I. Love. This. Book! I loved it so much that I encourage anyone who hasn’t read to go pick it up now. I read it in like two hours, so it won’t take up much of your time. And it’s well worth your time. Especially if you’re going to be a teacher. I found it inspiring and beautiful. Loved it!
This book follows the written works of eighteen high school students, all of whom are facing different life problems. After each chapter is a poem written by one of the students. This book reminded me of the movie “Freedom Writers”. I hope that when I’m a teacher I can inspire my students to write anything, poetry, fiction, everything! After reading this book I realize that I want to hold an Open Mic every Friday. I think that this would be a great way to get kids talking and sharing. It would help them create their own individual personalities. It would help them become more brave and would help with communication skills. I love the idea of an Open Mic and wish my high school had one when I was there.
This book is definitely going on my classroom bookshelf. It’s beautiful and may inspire some of my students to write poetry or anything they are comfortable with. I may even use it for a poetry unit. Hmmm….I see a lesson plan forming….
Brittany Schommer 
It is on my list I will be reading it this weekend. THanks for your post.
So glad you enjoyed it! I recently read Nikki Grimes’s newest novel, Words with Wings. The CSC library has it and I think you’d like it–very short verse novel about a middle-school girl (I think she’s in middle school) who discovers her talent for writing.