Non-Fiction Books

Jimmy Santiago Baca's harrowing, brilliant memoir of his life before, during, and immediately after the years he spent in a maximum-security prison garnered tremendous critical acclaim and went on to win the prestigious 2001 International Prize. Long considered one of the best poets in America today, Baca was illiterate at the age of twenty-one and facing five to ten years behind bars for selling drugs. A Place to Stand is the remarkable tale of how he emerged after his years in the penitentiary -- much of it spent in isolation -- with the ability to read and a passion for writing poetry. A vivid portrait of life inside a maximum-security prison and an affirmation of one man's spirit in overcoming the most brutal adversity, A Place to Stand "stands as proof there is always hope in even the most desperate lives" -- (Fort Worth Morning Star-Telegram). "A Place to Stand is a hell of a book, quite literally. You won't soon forget it." -- Luis Urrea, The San Diego Union-Tribune "This book will have a permanent place in American letters." -- Jim Harrison

"Literacy is freedom and everyone has something significant to say." -Jimmy Santiago Baca Fusing Jimmy Santiago Baca's talents as a writer of memoir with ReLeah Cossett Lent's expertise in building and empowering classroom communities, Adolescents on the Edge offers a completely new approach to reaching at-risk adolescents. Centered around conflicts and life-altering choices, Baca's gripping personal narratives-delivered through short stories and live-from-the-classroom videos-will resonate with students and provide rich opportunities for them to reflect on their own decision making. Through these stories and their accompanying activities, students witness the power of literacy and learn that their power, too, lives in the words they speak, write, and share with others. Adolescents on the Edge components - The complete teacher's book , Adolescents on the Edge, describes the elements and professional understandings needed to cultivate transformative learning environments. After detailing the role of trust and dialogue in creating a classroom community, ReLeah presents proven strategies for engaging and motivating students. The second half of the teacher's book provides new stories Jimmy has written especially for adolescents. Each story is reproducible and is supported by teaching strategies. - An accompanying DVD welcomes your students into a real classroom to watch master storyteller Jimmy Baca in action. After the stories teachers can watch Jimmy and ReLeah lead students in follow-up lessons and reflect on their own practice. The 10 stories from the teacher's book are also available in an optional book for students . Stories from the Edge enriches and extends Baca's critically acclaimed memoir A Place to Stand . In addition, Jimmy has written three more stories for students to read independently. Save $ with a Teacher Pack .

Jimmy Santiago Baca’s newest collection of essays picks up where his earlier acclaimed book, Working in the Dark, left off. Laughing in the Light is the writer’s first attempt to revisit his past, launching into the past twenty years with a renewed heart and wizened spirit as he shares his experiences, what he has learned along the way, and how his views have changed. Baca delves deeper into contemporary issues as he explores themes ranging from arts, culture, education, and justice reform.