In Spring 2025, Planet Word asked the young people of the DMV (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia) which new book we should add to our magical Library. Two winning books will be added to the Story Table interactive in the Schwarzman Family Library, and the winning essay writers will be invited to help record the audio interview that forms the basis of the interactive experience in the gallery.
Thank you to all the young readers and writers who participated in Planet Word’s second youth essay contest!
Dr. Tony Keith, Jr. served as the special guest judge for the contest. Dr. Keith is an award-winning Black American gay poet, spoken word artist, and Hip-Hop educational leader from Washington D.C. Or, you can just call him an “Ed Emcee.” He is the author of the YA memoir in verse How the Boogeyman Became a Poet and the YA poetry collection Knucklehead.
Walker Mill Middle School
Advocating for: New Kid by Jerry Craft
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Kenyatta beautifully advocates for New Kid by Jerry Craft to be included in the Planet Word Library exhibit. Their powerful line — “I saw myself on those pages, and for once, it felt like someone really understood what that’s like” — speaks to the deep importance of representation in literature. As an author, I’m moved by how this book helped Kenyatta find belonging through words, a gift every reader deserves to experience.
James River High School
Advocating for: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
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Tiffany makes a compelling case for adding The Midnight Library by Matt Haig to the Planet Word Library exhibit. Their essay shines in its honesty and imagination — especially when they reflect, “I wanted to be everything…but my desire…stems not from interest in the field, but from my curiosity of the world.” I appreciate how Tiffany sees books as spaces for reflection, reimagining, and wonder, and how they made their essay feel deeply personal and thoughtful.
Inspired Teaching Demonstration School
Advocating for: When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
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Winston Churchill High School
Advocating for: Everything Sad Is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri
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James Madison High School
Advocating for: Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum
Read the essay