In this rousing poem, a student asserts her strength and worth as a woman.

A smile isn’t always what it seems.

A student reflects on a small moment and single sacrifice that transformed her outlook on giving.

A student reflects on his life, stemming from the life of his father.

A bilingual "I am" poem filled with conviction and courage.

A student considers realistic happy endings and the representation of LGBTQIA+ youth through the analysis of two webcomics.

A poem about the complexity of love exchanged during the holidays.

Glimpse into the mind of a student who considers artistic influences in her life.

In this poem, a student’s experiences in two countries meld together as she seeks out her true home.

One student explores their online persona and the lasting importance of conscientious social media practices.

Using dialogue and detailed description, this poet investigates whose voices are heard and whose voices are left behind when injustice occurs.

This poem personifies Earth as a mother coping with the brutalities of climate change.

In this poem, a student reflects on their roots and their desire to grow.

In this memoir, the narrator recounts the struggle of being the bigger person in a very small space.

This student’s powerful piece reveals the essence of racial injustice.

A student reflects on her origins to deconstruct social borders and seize her boundless future.

A compilation of letters written by three students across one city filled with thoughts on books, sports, music, family, and musings on Valentine’s Day.

Discover what one student experiences when they tuck their phone away for a whole day.

From the forthcoming anthology, Poets in Revolt!, this poem expresses the realization that a cage is not the only obstacle to a bird's freedom.

A powerful poem that lifts up Black women.

Living in the digital world can create unwanted attachments, as one student laments.

Liner notes that showcase the meaning and musicality of the Jimmy Ruffin song “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted.”

Two students across one city bond by writing letters to each other about the people they love most.

A student compellingly argues that immigrants deserve respect and to be free of discrimination.

The written word is a powerful tool, and this poem shares a few reasons why the author continues to write.

This poet rejects judgement based on the color of one’s skin.

This poem uses metaphors and similes to explore many dualities of the narrator's life.

A bilingual poem that expresses the love of one's culture and people

A student is lifted up by the dance of her ancestors.

In an exchange of letters, three students across one city share stories about where they came from and the places that matter most.

A family interview reveals a mother's painful past and shines a light on her persistence.

This poem uses a fundamental poetry technique, repetition, to share the writer's future plans.

In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, 10th grader Tala asks essential workers what motivates them to keep going during these difficult times, offering her own views on hope for the future.

Even though we may look different, we remain united with one another.

A soccer-filled, feud-fueled memoir.

When Instagram becomes an unsightly battlefield.

A personal essay that explores the different shades of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Through redefining a label, a student reclaims a piece of their identity.

This narrative calls us to see the world through the perspectives of others.

A neighborhood ode filled with sights and sounds of the poet's street.

Two students write to each other about where they came from, what they love, and a few mishaps along the way in an exchange of letters.

In this heartfelt exchange of letters, two students bond over food, videos games, and some scary adventures.

This poem gives insight to what it's like growing up Black in America.

A student explores the paradox of how technology is used amongst teenagers.