Black Boys Dreaming: Virtual Verse & Pandemic Prose

Over the course of a historic year characterized by the COVID-19 pandemic, Black Lives Matter protests, and widespread social reckoning, four Black middle school boys from Beacon House in Washington, DC came together virtually, to dream. Pushing up against the hardship of current events, these new authors decided to create a collection of imaginative stories that share messages they believe the world needs to hear today about resilience, self-expression, and staying true to your dreams. In this collection, you will meet Kobe, a teenage basketball player grappling with the death of his role model; Zim, a sword-wielding orphan on a quest to save his grandmother's life; Ava, a cyborg girl who just wants to be normal; and Brandon, a boy struggling to choose between his passion and his family. This motley crew of heroes all learn to decipher their changing worlds, carrying with them necessary guidance for readers on how they can process their own. Artfully illustrated, and written in both poetry and prose, this book has something for every type of reader.

Ages 9+.

During a pandemic, racial reckoning, and social unrest, four Black middle school boys create an astonishing collection of imaginative stories that celebrate resilience, self-expression, and hope.

Against the backdrop of a global pandemic, Black Lives Matter protests, and widespread social reckoning, four Black middle school boys from Beacon House, an after-school community program in Washington DC, create a compelling collection of imaginative, inventive, and artfully illustrated stories written in both poetry and prose. Among the protagonists in this collection is Kobe, a teenage basketball player grappling with the death of his role model and Zim, a sword-wielding orphan on a quest to save his grandmother's life. Readers also meet Ava, a cyborg girl who just wants to be normal, and Brandon, a boy struggling to choose between his passion and his family. All are unexpected heroes who learn how to decipher and navigate their world, sharing inspiration and hard-earned life lessons for others to follow.

The young Black authors of these remarkable stories came together virtually to push up against the isolation and despair of current events. By writing the stories they believe the world needs to hear-of resilience, self-expression, and hope-they create their own magic and stay true to their own dreams.