Young Authors' Book Project
The Young Authors’ Book Project (YABP) is a collaboration between 826 New Orleans and a dedicated high school teacher to produce a professional-quality publication over the course of about six months.
Volunteers provide individualized support and mentorship to students throughout the process as students write multiple drafts and edit their pieces. Students are involved in every step of the publishing process, from sitting on an editorial board to making critical decisions about the design and layout. The project culminates with a big publishing party and the book is distributed widely.
The 2019-2020 YABP, We The Almighty, is a collection of spine poetry written by 10th graders at G. W. Carver High School. Using the 1619 Project as an anchor, young people took a deep look at historical documents, and used language from those texts to share their own stories. The book, featuring a foreword by acclaimed scholar-activist and cultural consultant, Dr. Yaba Blay, and gorgeous cover art from artist, Katrina Andry, was released and celebrated in September 2020.
The 2020-2021 YABP, Me In This Moment, will look a little different, but will be just as powerful. This series of books will be released and celebrated in June 2021.
