Written by the students of Franklin Dual Language Academy
In celebration of our 20th Anniversary, 826LA dedicates this publication to all of those who have helped make our community what it is, what it was, and what it will become.
Thank you to the students, volunteers, educators, donors, staff, community partners, and time-travelers who have filled the last 20 years with such creativity, joy, and hope.
We look forward to another 20 years in partnership!
Illustration by Loris Lora
This book was written by the students of Franklin Dual Language Academy in 2025.
The views expressed in this book are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of 826LA. We support student publishing and are thrilled you picked up this book.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.
Este libro fue escrito por los alumnos de las clases en Franklin Dual Language Academy en 2025.
Las opiniones expresadas en este libro son las de los autores y no reflejan necesariamente las de 826LA. Apoyamos la publicación de jóvenes autores y estamos felices que hayan recogido este libro.
Todos los derechos reservados. Prohibida la reproducción total o parcial de este libro sin autorización escrita del editor.
we are not tied down by time
Written by the students of Franklin Dual Language Academy
Editor: Maddie Silva
Cover Artwork: Rachel Zhu Book Design: Rachel Zhu
Introduction
Maddie Silva
A found poem, spliced together from the work of Mary Oliver by the student authors of this book:
What is it
Tell me
Everything in the world comes
It is your life
The blue air
The pink light
Meet them at the door laughing
Wild and precious life
I venture to say that writing poetry does not come easy to most people. Certainly not for me. It is a tall order to dig deep and transcribe what we find inside our hearts, minds, and souls onto a blank paper. Especially in just a week. Yet, that’s just what the student authors of this publication did.
For five dedicated English classes, the middle school authors experimented with three types of poetry and themes: found poetry describing a childhood memory or an imaginary time capsule; haikus celebrating their current obsessions and loves; narrative poetry mapping their vision for their futures.
We invite you to read, and as you do, discover where the students have been, where they are, and where they are going. Nico O. captures the essence of this book well in his poem “Forever,” “Beginning, middle / end or whatever happens / I am always me”
The Future:
To be Young and Travel
A Found Poem
To be young and travel
How pretty the views when life gets tough
I love the beach waters when confident
My Future… Forever
Beginning, middle end or whatever happens
I am always me
Variety
My future is amazing as true earth
It is as bright as the star
It is as cold as ice cube
As brave as a lion
As cool as media
As bright as a star, crisp as the beat of the drum.
As adventurous as an unexpected journey. Serene as a tranquil waterfall in a secluded forest.
Peaceful as a place to yourself.
Alegria C.
Nico O.
Martel
Nico O.
My Future Is Bright My Future Is...
Chanel M. Natalia
It is as bright as the stars
As bright as yellow poppies
As bright as Raising Cane’s
As bright as iced matcha
As bright as a new softball
My Future…
My future is peaceful as smelling candles
It is happy as my dog
As living a long life
As rich as Scrooge McDuck
It is as bright as the sun
As cool as Aubrie
As my beautiful best friend Aubrie
And yes, she’s amazing
My Future Is…
Aubrie
My future is successful, happy, and exciting
It is as happy as a smiley face
It is as happy as minions
It is as exciting as movies
Saul
My Future…
My future is exciting as winning a soccer game
It is as fun as watching a soccer game
It is as boring as playing hockey
It is as fun as going to Six Flags
My Future
Is…
My Future Is...
Jayden Saul Jair
My future is as fun as basketball.
My future is as energetic as the NBA finals.
My future is as cool as the basketball All Stars.
My future is living with my friends
It is as happy as getting a new dog
It is as crazy as my dog
It will be as fun as the swing at the park
I want my future to be as fun as basketball.
I want my future to be as cool as Anthony Davis.
I want my future to be as rich as LeBron James.
Future, Past or Present?
What was it like in the past, how do dinosaurs speak in person?
How smart was the smartest man.
Was the world different or was it the same
Will the world be different in the future
Will there be flying cars and robot or just the same
Will there be a time capsule to be in the past?
The Present:
Like No One Could Stop Me
I Love The Beach I Love FIFA
Collecting seashells
Sunbathing under the sun
Care-free and relaxed
Soccer is the best
I play FIFA on Xbox
I play with my dad
Play against AI
Very hard for beginners
Career mode is good.
