The Best Teen Writing of 2017
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“How much like lightning words can be,
Soft, devastating, made for conflict but never
for calm. Our minds slide into war
Like bones breaking--fresh and quick.
The recent hurricane or shooting quivers
In my chest. Every day, fresh news, fed
And then forgotten, a hum behind the chaos.”
That's an excerpt from a poem called "Trolls," written by 12-year-old Gayatri Rajan from Mason, Ohio. He's one of dozens of teens whose work is honored in "The Best Teen Writing of 2017." Each year, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards chooses exceptional writing from young people across the country, and this year's volume of stand-out writing is edited by Trace DePass, who was honored for his poetry in the 2015 collection.
Trace joins The Takeaway to explore this latest work by young people, and to explain why he says we need the work of teens now more than ever.
