Shirelle was a seventeen-year-old junior at Dunbar High School when she wrote Man Up!. She likes to explore and go places like museums and the National Harbor. She also likes to watch Netflix and eat snacks. She hopes readers will understand that it’s OK for boys to show their emotions.

London a fifteen-year-old sophomore at Anacostia High School when he wrote Man Up!. He likes to sit at home, mind his business, stay in his place, and put you in yours. He loves watching TV and his dream job is to be a famous journalist. This is his first book. He wants readers to get that there’s no such thing as “girly” or “boyish” emotions. Be yourself no matter what.

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!