Playing Basketball
Isabella L.
When I play I feel
great and we good, I feel like no one could stop me
Baseball
Jayden
Cooler full, grass, ball
Strike out, throw the pitch, home run
Throw the ball, fly ball
Victoria Martel
Cute and Colorful When I Draw
Hiroshi Saul
Happy colorful
Different character design
Cute inspiring
Happy dark horror
A lot of color designs
Happy nature cute
Cute inspiring
Cute different nature stories
Beautiful looks
I draw in my book
I draw every day and night I draw on my phones
Feeling
Saul
I am good at drawing I feel happy when I draw
I love to draw things
They like my drawings
I love all of my drawings
They watch me drawing
Unicorns
Aubrie
A sparkly rainbow
Majestic unicorns
Me good unicorn
Sun-Kissed
Victoria
Sun drenched and tranquil
Wave-kissed and pure golden sand
A serene beachcomb
I Love My Boyfriend
Emery
Handsome and sassy
Makes me feel confident
Sassy skinny queen
Gentle
Victoria
Gentle kisses
Under the moon
Love-hate relationships
Good and bad journeys
Beauty and watching the stars
Untitled Seattle Vacay
Victoria Alyna
Under the moon
Watching the stars
Journey through Journey
Field full flowers
Peaceful and carefree
A whistling breeze
Under the stars
I Love God
Edgar
Calming Bible verse
Many colors of stained glass
Calming spiritual man
Pretty Seattle
Felt free, earning shopping fun
Seafood Seattle
Ocean family
Amazing Hawaii time
artistic photos
Hawaii Vacay
Alyna
Roblox Disneyland
I love Disneyland
I go with cousins and fam
Time is magical
Roblox Jayden Alyna
Josue G
Fun fishing money
Addicting simulator
Fun tycoon violence
Time to catch the fish
The Roblox is fun to play
I know what to play
Bryan
I compete against Kids in Fortnite, colorful Beautiful, vivid
Tycoon building fun
Fun entertaining violence
Fun addicting games
Fortnite
Bryan
I play badminton
Pacing, fun, exciting day
Birdie, air, fast, net
Basketball
Jair
Enthusiastic
Nerve wracking adrenaline
Powerful Lakers
Ball
Bryan
Play ball with friends
Shoot at the goal, celebrate
Fun and exciting
Untitled
Peaceful walk, funny
Cute joyful lazy run fun
Loving happy rest
Viviana F.
Baja Blast
Aubrie
Scrumptious Baja Blast
A magical Baja Blast
Sparkly Baja Blast
Loving Anime
Alegria C.
I love anime
Full of suspense and drama
Makes me feel happy
Boba Time Pokemon Adventures
Aubrie
Me want boba time
I fly to boba time now
I’m broke ‘cause boba time
Alegria C.
Full of adventure
Scary and horrifying
Mystery is fun
Food
Joel J.
I love mom, my heart
I like to cook food for mom
I want a chef
Unicorns and Wingstop
Me was unicorn
I was hungry for food
I flew to Wingstop
Mexican Food Wingstop
Horchata tacos
Chilaquiles tamales
Jamaica tastes good
Crispy wings delight
Flavors dance on every bite
Wingstop unicorn
Joel J.
Natalia A.
Natalia A.
Champions
Jeremy
Sports, run, catching, play
Frustrating, kicking, throw
Exciting fun sports
SRLA
Jeremy
Seeing birds flying
Running through the wind, swoosh swoosh
I am almost there, run!
Summer Life
Jeremy
Splashing cold water
Swimming happy fun story
Seal at the ocean
Dogs
Jayden
My dog is funny
My dogs are fun to play with
My dogs are so cute
I Love Cats
They run, park funny
Cut the hair, A good skin
Jump, eat, and sleep
Touch the toys, they’re round
They have babies, they walk
Play and sleep, clean, play
Jump funny, they run
Go to the hospital, eat
Touch the toys, they run
Romina
The Past: In a Time Capsule Buried Deep
Time Capsule: A Found Poem
Aubrie
In a time capsule buried deep,
Lies a children’s book for us to keep
A bedtime favorite, worn and old,
Its stories are timeless, yet to be told.
