"BarrioWriters" brings an impressive breadth and depth of emotion and cultural insights which can t be overstated. These readings are extraordinary because, together, the prose and poetry collected here by these bright young writers capture, almost all at once, what their lives are truly about, how their lives have been challenged, and yet, most importantly, how these youth almost always manage to triumph, through the very act of writing. The tough insights into their lives these writings bring come to us because of the profound understanding these youth have of how precious and fragile their lives can be when the environments surrounding them fail to protect them and those they love. Interspersed throughout this volume are valuable writing prompts other young writers like those collected here can use to develop their own literacy and literary skills. These prompts allow writers to develop their perspectives on their own, while being aided with valuable insights other prospective young writers can follow to their own ends. This new set of young Barrio Writers delivers powerful and exemplary poetic and prosaic testaments which should inspire others to tell of their lives in as impressive a style as found in this new volume."