826 believes in amplifying and publishing youth voices. Browse our student writing collections for pieces that will inspire you and your students. Our students’ words will make you smile, think, sigh, cry so hard you laugh, and laugh so much you cry. Celebrate and honor their stories with us!
Our writing collections feature student writing on diverse topics from diverse authors. Browse, enjoy, and discover representative mentor texts to inspire your students to write. Find more student writing in our RESOURCE LIBRARY.
by the Class of 640 at M.S. 88, 826NYC
This bilingual poem shares an excellent recipe for how to survive middle school.
Rowan, Grade 2, 826 Boston
Love from the cosmos!
by Chloe Moreno, Grade 6, 826 Valencia, San Francisco, CA
An ode to being unapologetically yourself!
by Jazlin Lopez, Grade 10, Woodburn, OR
This poet draws strength and courage from her grandmother's love.
by Nicole Torres, age 12, 6th grade, 826 Valencia
Because sometimes you just need to tune out the world.
by Alisson Romero, Grade 11, 826LA
The author of this poignant piece expresses her love and gratitude for her hardworking and supportive parents.
Explore pieces from our newest anthology of student writing: No Ordinary Dreamer: Science Fiction & Visions of the Future by Our Nation’s Young Writers!
The pen is mightier than the sword!
"My most powerful weapon / is my sharpened pencil."
This dystopian sci-fi story reflects the issues and fears of today.
"There was that rebellious gleam in Rory’s eyes yet again."
Meet Felice, the storytelling fox with a voice like the moon.
"Her voice reminds the small / foxes of wind blowing"
Evil doesn't stand a chance against this young superhero.
"She knew that horrible evil laugh all too well."
This poet is a tapestry, woven from threads of courage and kindness.
"Every stitch, every heartbeat / is proof that I can’t be broken."
This author learns to find community, empowerment, and joy at school.
"I’m finally a leader. The leader of my own life."
Embrace your inner power!
"My heart my shield, my voice my life."
Come adventure and defeat evil with a picklemobile full of superheroes!
"All villains are just hangry people."
A guiding light for all those who wander...
"Even when the world changes, some lights are meant to stay."
There is so much to be grateful for! From family to friendship to food, the pieces in this collection showcase our young writers' love and appreciation.
Because sometimes you just need to tune out the world.
"My helpful headphones give me so much love"
The author of this poignant piece expresses her love and gratitude for her hardworking and supportive parents.
"Words cannot describe how grateful I am..."
An ode to being unapologetically yourself!
"To the weirdo who likes sunsets and sunrises of all colors morning and night"
This poet draws strength and courage from her grandmother's love.
"When pain and worry cloud my days, I think of how you carried on"
We are all reflections of the people we love most.
"I reflect the strengths / Of my loved ones"
A student explores gratitude and love through sharing food.
"As soon as I took the first bite I understood exactly what she meant."
This poem shows the importance of saying thank you to yourself!
"I wanna thank me for being playful or curious"
This poem explores the beauty of friendship.
"I feel like we just make each other complete."
You guessed it—an ode to cookies.
"Dear cookie, I love you"
A young writer's ode to her mother's resilience and hard work.
"She is my reason to keep going and do better."
A collection brimming with the brilliance, creativity, and pride of Latine authors.
The author of this piece shares her journey to feeling confident in her Salvadorean identity.
"I am constantly learning more and more about my background due to the hardworking people around me."
This loving poem uses descriptive language to pay tribute to the writer's family.
"I am like a taco. / My family is all the ingredients for me."
Two poets braid together their reflections on where they come from.
"Filled with lots of love, ocean wave sounds, and music"
Learn about the food, culture, and history of Mexico… from Día De Los Muertos to dinosaurs!
"Have you ever imagined how the first piece of chocolate ever made tasted?"
A powerful poem about taking pride in being bilingual.
"Can’t please both sides / I can only please myself"
A baby Jesus doll comes to life in this whimsical story!
“'Es Jesus!' I say."
This bilingual poem describes the happiness and comfort of visiting family in Mexico.
"Taking in it all in, getting a feeling I never experienced"
A poet imagines their mother growing up and falls in love with a past and present version of their mother.
"I felt happy / A sense of peace."
This touching poem honors the author’s personal superhero: her mother.
"She built bridges over broken systems so I could walk freely."
In this essay, a student threads their identity across cultures, histories, and places, engaging with legacies of violence and the movement of people.
"I’m only 17 and haven’t gotten the chance to discover all the curves of myself."
We grew up on the American Dream, but who is the American Dream truly serving and uplifting? This collection imagines an America for the people that built it—immigrants, Black, and Indigenous workers and communities. Let the American Dream, for the people, become the dream again.
In this poem, a student reflects on the American dream.
"For all the dreams we’ve lost / And all the stories we’ve undone"
Our names are part of our identities--what happens when we can't claim them?
"My teacher tells me the sweetest sound in the world is the sound of your own name."
A young student channels the voices of the people that are voiceless through the ringing music of poetry.
"I want to speak for my ancestors, / and for the kids who stay silent, / the same life that we all experience"
We are a reflection of the people we love and who love us.
"I reflect the beauty / Of my mother"
A young writer holds close to a teddy bear and their last memories of their father.
"That is why it keeps me going because it reminds me of how my dad was able to make my life the best that he could."
In this public narrative, a student illustrates the hardships his uncle has faced to argue for a path to citizenship.
"We must put pressure on the federal government to find a way to keep these good people in the country."
A young writer teaches us the value of learning about different cultures.
"It helps us understand our classmates, be more accepting and helps us learn more about different cultures around the world and around us.
A young writer's ode to her mother's resilience and hard work.
"My mom is not perfect but she tries to do what is best for my family. She is my reason to keep going and do better."
Jose’s name means lord of the world, filled with warmth and joy. At school he’s Jose, at home Bladimir, showing how his name carries both family roots and personal power.
"In Spanish it means Bladi viene de señor y mir viene del / mundo"
When we publish our students’ writing, something magical happens. Students see their ideas reflected in something tangible and begin to see themselves as authors with words worth reading. See the magic in action by checking out 826-published books that will feel right at home on any bookshelf.
Our writing collections feature student writing on diverse topics from diverse authors. Browse, enjoy, and discover representative mentor texts to inspire your students to write. Find more student writing in our RESOURCE LIBRARY.
A collection of personal narratives and college essays that explore identity, values, and dreams
Jarmani reflects on the pain of being rejected from his top high school, but through that challenge, he finds motivation. He grows more focused, disciplined, and driven to succeed in all areas.
Jarmani reflects on the pain of being rejected from his top high school, but through that challenge, he finds motivation. He grows more focused, disciplined, and driven to succeed in all areas.
A student recounts the epic highs and lows of high school track and cross country.
A student recounts the epic highs and lows of high school track and cross country.
A personal essay that explores the different shades of the Black Lives Matter movement.
A personal essay that explores the different shades of the Black Lives Matter movement.
The power of public speaking shines through this student's memoir.
The power of public speaking shines through this student's memoir.
A student reflects on how her relationship's with her parents has influenced her life.
A student reflects on how her relationship's with her parents has influenced her life.
A young writer reconciles their sexuality with the beliefs of their community.
A young writer reconciles their sexuality with the beliefs of their community.
A student finds her wings in unexpected places in this piece about the transition to college.
A student finds her wings in unexpected places in this piece about the transition to college.
A student tells the story of how his family has influenced his life.
A student tells the story of how his family has influenced his life.
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