Guardians of the Forest — Sophie Arnold

Sophie Arnold published her first book, The Space Quest Adventures, in 2023 at the age of ten, making her Vietnam’s youngest published author at the time. The experience changed her. Writing had always been something she did privately, instinctively, on school holidays and in the margins of other things. Having a book in her hands, and seeing what it did for her confidence and her place among her peers at school, made her understand what it was for.

Guardians of the Forest is her second book, written two years later at twelve, and the growth is audible on every page. At 12,000 words, it is considerably longer than The Space Quest Adventures, with a more developed world, more layered characters, and a narrative that builds to a genuinely moving conclusion involving magical wolves, a rescued parrot, and two girls who discover that the forest has always known their names.

The Vietnamese bilingual edition is in production, edited by Nguyễn Hoàng Diệu Thúy and translated by Nguyễn Thành Kim Thiên Thi. Sophie’s intention is to visit schools in Vietnam with the bilingual edition, to speak to young students about writing, and to demonstrate that age and background are not limits on what a person can create and publish. Metro Writers shares this ambition and hopes to build broader programmes to encourage young writers in Vietnam through Sophie’s example.

Guardians of the Forest is proof that the first book was just the beginning in a life-changing education.

In a world where trees whisper secrets and animals hold ancient wisdom, two girls discover that friendship might be the strongest magic of all.

Winter Krimm was born into a family of ruthless hunters. But unlike her parents, she sees the forest as a sanctuary worth saving. Alongside her fearless best friend Kitty, an artist with a wild imagination and a heart full of courage, Winter stumbles upon a hidden world shimmering with enchantment, danger… and destiny.

When the majestic mother wolf, Amethyst, pleads for help, the girls are thrust into an extraordinary adventure that spans magical realms and terrible danger. Armed with enchanted devices, shimmering potions, and a fierce determination to protect the wild, they become the forest’s last hope against destruction.

But for Winter, standing up to the adults who raised her may be the biggest challenge yet.

Spellbinding, heartfelt and brimming with wonder, Guardians of the Forest is a thrilling tale of courage, compassion, and the power of two young girls to change their world—one tree, one howl, one secret at a time.

The forest has chosen its guardians. Are you ready to join them?

“Her name is Amethyst,” Ruby explained as both Ruby and Diamond ran to their mother. The girls followed the cubs. Amethyst allowed Kitty and Winter to stroke her fur, her ears pricking up momentarily as she looked towards the girls.“Thank you for helping my cubs,” she said, her colourful eyes turning towards them. “You’ve given them beautiful names, but they have other magical names too. Ruby’s real name is Moon, and little Diamond, Sun.”The girls smiled at the cubs once more as a shimmer of dust formed in front of the mother wolf. Two necklaces appeared and dropped to the ground. The necklaces were beautiful. From each of them hung two tiny bottles of glittering water that smelt like roses.”

— Sophie Arnold, Guardians of the Forest