Stubborn Roots
Stubborn Roots
Available for preorder — product will ship Oct 27 2026
By the young writers of Shout Mouse Press
"The poems and essays in Stubborn Roots have changed me in ways I was unprepared for. The profundity of their observations of the world, and of themselves, left me in awe. This is a special book filled with special writers." —Clint Smith, author of How the Word is Passed
This powerful anthology illuminates today’s activist experience through the poetry and essays of our most vital and essential youth.
Through compelling poetry, 18 young writers of color plant their resistance in the soil of our uncertain future. They tackle disparities across lines of gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, ableism and fatphobia, immigration and the environment, and more. Their poems are accompanied by portraits of each poet (by cover artist Sobia Ahmad) along with first-person essays on what liberation means to them.
Diverse voices and styles shine throughout Stubborn Roots, providing personal and cultural context to ongoing conversations about change in the United States. Tender and green, vulnerable and wondrous, this singular book of poems serves as an urgent call to the transformative power of art and is a must-have for young readers looking to develop their connection to social justice.
Foreword by Camonghne Felix, author of Let the Poets Govern.
ISBN: 9781950807901
Age: 12+
Page Count: 220
Coming Fall 2026
Curriculum
Meet the Authors
Luisa (she/her) is a 17-year-old Hispanic poet from Washington, DC. Luisa is a senior at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School and is involved in the community—helping out in the Latin American Youth Center, Capitol City Robotics, Freshfarms, and elsewhere.
Ty is a 22-year-old writer from Talbot County, MD, interested in advocacy and writing for social change.
Yemmis (she/her) is a 15-year-old Hispanic writer from Washington, DC. Stubborn Roots is her first book with Shout Mouse.
n.a.o (she/her) is a 21-year-old Kenyan Black American woman from Prince George's County, MD
Brandy (she/her) is a 20-year-old Latin American writer from Washington, DC. Brandy is a junior at George Washington University, majoring in Human Services and Social Justice.
Lemonade (she/her) is a young African American poet from Northeast DC. Stubborn Roots contains Lemonade’s first published work. She enjoys talking about social justice issues and her community in her free time.
Sarah (she/her) is a 23-year-old poet from Maryland and a recent graduate interested in pursuing a career in marketing.
Nicole (she/her) is a 19-year-old author from the Washington, DC metropolitan area attending college in Maryland. Her pieces “dirt princess” and “radical tenderness” in this anthology are explorations of her identity, experiences growing up, and perspectives on the world around her.
Takier (she/her) is a 23-year-old Afro-Caribbean American poet from the DC metropolitan area.
Iman (she/her) is a 15-year-old Black poet from Washington, DC. “Equality,” “On Belonging,” and “Mascara” are her first published pieces with Shout Mouse Press.
Lauren is an 18-year-old African American from Prince George’s County, MD. This will be Lauren’s first time publishing a piece with Shout Mouse Press.
Faviola (she/her) is a 17-year-old DC native and Honduran daughter of an immigrant mother. Stubborn Roots contains Faviola’s first published work.
Amélie (she/they) a 16-year-old Black poet from Lanham, MD. Their favorite hobbies are listening to music and playing their bass clarinet, drawing, learning Chinese and its colorful culture, and when possible, building Legos for hours on end.
Oliver (he/they) is an 18-year-old queer Taiwanese-Chinese American writer from Bethesda, MD.
Joy is a 23-year-old Nigerian American from the small suburb of Lithonia, GA, just outside of Atlanta.
London (he/they) is a 21-year-old Black activist and queer poet from Washington, DC. Stubborn Roots is London’s second book with Shout Mouse Press. He is also the author of the Shout Mouse’s children’s title Man Up!
Salihah “Sasa” Aakil was a sophomore in high school in Silver Spring, Maryland when she wrote I am the Night Sky. She enjoys writing, painting, doing pottery, and talking to people. She likes hunting down stories, asking people about their experiences, and creating art after them: sometimes for healing, sometimes for remembering, sometimes for rebellion.
Recognition & Impact
“In a world that continuously asks itself about our future, Stubborn Roots delivers the answer in a remarkable collection written by young adults that sets us on fire. Each personal essay and poem is vulnerable, bold, achingly honest, probing, and hopeful. This luminous collection doesn't ask; instead, it demands that readers not only witness each writer's story but also participate in building something new, something better, something collectively ours. A new world lined with poems made of pure gold.”
