Dennis Danziger Libri

Kat Secaida, wearing white Converse sneakers, wanders through her hood, collecting "the stories of the Culver City projects." Julian Izaguirre recalls the drama at school that starts "when you don't want it to." The young artists and poets in Dear Friends , the eighth anthology from POPS the Club--a nonprofit serving youth impacted by the Pain of the Prison System--forged their work largely during the pandemic and in isolation. Though they were separated by screens from friends, teachers, counselors, and peers, their work still brims with hope and curiosity. It is searing, straightforward, sensitive, and sometimes startling in its wisdom and honesty. "I'm not someone who's always right," Mikey Estrada writes, "but I always try to be. A kid who likes to read and learn . . . a kid who grew up in violence and in gangs . . . where others were waiting for me to fail." Instead, this volume speaks of their success and of all they have to teach us.

Focusing on the transformative power of storytelling, this collection showcases the raw experiences of teenagers with loved ones in prison. Through their poignant narratives, poetry, and artwork, club members express feelings of isolation, loss, and resilience while forging a sense of community and belonging. The fifth release from POPS the Club highlights voices from various high schools across the U.S., illustrating their journey from feeling invisible to becoming empowered and understood, ultimately fostering dignity and freedom.