By Chase, Kevin, Khalil, and Josiah of Beacon House

Over the course of a historic year characterized by the COVID-19 pandemic, Black Lives Matter protests, and widespread social reckoning, four Black middle school boys from Beacon House in Washington, DC came together virtually, to dream. Pushing up against the hardship of current events, these new authors decided to create a collection of imaginative stories that share messages they believe the world needs to hear today about resilience, self-expression, and staying true to your dreams.

In this collection, you will meet Kobe, a teenage basketball player grappling with the death of his role model; Zim, a sword-wielding orphan on a quest to save his grandmother’s life; Ava, a cyborg girl who just wants to be normal; and Brandon, a boy struggling to choose between his passion and his family. This motley crew of heroes all learn to decipher their changing worlds, carrying with them necessary guidance for readers on how they can process their own. Artfully illustrated, and written in both poetry and prose, this book has something for every type of reader.

• ISBN: 978-1-950807-37-6

• Age: 9+

• Lexile: 590L

• Page Count: 120

• Published: Fall 2021

Voices on Youth Incarceration

• A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

• Foreword Indies Finalist

• Independent Press Award Winner

• “A powerful, devastating, essential read” - Starred review in Kirkus Reviews

When You Hear Me (You Hear Us) is an anthology of poetry and personal stories centering the voices of those directly impacted by the incarceration of young people in the United States. Compiled by Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop, this rich collection includes firsthand accounts from both the young people charged and incarcerated in the adult criminal legal system and from the community at large: the mothers, the loved ones, the correctional staff, public defenders, prosecutors, and others harmed and left with unhealed trauma. These critical voices, uniquely combined, illustrate the ecosystem that surrounds youth who are incarcerated--and expose the ripple effects that touch us all. This book challenges us to hear these voices calling out for accountability, transformative justice, and healing. Together, they demonstrate the collective impact of the prison system, and our collective responsibility to create a society where every one of us can thrive.

• ISBN: 978-1-950807-34-5

• Age: 12+

• Page Count: 288

• Published: Fall 2021

#1 on the Top Ten Books for 2022 In The Margins Book Award

They Called Me 299-359 is an anthology of poetry and essays written, edited, and compiled by incarcerated youth who are Free Minds Book Club members, held both at the DC Jail and in adult federal facilities across the country. Through moving personal testimony, these young writers explore the challenges and pain of incarceration as well as family, forgiveness, redemption, and dreams. Their book is used as a tool for violence prevention and healing in Free Minds’s youth violence prevention initiative “On the Same Page,” and is also taught as part of college curricula at several universities. This 10th anniversary edition includes updated forewords from Free Minds poet ambassadors as well as from award-winning formerly incarcerated poet Reginald Dwayne Betts.

• ISBN: 978-1-950807-15-4

• Age: 12+

• Lexile: NP

• Page Count: 120

• Published: Fall 2020

by the teen artists and writers of Next Wave Muslim Initiative

With a foreword by award-winning author Hena Khan

• “Captivating and uplifting.” — Starred review in Kirkus Reviews + named a Best Book of 2019

• “Get it soon… It would be difficult to ignore or forget these voices.” — Rich in Color Reviews

• Included on the “2020 Rise: A Feminist Book Project List for Ages 0-18”

During an era characterized by both hijabi fashion models and enduring post-9/11 stereotypes, ten Muslim American teenagers came together to explore what it means to be young and Muslim in America today. These teens represent the tremendous diversity within the American Muslim community, and their book, like them, contains multitudes. Bilal writes about being a Muslim rocker. Noor reflects about speaking in multiple tongues. Samaa creates her own cartoon Kabob Squad. Ayah responds to online hate. Through poems, essays, artwork, and stories, these young people aim to show their true selves, to build connection, and to create more inclusive and welcoming communities for all.

• ISBN: 978-1945434938

• Age: 12+

• Lexile: 830L

• Page Count: 192

• Published: 2019

by the Latino Youth Leadership Council of LAYC

With a foreword by Newbery Medal-winning author Meg Medina

• Winner of the 2019 'In the Margins' Top Nonfiction award and 2020 International Latino Book Awards

• “Spotlighting underrepresented voices, this work is highly recommended for all communities in their efforts to promote empathetic, inclusive discussions around immigration.” — Starred review in School Library Journal!

