Here are eighteen compelling stories about young people in cities and rural areas across the United States--Native, African, Latino, Asian, European, Indian, Arab, and Jewish--some born here, others recently arrived from other countries. All are finding their way, facing realities of home, school, and friendship, making a place for themselves among us. Written by some of our finest authors, these stories are vital and authentic. They allow us to enter into another person's experience and feel it as if it were our own. Duane Big Eagle, Sandra Cisneros, Lan Samantha Chang, Rivka Galchen, Langston Hughes, Gish Jen, Francisco Jim nez, Mary K. Mazotti, Toshio Mori, Naomi Shihab Nye, Akhil Sharma, Gary Soto, Michele Wallace, among others.