In Trinitoga: Stories of Life in a Roughed-Up, Tough-Love, No-Good Hood, a novel-in-stories by middle school authors in Washington, DC, the fictionalized neighborhood of Trinitoga is populated with an endearing and heartbreaking cast of characters, not unlike the people these authors have encountered in their own lives. We begin with "Shoota," the gun-wielding "King of the Hood" whose transformation we witness from a sweet and trusting 8-year-old boy to a hardened angry man deserving of his nickname. We meet the mother of his children, Baquisha, who cares about her kids and tells them to do the right thing, but then can't set a good example herself. We meet their kids--Rude Boy, Rude Girl, and Tianna--all of whom struggle between love, disappointment, anger, and hope in their relationships with their parents and with each other. We meet grandmothers who do right by their grandkids and friends who stick up for each other, and characters of all ages determined to do better: for their loved ones and for themselves. The result is an action-packed and emotionally charged exploration of what it means to grow up in a place like Trinitoga, told from the perspective of highly astute young observers.   This book is powerful. The characters are complex. The conflicts are recognizable and searingly raw. Although these characters face daily stress and trauma that take their toll, they all long desperately for something better. That yearning is what breaks your heart, gives you hope, and keeps you turning the page.   Shout Mouse Press, in collaboration with the ShootBack Project, was honored to work with the young writers of Beacon House, a community-based organization in Washington, DC that aims to lift as many children as possible up and out of their often difficult circumstances. Learn more about the collaboration at ShoutMousePress.org.

Trinitoga: Stories of Life in a Roughed-Up, Tough-Love, No-Good Hood (Shout Mouse Press Young Adult Books)

Literature & Fiction

Haynesworth, Jonae

Williams, Zoe

Whipple, Temil

Alston, Trinity

Davis, Reiyanna

Summers, Serenity

United States

Shout Mouse Press, Inc.

Da’Monte walks home deflated after watching a friend get bullied. Afraid, he did nothing. Wishing he was braver, he confided in his grandmother, who provided a powerful surprise. With a magical hoodie provided by the family matriarch, Da’Monte becomes brave and bold. The bullies better watch out.

The Hoodie Hero (Books by Teens)

Children's Books

COOPER, Ashley

Golden, Daequan

McCard, Rico

Khalil is tired of hearing his parents fight. As they scream, he retreats to his closet and writes a letter to himself, dreaming of escape. To his surprise, his future self – called Bruh – shows up to provide support. Together, they visit a fantastical place called Swagtown and learn how families can communicate better.

Khalil's Swagtown Adventure (Books by Teens)

Valdivia-Cazzol, Litzi

Froneberger, Za'Metria

Turner, Kyare

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Mariah really wants to take over her parents’ fruit shop one day, but they don’t think she can do it. Why? Because she’s blind. When her parents leave on vacation, Mariah gets her hands on the keys to the store. With the help of her parrot sidekick, Blue, Mariah must find a way to get the job done.

Mariah Finds A Way (Books by Teens)

Sutton, Makayla

Gladman, Darrin

Gaskins, Marc

"Your Story Is Your Strength." This is the mantra that emerged from a six-month writing project at Ballou High School in Washington, DC, in which eleven dedicated freshmen and six determined seniors told their stories of ambition and struggle in what came to be known as The Ballou Story Project. The freshmen were students in AVID, a college-preparedness program, who gathered voluntarily every week at lunch-time to write and revise short personal stories about their lives. The seniors were some of Ballou's esteemed student leaders who were crafting their college essays and wanted to share their stories with other aspiring change-makers. Together their poignant, powerful voices come together to tell a collective story of How To Grow Up Like Me, a kind of instruction manual for determination, grit, and daily acts of hope and courage. This collection of memoirs does not shrink from hard truths. Authors write honestly about violence and loss, illness and pain, anger, defeat, broken promises, and longing. But they also write about love, and faith, and mentorship, and joy. Theirs are stories not of bitterness or blame, but of overcoming, of a daily and determined belief in oneself and in one's possibility. Readers will leave this collection humbled and moved, and if you recognize yourself in these stories, we hope you will leave inspired. Shout Mouse Press, in collaboration with the ShootBack Project, was honored to help these courageous young people tell their stories through their own words and photographs. Learn more at ShoutMousePress.org.