• "Enlightening and inspiring #ownvoices accounts by young activists." – Kirkus Review.

During a time of heated immigration debate and unrest, this book is an opportunity to hear directly from youth who are often in the headlines but whose stories don’t get told in full. Sixteen young people from the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) in Washington, D.C. came together to tell their own stories of immigration and transformation in comics form. The result is this side-by-side bilingual collection of graphic memoirs that not only builds connections across language, but also breaks down barriers and expands hope.

***

En tiempos de inquietud y acalorados debates sobre la inmigración, este libro representa una oportunidad para escuchar directamente a los jóvenes quienes suelen ocupar los titulares en la prensa, pero cuyas historias no se alcanzan a narrar por completo. Dieciséis jóvenes del Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) en Washington, D.C. se unieron para contar sus propias historias de inmigración y de transformación en formato de cómic. El resultado es esta colección de memorias gráficas bilingüe, que no sólo construye conexiones entre los idiomas, sino que también elimina barreras y abre un espacio a la esperanza.

• ISBN: 978-1945434921

• Age: 12+

• Lexile: 720L

• Page Count: 320

• Published: 2018

By the Teen Writers of Beacon House

• 2017 INDIES Winner for Young Author (17 and Under)

• 2018 Top Fiction Winner - In the Margins Book Awards

• Named "10 Books to Read After The Hate U Give" by School Library Journal.

Meet Tajon.

Tajon is sixteen and black. He's tall and skinny, and he has dreadlocks. Tajon works hard and tries his best to be good. He does O.K. in school. He has plans. He's determined.

Tajon is the kind of son who cares about his family. He's the kind of brother who stands up for his sister. He's the kind of kid who dreams big dreams to get himself and those he loves up and out of the hood.

Tajon is the one who gets shot.

• ISBN: 978-0996927451

• Age: 12+

• Lexile: HL600L

• Page Count: 230

• Published: 2017

• Honorable Mention for the 2016 'In the Margins' Nonfiction award.

• “The pieces showcased here are moving and real.”
  — George Pelecanos, novelist and writer/producer of The Wire

The Untold Story of the Real Me is a collection of poems written by young people who were charged and incarcerated as adults at the age of 16 or 17. All poets are members of the Free Minds Book Club and Writing Workshop; many are currently incarcerated in the DC Jail or federal prison. Their work explores themes of parenthood, love, pain, identity, race, and freedom in voices both raw and powerful. This collection also features individual profiles of Free Minds members who are home from prison and serving as Poet Ambassadors in the violence prevention initiative, “On the Same Page.” Already being used in classrooms across the country to start conversations around youth violence and the justice system, The Untold Story of the Real Me provides a new take on the power of one voice to speak truth to pain, to seek redemption and healing.

• ISBN: 978-0996927444

• Age: 12+

• Lexile: NP

• Page Count: 159

• Published: 2015

• 2015 INDIEFAB Finalist: YA Nonfiction Book of the Year

• 2015 INDIEFAB Finalist: Child Author Book of the Year

Proceeds from book sales go to a Ballou HS scholarship fund and to empower new authors.

Through the course of a historic year of civil unrest and the emergence of the #BlackLivesMatter Movement, thirty teen writers from Frank W. Ballou High School in Washington, DC came together to take part in this national conversation about race, inequality, violence, and justice. Through their powerful, personal stories these writers intend to Change the Narrative about youth of color. We are not thugs, they say. We are not victims. We are big sisters and sports stars, academic strivers and everyday heroes. We speak out for justice. We dream big dreams. These writers want more for themselves, more for their community, more for their generation. And they are challenging their readers to listen, and to recognize in each story a common humanity worthy of dignity, support, and respect. This riot of voices must be heard.

• ISBN: 978-0692455388

• Age: 12+

• Lexile: 820L

• Page Count: 88

• Published: 2015