From the Inside Out: Letters to Young Men and Other Writings

This anthology of creative writing, introduced with a foreword by the poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, is a collection by incarcerated writers, many of whom are serving life sentences. Inspired by the desire to reach out to young men who may be in danger of incarceration themselves, the men offer, in the first section of the book, heartfelt letters written to their younger selves, their sons, their nephews, and associates still on the street. The second section of the book includes selections from each writer's portfolio, ranging from short stories and memoir kernels to a wide variety of poetry. The final section of the book includes colored illustrations from two of the writers who are also artists. The book is ideal for use in secondary classrooms and includes the writing assignment that inspired the letters.