How To Grow Up Like Me: The Ballou Story Project (Shout Mouse Press Young Adult Books)

Biographies & Memoirs

Writers, Ballou High School

Community & Culture

The Story: Jenika's life changed in an instant. One day she lived in the countryside with her mother and ten siblings, and the next she moved with her aunt to the city, where she was promised an education but was instead forced into a life of cooking, cleaning, and despair. The only thing that kept her going was her singing. Read this inspiring tale of a girl who overcame the odds, written by girls who understand her struggle. The Story Behind the Story: Written by a team of young women served by the Restavek Freedom Foundation, Jenika Sings For Freedom aims to raise awareness about the inhumanity and injustice of child slavery in Haiti. At the same time, the books give these young women the opportunity to shape the stories of their own lives with power and possibility and hope. This project was a collaboration between Restavek Freedom Foundation and Shout Mouse Press. Restavek Freedom Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and Cincinnati, Ohio with a mission to end child slavery in Haiti in our lifetime. Since its inception in 2007, Restavek Freedom has worked on behalf of the 300,000 children living as restavek in Haiti. We advocate for children by providing educational opportunities for those living in restavek, influencing communities to help change cultural norms regarding restavek, and mobilizing community leaders to stand up for freedom. To learn more, visit www.RestavekFreedom.org. Shout Mouse Press is a nonprofit writing program and publishing house for unheard voices. We were founded in Washington, DC in 2014. Shout Mouse partners with nonprofit organizations serving communities in need to design book projects that help further their mission. Our authors have produced original children's books, memoir collections and novels-in-stories. To learn more and to see a full catalog of Shout Mouse titles, visit www.ShoutMousePress.org.

Jenika Sings for Freedom (Restavek Freedom Writers)

Writers, Restavek Freedom

Growing Up & Facts of Life

The Story:  Soraya dreams of the life she once knew: a loving mother, school, hope for the future. But now that her mother has died, her father has re-married, and her step-mother treats her as a slave, she feels alone and invisible. Until one day when she meets a little girl named Anita, who courage and sense of justice could change the course of Soraya's life. Through this story the authors issue a challenge: Could you have this courage to change a life?   Story Behind the Story:  Written by a team of young women served by the Restavek Freedom Foundation, Stand Up For Soraya aims to raise awareness about the inhumanity and injustice of child slavery in Haiti. At the same time, the books give these young women the opportunity to shape the stories of their own lives with power and possibility and hope.   This project was a collaboration between Restavek Freedom Foundation and Shout Mouse Press.   Restavek Freedom Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and Cincinnati, Ohio with a mission to end child slavery in Haiti in our lifetime. Since its inception in 2007, Restavek Freedom has worked on behalf of the 300,000 children living as restavek in Haiti. We advocate for children by providing educational opportunities for those living in restavek, influencing communities to help change cultural norms regarding restavek, and mobilizing community leaders to stand up for freedom. To learn more, visit www.RestavekFreedom.org.   Shout Mouse Press is a nonprofit writing program and publishing house for unheard voices. We were founded in Washington, DC in 2014. Shout Mouse partners with nonprofit organizations serving communities in need to design book projects that help further their mission. Our authors have produced original children's books, memoir collections and novels-in-stories. To learn more and to see a full catalog of Shout Mouse titles, visit www.ShoutMousePress.org.

Stand Up For Soraya (Restavek Freedom Writers)

Nerette, Sarah

Zamor, Cortney

Through the course of a historic year of civil unrest and the emergence of the #BlackLivesMatter Movement, thirty teen writers from Frank W. Ballou High School in Washington, DC came together to take part in this national conversation about race, inequality, violence, and justice. Through their powerful, personal stories these writers intend to Change the Narrative about youth of color. We are not thugs, they say. We are not victims. We are big sisters and sports stars, academic strivers and everyday heroes. We speak out for justice. We dream big dreams. These writers want more for themselves, more for their community, more for their generation. And they are challenging their readers to listen, and to recognize in each story a common humanity worthy of dignity, support, and respect. This riot of voices must be heard.

Our Lives Matter: The Ballou Story Project (Shout Mouse Press Young Adult Books)

Cabbage and Spice are two caterpillars who become friends but are forced into different schools and lifestyles when one grows up to be a moth and the other a butterfly. In their insect world, butterflies and moths are taught to hate each other-- butterflies are “spectacular” and loved by humans, while moths are seen as pests. Will the two be able to overcome these barriers and remain friends? The authors of this story are part of an innovative program run by Reach Incorporated. Reach develops grade-level readers and capable leaders by preparing teens to serve as tutors and role models for younger students, resulting in improved literacy outcomes for both. Learn more at reachincorporated.org. Books were created in collaboration with Shout Mouse Press. Shout Mouse is a nonprofit writing program and publishing house for unheard voices. Learn more at shoutmousepress.org

Flutterbugs: The Story of Spice & Cabbage (Books by Teens)

Edwards, Artrise

Max is a supervillain growing up in a supervillain family-- his mom controls fire and his dad is like a tornado. Max has the power of invisibility, which he uses to wreak havoc and go unseen. Or so he thinks. But Max goes to school with Ronnie, the son of superheroes and a champion of justice who can see in others what no one else can see--even good hearts in misbehaving boys. What happens when these two super-forces square off?

The Blue Spark (Books by Teens)

Abosede, Aderemi

Evans, Taijah

Comics & Graphic Novels

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