By the beach, where waves do play
We’d read its tales at the close of the day
A small bottle of sand,
A glimpse of the past
I Choose Me
Emery
We met through some friends.
We could relate.
Made me feel
I could be loved for me.
Came to an end.
Wrong to feel
Insecure
Acting dramatic
Used to comfort me,
Hold me
Tell me
It’s real.
But I got no answer
Leaving me worried
Came to an end.
Health
Joel J.
I had a nice friend, shocked
Symphony Chocolate
Angry in school and with healthy
Vegetables, fast health nutrients
Flavored cotton
candy chocolate marshmallow
Time Capsule: A Found Poem
A capsule that looks 2,000 years old
I found an old music box, wine, VHS tapes, old expired food, photos, refrigerator
I was disgusted and shocked of seeing the old expired food
I showed it to a friend
Breaking News!
World record malintent.
Controversial puppet abnormalities lead to aggravation across the globe.
Beloved citizen tells the story of Baked Bean BreadTM malintent across the globe.
Martel
Nico O.
Untitled
Aaron A.
I would play a game
I didn’t understand
But one day
I changed my mind
What I want
I love
When listening
Music it is
One place
When I paint
I didn’t like to
Once when
The world
I would go
Probar Algo Por La Primera Vez
Romina
Cuando
Fui a Comer
Tenia
Ganas
De Probar
Algo
Nuevo
Yo
Tenia
Ganas
De Ir
A un
Lugar
Por primera
Vez
Untitled
Josue G.
Feeling heavy
Heavy
Stuck in the ground
With Friends Need to
Teleport
In time
To Get rescued
From Big Dangerous
Dinosaurs
Sunny 2022
Viviana F.
Funny
Water in the float
Holding on tight
Going side to side
Long lines
Tall rides
Scary
Going down the slides
Different areas
Enjoyable time
Lots of water
Scary
Getting water splashed on you
Very hot
Good drinks
March To The End
Crumbling Aster
Calista E.
Ourania was her name
What a lonely woman
So many years alone
Longing for embrace
A celestial wish was made one day
A wish for a lover from the stars
To warm her lonely heart
The years will soon come to an end
The stars will send her ethereal lover down
Aster
A man crafted in the image of perfection
His embrace was warm
Warm like the sun on a summer day
But as soon as his warmth came it left
Made from stars he started to crumble
Till nothing but stardust was left
Stardust in her hands
Sadness and longing back again
The mourning then began
For days and nights she weeped
Days and nights she cried
Her love will come back to her
Either in this life or the next
About 826LA programs
Vision
826LA envisions a Los Angeles where every child has access to quality writing education and is empowered to express themselves creatively through writing. We envision a Los Angeles where every teacher is supported in their writing-based educational objectives.
Mission
826LA is dedicated to unlocking and cultivating the creative power of writing for students ages 6 to 18, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.
How we advance our mission: A nonprofit organization, our services are structured around our understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.
With this in mind, we provide after-school tutoring in all subjects, evening and weekend workshops, in-school programs, field trips, college access, help for English language learners, and assistance with student publications.
All of our programs are challenging and enjoyable, and ultimately strengthen each student’s ability to express ideas effectively, creatively, confidently, and in their own voice.
Core Values
826LA values joy in the service of achieving educational goals. Our community norms value diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. We therefore prioritize partnerships with Title 1 Schools, engagement with historically marginalized populations, and training and deploying community-based volunteers in support of our mission. As a teaching approach, we value creativity, authenticity, empathy, and lively, rigorous, and student-centered writing education. As an educational enrichment organization, we value supporting teachers, principals, and other school staff in the pursuit of excellence.
After-School Writing Programs
Mondays through Thursdays, students attend 826LA for afterschool writing programs. Students participate in community building activities, work on homework or reading with trained tutors, and of course, write! Students submit their writing for inclusion in chapbooks, which 826LA publishes twice a year. To celebrate students’ hard work, 826LA unveils these chapbooks at book release parties, where students read their work to thunderous applause from their volunteers, families, and peers.
