Na Willa: The Books That Take Me Back to My Childhood

Title: Na Willa
Author: Reda Gaudiamo
First Published: 2018
Publisher: Post Press
Illustrations: Cecilia Hidayat
Genre: Fiction

Na Willa by Reda Gaudiamo is a children’s and family novel that tells the daily life of a girl from Surabaya in the 1960s–1970s. Told from an innocent and curious point of view, the story takes me back to my beautiful childhood.

Na Willa's daily life with her friends, Farida, Bud, and Dul, feels warm and joyful. Their interactions make me feel as though I have stepped into another dimension of time, where I somehow find my childhood friends again, people who feel strangely familiar and close even in my adulthood.

The everyday interactions between Willa and Mak are equally heartwarming. The love of a mother is beautifully portrayed through the way Mak patiently teaches and guides Willa. Reading this book gave me a new perspective on the bond between a mother and daughter, especially through the eyes of a mother.

Behind its simple stories, Na Willa captures the restlessness of childhood and the innocent way children see the world. Their simple and innocent understanding of life gives me a new perspective, reminding me that perhaps, we once saw the world in that same beautiful and uncomplicated way.

The part that is most memorable and relatable to me is when Na Willa has to part ways with Mbok and her friends. There is a kind of childhood restlessness that is difficult to understand from an adult’s perspective, a mixture of loss, goodbye, and fear that can only be felt by a little heart still untouched by the complexities of adulthood.

Bu Reda beautifully portrays that moment as a bittersweet goodbye, while capturing the restlessness of childhood and how decisions made by parents can feel confusing to children, only to be slowly understood as they grow older.

Instagram.com/redagaudiamo

Na Willa’s story continues across a series of four books.

1. Na Willa

2. Na Willa dan Rumah dalam Gang

3. Na Willa dan Hari-hari Ramai

4. Na Willa dan Rok Biru

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The first three books in the Na Willa series tell the story of Willa's childhood, which then continues in the fourth book, Na Willa dan Rok Biru, as she enters her pre-teen years.

Instagram.com/nawillaofficial

Besides that, Na Willa was also adapted into a film directed by Ryan Andriandhy, which premiered on 18 March 2026.

If you're looking for a light and heartwarming read filled with nostalgic childhood moments, Na Willa could be a great choice. It's also worth reading before watching the film adaptation.

Thank you, Bu Reda, for creating a book that soothes my longing for childhood.