Bright Before Us, Like a Flame: Igniting The New Generation of Writers

Edited by Sasa Aakil and Kathy Crutcher, with a foreword by Elizabeth Acevedo, this anthology marks ten years of youth writing published by Shout Mouse Press. It brings together memoir, poems, fiction, comics, and children’s literature by young authors. The selections address immigration, identity, social justice, resilience, family, friendship, and belonging. Writing prompts, author conversations, and behind-the-scenes material accompany the pieces, inviting readers to explore how stories are made and to develop their own writing.