Riley was a student at Ballou Senior High School when she wrote her books. She likes to do artistic things, travel, and listen to music. She wrote Man Up because toxic masculinity is a topic that isn’t talked about, but is a major problem in our society. She hopes readers understand that gender is a social construct — you can be whoever you want to be. She wrote Diarou’s Not So Different because everyone deserves to be heard, and there’s a place for everyone in the world everywhere!
Read MoreAnaya was a fourteen-year-old sophomore at Ballou High School when she wrote Money Marcus. Her hobbies include running track and being a part of JROTC. This is her first Reach children’s book. She wrote this book to let kids know that money can be useful, but that true friendship is more important. It’s good to have the right friendships around you and people who care.
Read MoreDewan was a fifteen-year-old sophomore at Roosevelt High School when he wrote Money Marcus. He likes playing basketball, listening to music, playing chess, and eating. This is his first Reach book. He wrote this story so he could help kids choose their friends.
Read MoreTrevon Evans was a senior at Richard Wright Public Charter School when he wrote Adventures in Ana Park. He likes to draw and to play football and basketball. He wants to start playing lacrosse, and in the future he would like to be a visual artist. He wants this book to be something that kids can relate to, especially because many of them know Anacostia Park. The book shows images of kids having fun at the park, and he wants young readers to take away that they should enjoy their childhood.
Read MoreSynia was a sophomore at Ballou Senior High School when she wrote Tyrell’s Big Move. She loves to eat and read. She like mystery books. This is her first children’s book with Reach and Shout Mouse Press. Her dream is to become a lawyer.
Read MoreJada waa senior at Thurgood Marshall Academy. She works at Six Flags America. In her spare time she likes to eat and skateboard. This is her first children’s book. The experience was fun and challenging. Writing this book showed her that she can work with other people to put something good together, which she thought she couldn’t do. She hopes readers will relate to the story and that this book helps kids learn how to read.
Read MoreTalik was a junior at Dunbar Senior High School. He loves to play sports like football and basketball. His dream is to become a licensed barber or an NFL football player. In his free time, he likes spending time with his family and friends. Writing his first children’s book with Reach and Shout Mouse was a fantastic experience because he’s never done it before and he believes it’s important to explore new things.
Read MoreBrittany was a tenth grader at Eastern Senior High School when she wrote Tiffany and The Two Missing Teeth. She likes to take care of kids. She sings in her school choir and dances. This is her first children’s book. She hopes readers learn from this book not to be shy, and that they can be themselves even on their worst days. They can always make the better of it. She wanted to write a children’s book because she wanted to see how it felt to write for kids and to change how they view things.
Read MoreIndia was a 17-year-old senior at Anacostia High School when she wrote Finding Mumbo. She’s a happy person. This is her first book. She wanted to write this story because growing up she loved reading, and she loves imagining kids having fun reading her book.
Read MoreEssence was a 17-year-old junior at Washington Leadership Academy when she wrote Finding Mumbo. She likes clothes and everything about clothes, money and everything about money, food and everything about food, and getting her hair done. She wrote this book to share her experience about what it’s like growing up in D.C... and about how much she loves mumbo sauce.
Read MoreMalik was a 17-year-old senior at Dunbar High School when he wrote Finding Mumbo. He likes to explore and go to new places. This is his first children’s book with Reach and Shout Mouse. He hopes by reading and enjoying this story his readers will learn the importance of responsibility.
Read MoreMilan Womack is from Southeast DC. He wrote The Ballou I Know because he wanted people to read his side of the story about Ballou. In the future, he wants to be able to come back and see how the book affected young people’s lives. He enjoys seeing positivity in his city. His hobbies are football and gaming. He wants people to know that he comes from the struggle.
Read MoreRaven Brown is from Washington, DC. She wrote The Ballou I Know because she wanted to tell her story about Ballou. In the future, she wants to give advice to the young Ballou students. She enjoys music, and her hobbies are cheerleading, shopping, dancing, and listening to music. She wants people to know that she’s chill.
Read MoreShae’Lynn Ames is from Southeast DC. She wrote The Ballou I Know because she wanted to express her views and be heard. In the future she wants to be a physical therapist. She enjoys listening to music and helping others. Her hobbies are dancing and writing. She really wants people to know that she is a straight-A student. Also, she has ten siblings!
Read MoreAmya McKoy is from Southeast DC. She wrote The Ballou I Know because she saw articles that didn’t represent her school and she wanted to tell some truths. She is in the Ballou band and likes to read and write. In the future, she wants to be an author.
Read MoreDavia Cain is from Southeast Washington, DC. She wrote The Ballou I Know because she wanted to let people know that everybody goes through stuff and you’re not alone. In the future she wants to attend college playing varsity volleyball. Her hobbies are playing sports: basketball, volleyball, softball, and flag-football. She wants people to know that she loves playing sports and learning and experiencing new things.
Read MoreDarmeisha Moore is from Washington, DC. She likes to sleep, cook, work, and hang out with her friends. She wants to run her own business or be a social worker so that she can help other people out. She wanted to be a part of The Ballou I Know so she could tell people about Ballou and where they come from. She hopes that readers will get a better sense of the students at Ballou and see that they’re not all bad. They are more than what people make them out to be.
Read MoreTremayne Gross is from Washington, DC. He wrote The Ballou I Know to show how he’s changed over the years. In the future, he wants to be a business owner. And he plans on going to a four year college. He enjoys listening to music, and his hobbies are sports, gaming systems, and going out. He wants people to know that he’s an outgoing, nice, and determined person. He’s always chilling.
Read MoreCashae Faison is from Washington, DC. She wrote The Ballou I Know because she wanted to inform people that Ballou isn’t a bad school, and they shouldn’t make assumptions. In the future, she wants to become an entrepreneur and own a clothing store. She enjoys singing, going out with her friends, and spending time with her family. She really wants people to know that she is not just a statistic. She’ll be more.
Read MoreShawma Brown is from Washington, DC. She wrote The Ballou We Know to express her feelings about Ballou. In the future she wants to become a freelance journalist. She enjoys traveling and writing poetry and short stories. She wants people to know that she works to make a difference in the world.
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