identity
— A surreal, fragmented reflection on Hurricane Irene becomes an internal storm, where the speaker recognizes the hurricane as something within themselves.
— Swifty navigates hip-hop classes, failed auditions, a new baby brother, and friendship drama while discovering drums and cutting her hair for charity.
— A girl questions the restrictions placed on her body and freedom—bound feet, hidden face, denied education—ultimately rejecting beauty that consumes a life.
— A girl obsessed with solving bank robberies discovers her mother's hidden past when she finds old letters from her estranged poet aunt.
— A Black girl struggles with accepting her natural hair as beautiful while navigating classmates who treat it as exotic and touchable.
— A young refugee uses nature metaphors to describe feeling different and new at school — a red bird among blue birds, a fish out of water.
— Swifty Appledoe, jealous of perfect classmate Stella, decides to become just like her by taking violin and ballet lessons, with disastrous but ultimately triumphant results.
— A guarded girl in group therapy reluctantly befriends Sam, who steals her journal but later reveals her own painful family story.
— A pantoum explores the isolation of depression when others dismiss your pain, repeating lines that circle like the thoughts they describe.
— A girl with a vast imagination discovers her father is the legendary Bird of Steel and must steal his power to save Riverhaven from eternal conflict between humans and magical...