Field Trips
During the week, 826LA invites teachers and their students to our writing labs to participate in a morning of collaboration, creativity, and writing. Whether Storytelling & Bookmaking, Well-Wishing & Poetry, Choose Your Own Adventure, or Memoir, field trips at 826LA support teacher curriculum and student learning by offering a safe space for students to be their most imaginative and to work on their writing skills. In a few short hours, students brainstorm, write, edit their work, and leave with something tangible—a bound book—as well as a renewed confidence in their ability to tell their stories.
In-Schools Programs & Writers’ Rooms
Because not all students can come to us, 826LA brings specially trained volunteer tutors into classrooms throughout Los Angeles. There, volunteers provide one-on-one or small group assistance with writing projects. 826LA works with teachers to craft all projects, which are designed to engage students while targeting curricular needs. In addition to visiting twenty schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District each year, 826LA has additional sites within Manual Arts High School, Roosevelt High School, and Venice High School called The 826LA Writers’ Rooms.
Workshops
826LA’s workshops bring students together with artists, writers, and professionals for creative collaboration. Whether the subject is journalism or preparing for the zombie apocalypse, our workshops foster student creativity while strengthening writing skills. This program includes two long running partnerships with Paramount Pictures and the Hammer Museum.
Jaime Balboa Executive Director
Diego Quevedo Chief of Staff
Shani Foster Director of Education
Christie Thomas Director of Development
Pedro Estrada
Programs & Operations Manager, Echo Park
Mike Dunbar
Maddie Silva Manger of Special Initiatives
Arisdeysi Cruz Tutoring Program Coordinator
Marco Beltran Writers’ Room Program Coordinator
Wendy Beltran
Senior Writers’ Room Program Coordinator
Cole Montgomery
Senior Development Coordinator
Karen Van Kirk
Board President
Sarah Rosenwald Varet
Board Vice President
David Ullendorff
Board Treasurer
Cisca Brouwer
Development Committee Chair
Ben Au
Jeff Boos
Scott Boxenbaum
Iman Farrior
Joe Ferencz
Scott A. Ginsburg
Susan Ko
Hon. Holly A. Thomas
Dave Eggers, Emiritus
826LA Staff Board of Directors Advisory Board
Programs & Operations Manager, Mar Vista
Mateo Acosta
Associate Director of Community Engagement
Carinne Mangold
Store and General Operations Manager
Alma Carrillo
Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships and Communications
Trevor Crown
Senior Manager of Volunteer Innovation and Assessment
Julia Malinow In-Schools and Tutoring Program Coordinator
Caz Shen Store Associate
J.J. Abrams
Judd Apatow
Miguel Arteta
Mac Barnett
Steve Barr
Joshuah Bearman
Father Gregory Boyle, S.J.
Amy Brooks
Stefan Bucher
Kathleen Caliento
Monique Demery
Mark Flanagan
Ben Goldhirsh
Rebecca Goldman
Ellen Goldsmith-Vein
DeAnna Gravillis
Terri Hernandez Rosales
Christine Jaroush
Spike Jonze
Miranda July
Catherine Keener
Keith Knight
Al Madrigal
R. Scott Mitchell
Lani Monos
B.J. Novak
Miwa Okumura
Amber Paasch
Jane Patterson
Keri Putnam
Sylvie Rabineau
Sonja Rasula
Will Reiser
Luis Rodriguez
Tara Roth
Brad Simpson
J. Ryan Stradal
Natalie Tran
Sarah Vowell
Sally Willcox
Julie Wiskirchen
Join the Future Bestsellers Club!
Sign up to make a monthly donation to 826LA and you’ll join our Future Bestsellers Club. For as little as ten dollars each month, we’ll deliver writing from our brilliant, emerging authors right to you!
Go to 826LA.org/donate and click on Future Bestsellers Club to join.
Shop the Time Travel Mart!
Visit our Time Travel Mart storefronts in Echo Park and Mar Vista where you can shop for all your time traveling gears and gadgets. From Mammoth Chunks to Robot Milk to original student-authored books, we pride ourselves on being the only Los Angeles purveyor of quality goods from the past, present, and future. The proceeds from the store help to keep all programs free for our students.
You can also visit the stores online at timetravelmart.com.
Echo Park 1714 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026
Mar Vista 12515 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066
