Award-winning author Renee Watson and poet Ellen Hagan read "Girlhood," a poem from their new YA novel about raising your voice. Jasmine and Chelsea are best friends on a mission--they're sick of the way women are treated even at their progressive NYC high school, so they decide to start a Women's Rights Club. They post their work online--poems, essays, videos of Chelsea performing her poetry, and Jasmine's response to the racial microaggressions she experiences--and soon they go viral. But with such positive support, the club is also targeted by trolls. When things escalate in real life, the principal shuts the club down. Not willing to be silenced, Jasmine and Chelsea will risk everything for their voices--and those of other young women--to be heard. These two dynamic, creative young women stand up and speak out in a novel that features their compelling art and poetry along with powerful personal journeys that will inspire readers and budding poets, feminists, and activists. For more info about Watch Us Rise, visit https://bloomsbury.com/us/watch-us-rise-9781547600083/

Award-winning author Renee Watson reads "This Body," a poem from her new YA novel written with Ellen Hagan about raising your voice. Jasmine and Chelsea are best friends on a mission--they're sick of the way women are treated even at their progressive NYC high school, so they decide to start a Women's Rights Club. They post their work online--poems, essays, videos of Chelsea performing her poetry, and Jasmine's response to the racial microaggressions she experiences--and soon they go viral. But with such positive support, the club is also targeted by trolls. When things escalate in real life, the principal shuts the club down. Not willing to be silenced, Jasmine and Chelsea will risk everything for their voices--and those of other young women--to be heard. These two dynamic, creative young women stand up and speak out in a novel that features their compelling art and poetry along with powerful personal journeys that will inspire readers and budding poets, feminists, and activists. For more info about Watch Us Rise, visit https://bloomsbury.com/us/watch-us-rise-9781547600083/

Award-winning author Renee Watson and poet Ellen Hagan, authors of the YA novel Watch Us Rise, discuss their collaboration. Jasmine and Chelsea are best friends on a mission--they're sick of the way women are treated even at their progressive NYC high school, so they decide to start a Women's Rights Club. They post their work online--poems, essays, videos of Chelsea performing her poetry, and Jasmine's response to the racial microaggressions she experiences--and soon they go viral. But with such positive support, the club is also targeted by trolls. When things escalate in real life, the principal shuts the club down. Not willing to be silenced, Jasmine and Chelsea will risk everything for their voices--and those of other young women--to be heard. These two dynamic, creative young women stand up and speak out in a novel that features their compelling art and poetry along with powerful personal journeys that will inspire readers and budding poets, feminists, and activists. For more info about Watch Us Rise, visit https://bloomsbury.com/us/watch-us-rise-9781547600083/

Award-winning author Renee Watson and poet Ellen Hagan, authors of the YA novel Watch Us Rise, discuss their collaboration. Jasmine and Chelsea are best friends on a mission--they're sick of the way women are treated even at their progressive NYC high school, so they decide to start a Women's Rights Club. They post their work online--poems, essays, videos of Chelsea performing her poetry, and Jasmine's response to the racial microaggressions she experiences--and soon they go viral. But with such positive support, the club is also targeted by trolls. When things escalate in real life, the principal shuts the club down. Not willing to be silenced, Jasmine and Chelsea will risk everything for their voices--and those of other young women--to be heard. These two dynamic, creative young women stand up and speak out in a novel that features their compelling art and poetry along with powerful personal journeys that will inspire readers and budding poets, feminists, and activists. For more info about Watch Us Rise, visit https://bloomsbury.com/us/watch-us-rise-9781547600083/

Renée Watson and Jason Reynolds discuss the begining of Jason's journey as a reader. Walter Dean Myers and Queen Latifa form a cornerstone and Jason shares a sneak preview of his latest novel Patina. Photographed by David Flores in Harlem.

Renée Watson and Jason Reynolds discuss what Ramona missed in Portland. Poetry feeds prose and visa versa; and Renée reads from her novel Piecing Me Together. Photographed by David Flores at Langston's House in Harlem.

Writers Jacqueline Woodson and Renée Watson discuss writing the importance of bringing life experience to the page. Photographed in Brooklyn by David Flores. Winter 2015.

Writers Jacqueline Woodson and Renée Watson discuss the history of Black Portland. Photographed in Brooklyn by David Flores. Winter 2015.

Writers Jacqueline Woodson and Renée Watson discuss the challenges of gentrification. Photographed in Brooklyn by David Flores. Winter 2015.