A soccer-filled, feud-fueled memoir.

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

A poem about staying true to yourself during a challenging transition

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

A student reflects on the memories they made while backpacking.

A student spins through space and a treasure trove of memories in this poem.

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

This student reveals the mysterious origin story of the king cake. Hint: it includes Big Freedia, DJ Chicken Wing, and a massive party.

A poet sets the stage to showcase her reflections on being trans.

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

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

A student describes their shark like imaginary friend.

When Instagram becomes an unsightly battlefield.

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

In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, a student shares how essential workers’ courage and compassion center her during these hectic times.

A story about how Marcus becomes Marcela.

A poet identifies with a trapped ocelot at the zoo.

A poet imagines a better and more harmonious world.

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

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

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

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

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

In this poem, a student reflects on identity.

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

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

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

A student recalls how he was able to take charge and turn his life around.

In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, a student describes how essential workers are the pulse of New York, fueling the city’s hope.

A freshman describes their first day of school on their own.

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.

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

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

A memoir that questions the idea of home and how it changes with time.

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

A student recounts separation with a beloved friend through a nostalgic lens.

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.

This piece reminds us that a smile is not always what it seems.

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

An author reflects on their correspondence with their friend from the past.

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

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

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

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.

Full of exquisite imagery, this poem explores the idea of second chances.

A poet speaks out as a voice for change and all those who cannot speak.

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

A student describes how volunteering saved him from his online prison.

A student tells the story of how his family has influenced his life.

A writer implores people to get outside and touch grass because you never know what you might find!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A student reflects on how her relationship's with her parents has influenced her life.

The stunning and vulnerable poem processes feelings of loss, grief, and hope for the future.

A trans student reflects on their desire to be male.

A student recounts the epic highs and lows of high school track and cross country.

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.

The power of public speaking shines through this student's memoir.

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

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

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

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

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

A poem for lovers of love and the moon.

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

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

A student shares how they've uplifted their community.

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

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

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.

A poem to the next president of the U.S. demanding change and advocating for transgender rights.

A powerful poem that lifts up Black women.

Smells swirl about a student walking around an ice cream shop.

A beautiful ode to home and self.

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

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

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

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

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

A student writes to a grandmother she never met.

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

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

A student looks back on their first day of kindergarten and how they've changed.

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

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

A young writer reconciles their sexuality with the beliefs of their community.

A student reflects on the fear and wonder of becoming a mother.

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

This poem takes an honest look at two sides of the writer's culture.

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

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

A poet relates her experience as a queer woman in the closet to a peacock in the zoo.

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

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

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

In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, a student shares gratitude for the dedication of nurses and gives “credit where credit is due.”

A poet demonstrates their devotion to love.

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

A student recalls their journey on how they discovered their LGBTQIA+ identity.

In this letter from the Essential Words lesson, a senior at South High School in Minneapolis offers words of support to healthcare workers across the country, including her own mom.

This poem offers a very-real answer to "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

A student finds her wings in unexpected places in this piece about the transition to college.

A student explores gratitude and love through sharing food.