“Being kind is one of the hardest thing to be in high school because you're so terrified of being cut down yourself that you're always on your guard. But don't be like that. Be kind and you will be truly different. A standout. Unique and happy.”
― The Probability of Miracles
― The Probability of Miracles
“But I know I didn't love school for school's sake. I had never really been what people call an 'academic' person, nor did I see myself becoming one. Instead, I took pleasure in the fact that my work existed in a social setting, one that was based on the promise of a brighter future. I knew that what I adored about school was that each of my assignments - readings, essays, or in-class presentations - was inseparable from my relationships [...] If I loved school at all, I loved it for what it provided me access to: bonds with people I grew to cherish. And nothing was better than working toward my dreams alongside people I loved who were doing the same.”
― Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard
― Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard
“We were supposed to be an English literature class, but Miss Nesbitt used literature to teach real life. She said she didn't have time to teach us like a regular English teacher--we were too far behind. Instead, she taught us the world through literature.”
― Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice
― Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice
“You only go through High School once, but if you go through the way we did, that's enough.”
― Off The Rails: Excerpts From My Life
― Off The Rails: Excerpts From My Life
Barbara’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Barbara’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
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