Let Me Be Honest: 28 Young Artists on Surviving an Uncertain World

Gr 7 Up–This title collects poems and artwork by young creators from the Toronto, Ontario area who participated in artistic workshops during the peak of the pandemic quarantine and the BLM movement, when people were speaking out about isolation and exclusion. Works include poetry and prose in free verse and rhyme, photography, illustration, and collage; these are collected in sections that speak to self-care, empathy, and compassion. The teen poets and artists represent alienated and at-risk youth who are questioning the status quo and navigating teen life in urban environments, using introspection and ­self-expression to find their place within family, community, and the world. Works speak to the disillusionment of being let down or led astray by the adults who are supposed to provide protection and guidance. Other works reference experimenting with drugs and risk-taking as a rite of passage that may lead one to addiction and trauma, and the challenges of growing up in a hostile world burdened by the pressure of adult responsibilities but lacking the support system to succeed, or a voice to be heard. Through these works, readers gain access to young artists from marginalized communities who express personal truth and happiness, display resilience and perseverance, and distill hard-won life lessons into guiding principles to share with peers. ­