Always the Outcast—by Christian Pimentel
Christian has been bullied verbally and physically since elementary school. He tries to fit in with a group of cool kids by wearing eyeliner, nail polish, and different clothes. But the students with the Mohawks and piercings don't treat him any better.
[FULL TEXT] [MORE STORIES ON BULLYING]

Fighting Words—by Margarita Martinez
Margarita, who is Latina, unintentionally offends a black classmate when she stereotypes her. After the two girls cool down and talk, they develop a friendship and realize how important it is to see people as individuals. [FULL TEXT] [MORE STORIES ON STEREOTYPES]

Letting it Out—by Ashunte Hunt
Ashunte is angry and depressed about the death of his parents, and releases his pain in violent outbursts. Listening to hip hop inspires him to write a poem, and he soon realizes that poetry can help him control his anger. [FULL TEXT] [MORE STORIES ON WRITING]

Dirty Dancing—by Janill Briones
Janill is appalled by the openly sexual dancing that goes on at her school dance. Her friends try to get her to join in, but she feels awkward and grossed out. [FULL TEXT] [MORE STORIES ON SEXUALITY]

Bum-Rushed by My Past—by Natasha Santos
An abusive past has left Natasha with a lot of anger, but she learns to hide her feelings. She is eventually adopted by a family she trusts, but her bad feelings re-surface during a scary panic attack.
[FULL TEXT] [MORE STORIES ON ANGER]

They Called Me 'Crack Baby'—by Antwaun Garcia
When fellow students discover he can't read, Antwaun is teased and called a "crack baby." He struggles in school for a while, but decides not to let his past hold him back and eventually makes it to college.
[FULL TEXT] [MORE STORIES ON ADDICTION]

Do Teens Care About Free Speech?—by Janill Briones
Janill interviews fellow high school students to find out what they know about the First Amendment and free speech. She's shocked to discover how ignorant they are about the Constitution, and how little appreciation they have for the freedoms it guarantees.
[FULL TEXT] [MORE STORIES ON POLITICS]

Talking to the Ceiling—by Percy Lujan
As he grows up, Percy stops believing in heaven and hell. But after witnessing the passing of an old man his mother has been caring for, he tries to understand the mystery of life and death.
[FULL TEXT] [MORE STORIES ON DEATH AND LOSS]