As a girl and as part of an ethnic minority in Afghanistan, Freshta Tori Jan was persecuted relentlessly. Her family faced kidnappings and daily murder attempts on the bus, on the way to school, in the workplace, and beyond. Freshta's school was shut down by the Taliban, and many of her friends were murdered and shot. Her journey through poverty, terrorism, and other forms of injustice has enabled her to be a voice for those unable to share their stories and those unable to receive the opportunities she has sought. She believes in empowering youth in order to bring about change and be the leaders of today and tomorrow. With a voice that is both accessible and engaging, Freshta brings forward a captivating first-person account of strength, resilience, and determination, and delivers compelling narrative nonfiction by young people, for young people.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Haitian immigrants, Frantzy Luzincourt has dedicated his life to service and the empowerment of youth voices. When he was fifteen, Frantzy became the founding president of his high school’s Black Student Union, where he advocated for more Black male teachers and for bringing social justice into school curriculum. Frantzy now fights to ensure that all students, no matter their background, have access to equitable schools where young voices are championed. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Frantzy and his friends formed the Strategy for Black Lives coalition, which centers youth voices and mobilizes communities to fight against racism, discrimination, and inequity. His passion for education and criminal justice reform are integral to his identity as a young Black man.  With a voice that is both accessible and engaging, Frantzy brings forward a captivating first-person account of determination, activism, and empowerment in America. The I, Witness series delivers compelling narrative nonfiction by young people, for young people.

Ever since Precious Perez was a child, she has loved to sing. Born and raised outside Boston, her family joked that she’d eventually study at Berklee College of Music. But when a high school music teacher advocated for Precious’s talent, her dream became a reality. Precious was born two-and-a-half months premature and weighed just one pound. Her eyes did not develop fully, and she is blind. Growing up, most people focused on what Precious could not do because of her disability. With her teacher’s support, Precious realized all the things she could do with her disability—starting with attending Berklee. With a voice that is both accessible and engaging, Vision brings forward an empowering first-person account of a woman finding strength and purpose in her disability. The I, Witness series delivers compelling narrative nonfiction by young people, for young people.

In 2017, less than three weeks after Salvador Gómez-Colón’s fifteenth birthday, Puerto Rico was struck by a historic Category 4 hurricane. Residents were completely caught in the dark; news about Hurricane Maria broke only two days before it made landfall. Salvador and his family fared better than most, but many in his community were left with destroyed homes and little access to basic resources. Unable to ignore this suffering, Salvador put his good fortune to good use, starting a fund-raising campaign that would bring solar-powered lamps and hand-powered washing machines to thousands of families in need. This Spanish-language edition of Salvador’s propulsive first-person narrative brings a compelling story of determination, compassion, and hope to a wider audience. “A harrowing tale of survival and an inspiring tale of altruism.�— School Library Journal, starred review “Compellingly written with an emphasis on compassion.�—Booklist, starred review