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

A smile isn’t always what it seems.

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

This poem uses analogies to describe all of the pieces of the writer's personal history.

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

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.

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

In this narrative, the author uses vibrant language to explore their identity, in all its complexity, through different landscapes.

In this poem, an echoing question strikes a chord and reveals the tragic loss held within systemic injustice.

In this essay, a student threads their identity across cultures, histories, and places, engaging with legacies of violence and the movement of people.

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

Crawfish, crayfish, or mudbugs. Whatever you call them, the writer of this poem doesn't like them.

When Instagram becomes an unsightly battlefield.

In this personal narrative, a student describes their family origins with an intimate point of view

This bilingual poem explores the harrowing story of a boy working while in school to save his mother.

In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, a sophomore at South High School in Minneapolis gives thanks to Children’s Hospital employees.

In this poem, a student reflects on their first encounter with forced assimilation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

In this public narrative, a student illustrates the hardships his uncle has faced to argue for a path to citizenship.

From the forthcoming anthology, Poets in Revolt!, this poem explores the aftermath and lasting impacts of school shootings.

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

A student reflects on memories of home and what binds her special community together.

In this poem, metaphor is used to describe who the narrator is.

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

This narrative piece contemplates the struggle of immigrants during the pandemic.

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

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

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

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

This personal narrative addresses the struggles of students graduating high school during the pandemic.

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

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

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

Black strength, beauty, and pride soar in this poem as a student discusses overcoming brutality and discrimination.

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

This creative short horror piece explores the mysteries and danger of a night in the woods.

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

A rousing public narrative from an author coming to terms with their identity as a young Chinese American woman and what they represent: the community of Boston's Chinatown.

A powerful poetic piece about the experience of being Black in America.

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

From the forthcoming anthology, Poets in Revolt!, this poem reminds activists that "to change everything, we need everyone."

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.

This creative narrative imagines how the coronavirus views humanity during the pandemic.

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

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

A student compares themself to the place they live, New Orleans, as both evolve through great obstacles.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In this compelling poem, the author navigates her relationship with America as a young African-American woman.

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

In this public narrative, a student makes the case for creating community change by building youth centers in her neighborhood.