Somewhere in the back yard, a teen is chasing light between branches, daring imagination to keep up. Somewhere else, a student is scribbling in the margins of their math notebook—jotting down something that they are not quite sure counts as a poem.

In the pages of “Hide & Seek,” the ninth annual teen anthology from Lake Erie Ink, those quiet moments are captured, celebrated, and shared.

The collection that launches next Thursday, May 29, is more than a book—it’s a map of discovery created by and for young people. Each poem, story, photograph, and illustration is a clue in the ongoing game of finding identity, meaning, and voice.

The yearly anthology is the culmination of Lake Erie Ink’s Teen Book Project, in which a group of teens take the lead in every part of the publication process—from selecting the theme to curating submissions to formatting the final book.

Working together with Lake Erie Ink teacher Amy Hughes, and with support from the literary and publishing community, the teens learn and grow as creative participants in their community.

This year’s theme, “Hide & Seek,” invited contributors to explore vulnerability, revelation, and everything in between. Submissions poured in from Northeast Ohio students in grades six through 12. The submissions represent a vibrant mix of genres: fiction, poetry, comics, visual art, and photography.

The teen authors of the 2024 Lake Erie Ink teen anthology.“These writers are on their way, they’re emerging,” writes poet, educator, and best-selling author Quartez Harris in his “Hide & Seek” foreword. “This collection proves that there will be writers in the future and more books in the years to come—because these teens are writing now.”

Harris, who is the author of the USA Today bestseller “Got to Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer,” reflects on his own journey, which began not in classrooms but in backyards and on basketball courts.

Back then, no one told Harris that his everyday experiences were worthy of literature. Now, through his words and work, Harris offers that very affirmation to a new generation—reminding young creatives that their voices matter, and that their stories deserve to be written, read, and remembered.

Teen editors Tate Polatz and Aamina Edwards say working on the editorial board was empowering.

“Being on the teen editor's board has given me the opportunity to meet and collaborate with other kids who share similar passions,” says Tate. Aamina adds, “I got to know some background of where people come from and what shapes them as a person.” The collective work in “Hide & Seek” results in a beautifully bound book that honors the complexity of growing up and coming into one’s own.

Supported in part by funding from the Ohio Arts Council, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, the Cyrus Eaton Foundation, individual donors, and local foundations, “Hide and Seek” will be available in local bookstores and from Lake Erie Ink on Friday, May 30.

Hide & Seek is a testament to what young people can create when given the tools and trust to share their truths.

The teen authors will be recognized and celebrated on Thursday, May 29 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Loganberry Books, 13015 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Heights, 44120.

In addition to Loganberry Books, “Hide & Seek” is also available at Mac’s Backs and Visible Voice Books.