—Yesika Salgado, author of Corazón
“Poetry has long been the language of resistance and revolution, and Stubborn Roots is a testament to this truth: young poets have the power to liberate themselves, their communities, and ultimately, the world. This anthology is a gift not just to its readers, but to the future these young activists are actively building.”
—Christine Platt, author of Less is Liberation
"The poems and essays in Stubborn Roots have changed me in ways I was unprepared for. The profundity of their observations of the world, and of themselves, left me in awe. This is a special book filled with special writers." —Clint Smith, author of How the Word is Passed
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Available for preorder — product will ship Oct 27 2026
By the young writers of Shout Mouse Press
"The poems and essays in Stubborn Roots have changed me in ways I was unprepared for. The profundity of their observations of the world, and of themselves, left me in awe. This is a special book filled with special writers." —Clint Smith, author of How the Word is Passed
This powerful anthology illuminates today’s activist experience through the poetry and essays of our most vital and essential youth.
Through compelling poetry, 18 young writers of color plant their resistance in the soil of our uncertain future. They tackle disparities across lines of gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, ableism and fatphobia, immigration and the environment, and more. Their poems are accompanied by portraits of each poet (by cover artist Sobia Ahmad) along with first-person essays on what liberation means to them.
Diverse voices and styles shine throughout Stubborn Roots, providing personal and cultural context to ongoing conversations about change in the United States. Tender and green, vulnerable and wondrous, this singular book of poems serves as an urgent call to the transformative power of art and is a must-have for young readers looking to develop their connection to social justice.
Foreword by Camonghne Felix, author of Let the Poets Govern.
ISBN: 9781950807901
Age: 12+
Page Count: 220
Coming Fall 2026
By the Young Poets of DC SCORES
TAKE A WALK BETWEEN THE WARDS WITH DC SCORES
Passing the Mic: Building a Poet-Athlete City represents thirty years of poetry from the poet-athletes of DC SCORES. For the last three decades, through soccer, poetry, and service, these young people have made their marks on history, claimed their power, and brought to bear their visions for improving this city’s future. This book honors their pain, celebrates their joy, and crystallizes the many ways in which they grew, both on the field and on the page.
Afterword by poet, activist, and avid soccer player Clint Smith.
“This is a treasure trove of knowledge that I hope everybody will pick up.”
—Ashley Hatch, Washington Spirit & US Women's National Team
“I hope folks will pick up this book and learn from these poet-athletes, and support them for the next 30 years and beyond.”
—Ben Olsen, former D.C. United coach and player
“These poems are a beautiful portrait of a city seen through the eyes of its young people.”
—Julie Kennedy, founder of DC SCORES
"It has been a tremendous privilege to witness firsthand the impact DC SCORES has had in our community."
—Briana Scurry, legendary US Women's National Team Goalkeeper
ISBN: 978-1-950807-84-0
Age: 12+
Page Count: 118
Published: 2025
By the young writers of Shout Mouse Press
“…a balm for loneliness and validation amid an increasingly hostile political climate for LGBTQ+ Americans…” —Booklife
“The Light Looks Like Me is meaningful, moving, and often surprising as it explores different experiences of queer love.”—IndieReader
“Powerful, affirming, and important reading for young people and the adults in their lives.”—Kirkus Reviews
Amidst a fraught regime where assaults on queer and trans rights are leveraged for political clout, the voices of queer youth are more important than ever. In this anthology, 28 DC-area writers aged 13-24 share their thoughts, feelings and vulnerability through poems, stories, comics, and art exploring love in all its forms. Running the gamut from self-love, to romance, and the love they show to their family, friends, and community, their work will resonate with readers of all ages. With authors representing varied sexualities and gender identities, as well as diverse ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds, this tender anthology offers hope and validation to queer young people and cultivates greater understanding in supportive allies. Foreword by award-winning YA author Malinda Lo.
This project was created in partnership with The DC Center for the LGBT Community, Sasha Bruce Youthwork, SMYAL, and Split This Rock.
Educational Curriculum Available:
Discussion Guide created by nelle mills
Zine Workbook created by nelle mills
ISBN: 9781950807833
Age: 12+
Page Count: 192
Published: 2025
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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
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“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
Mićhelle is originally from San Salvador, El Salvador. Her second home is Washington, DC. She likes to read, listen to music, and dance. She is a freshman in college.