author living in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She immigrated to Canada with her family when she was a young child. In addition to writing for children, Trinh publishes for adults in literary magazines and anthologies.
Fiction (Juvenile, Chapter book)
The Healer and the Phoenix
Illustrator: Quynh Anh Nguyen.
Toronto: Annick Press, 2026.
Series: Legendary Allies.
Forthcoming April 2026.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
Welcome to the magical world of Van Lang, where in every generation, a team of four adventurous kids and their magical ally animals come together to help their communities recover from The Dark Times.
When ten-year-old Starbright Mai is chosen as the newest member of Van Lang’s Legendary Allies Team by a phoenix named Ruby, her whole world changes overnight. Mai is thrust into a world of secret quests and magical powers. But she struggles to fit in with her new team; and why did Ruby, whose magical power is to heal, choose Mai anyway? Before long Mai starts to feel like her place on the team is all a big mistake.
But when the Legendary Allies get word of an illness, they must act quickly to help save the community. With all of Van Lang counting on them, Mai discovers a key to the cure: will her teammates believe her? And can she find the strength to believe in herself?
In this first installment of a four-book series, award-winning author Linda Trinh explores themes of social justice, empathy, and resilience. Vibrant, full-color illustrations by Quynh Ahn Nguyen bring the world of Van Lang brilliantly to life.
Fiction (Juvenile, Chapter book)
The Journey of the Ancestors’ Gifts
Toronto: Annick Press, 2023.
Series: The Nguyen Kids ; bk. 4
PZ7.1.T755 J68 2023
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
The Nguyen kids are going on vacation!
It’s their first time in Vietnam and staying in Grandma Nội’s childhood home, so they should be excited. As soon as they enter the house, though, something doesn’t feel right. Why is the door to the ancestors’ room always closed? And why can’t they connect with Grandma Nội using their gifts, the way they can at home?
Fiction (Juvenile, Chapter book)
The Mystery of the Painted Fan
Toronto: Annick Press, 2023.
Series: The Nguyen Kids ; bk. 3
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
The third book in the early chapter book series The Nguyen Kids features the youngest sibling, Jacob, and continues the series’ exploration of social justice themes, specifically gender expression and identity, with a supernatural twist.
Thoughtful and creative, Jacob is tired of being the baby of the family. He is ready to fully express himself in all of the ways that feel right to him, but not everyone seems as eager to accept change—even his own parents. He still loves hockey, yet he also wants to try something new, even if others may not understand. Confused and frustrated, Jacob turns to the beautiful fan his Grandma Nội gave him, which features all of the Vietnamese zodiac animals. With the mysterious fan and memories of Grandma guiding him, Jacob finds the power to remain true to himself, and show his family who he could be.
Fiction (Juvenile, Chapter book)
The Power of the Pearl Earrings
Illustrated by Clayton Nguyen
Toronto: Annick Press, 2022
Series: The Nguyen Kids ; bk. 2
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
Spontaneous and energetic Liz, the middle Nguyen sibling, grew up hearing stories from her Grandma Nội about the fantastically fierce Trung Sisters, freedom fighters in ancient Vietnam. And with a new school year about to start, Liz is determined that her taekwondo classes will prove she is just as important and brave as the famous warriors. That is, until the new boy at school, Michael, threatens her plans by turning her best friend against her, telling her the things she can’t do because she’s a girl. Struggling with both her friendships and her place in her family, Liz finds help where she least expects it—in the pearl earrings her Grandma Nội left her as a gift, reminding her of her Vietnamese heritage. Armed with the earrings’ mysterious power, Liz decides to show Michael exactly what girls are capable of.
Fiction (Juvenile, Chapter book)
The Secret of the Jade Bangle
Illustrated by Clayton Nguyen
Toronto: Annick Press, 2022
Series: The Nguyen Kids ; bk. 1
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
Organized and introspective nine-year-old Anne Nguyen misses her Grandma Nội, a lot. But even though Grandma Nội passed away, it doesn’t mean she’s disappeared.
When Anne and her younger siblings Jacob and Liz are given gifts passed on to them by Grandma, Anne soon realizes that hers—a beautiful jade bangle—has a secret power. One that might just give her the strength to stand up to her ballet teacher, who treats her differently than her white classmates, and embrace her Vietnamese identity through cooking Grandma’s recipes. No matter how difficult things get, Anne learns that the love of her ancestors is always with her.
Non-fiction (Memoir)
Seeking Spirit: A Vietnamese (Non)Buddhist
Toronto: Guernica Editions, 2025.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
In her memoir Seeking Spirit: A Vietnamese (Non)Buddhist Memoir, Linda Trinh says she had everything she thought an immigrant woman should want: motherhood, career, and security. Yet she felt empty. Growing up in Winnipeg, Linda helped her mom make offerings to their ancestors and cleaned her late dad’s altar. These were her mother’s beliefs, but was Buddhism Linda’s belief? In her late-twenties, Linda sought answers in Egypt and China and prayed during corporate downsizing, seeking meaning in contemporary life. Via a collection of essays, she plays with form and structure to show the interconnection of life events, trauma, and spiritual practice, to move from being a passive believer to an active seeker.