Swimming in Minds
Nadando en Mentes

Memories and Poems by Westlake Middle School 

​

You hold in your hands an honest and powerful anthology of memoir, poetry, and fantasy, written by students at Westlake Middle School. This lively and curious cohort of youth writers beckons the reader on a journey through memoirs of life lessons, joy poems, mythology, and much more. From traveling to a Building-A-Bear to falling off a bike to jumping in a lake, these writers represent the fresh, earnest, and imaginative minds of Oakland’s youth.

​

In collaboration with Chapter 510, I designed a book cover for a creative writing project by students at Westlake Middle School. This was a fun and meaningful shift from my usual work with younger students. Designing for a middle school audience pushed me to “age up” my illustration style while maintaining gender integrity and ambiguity to reflect the student authors' voices with care and inclusivity.