POI SUGGESTIONS FOR NSDA
POI is short for Program of Oral Interpretation. The goal is to put together a program that consists of at least TWO of the following THREE genres of literature: Drama; Prose; and Poetry. We, at The Interp Store, have published 100’s of selections that could be a competitive asset in a well-thought out POI. To make your search easier, we have organized our selections into each genre of literature. When you find a selection that piques your interest, you may preview 2-3 pages of the selection by going to our home page and clicking on the appropriate series and then clicking on the individual title. Below, you will notice that we have given you the TITLE; AUTHOR; ORIGINAL SOURCE; and possible THEMES for each selection. Have fun as you peruse through our suggestions! We hope you find what you are looking for!
DRAMA SUGGESTIONS FOR POI
By NSDA standards for POI, ‘DRAMA’ simply means ‘from a play.’ The literature itself may be HUMOROUS or DRAMATIC in nature.
“008” by Herb Duncan
The Purple Book
Possible themes: James Bond; Espionage; Auditioning; Good vs. evil
“The 17th Annual Malcolm X. Jefferson Elementary Talent Show” by Gregory T. Burns
The Green Book
Possible themes: Fundraising; Schools; Talent Shows; Deer hunting; Suicide; Janitors
“27 Dolls” by Leland Faulkner
The Purple Book
Possible themes: Dolls; Boy-girl relationships; Living in the South
“And the Award Goes To” by Shannon Cartwright
The Gray Book
Possible themes: Physical child abuse; Emotional abuse; Love of the movies; Overcoming obstacles; Scars
“The Art of Falling Apart” by Yolanda Williams
The Orange Book
Possible themes: Interracial dating; Complex relationships; Single mothers
“B My Name Is Bob” by Gregory T. Burns
Star Lit Volume Three
Possible themes: Being a man in the new Millennium; Dads; Job interviews; Movies; Clichés
(Please note: Contestants may NOT use the “poems” within this play for the genre of “DRAMA”)
“Ball” by Brian Lobel
Star Lit Volume Two
Possible themes: Testicular cancer; Tour de France; Surviving cancer; Hula-hoop contests
“The Banality Briefs” by Shannon Cartwright
The Yellow Book
Possible themes: Dynamics of female relationships; Cheerleading; Goth girls; Business women; Elderly women
“Believing in Bruce” by Gregory T. Burns
The Brown Book
Possible themes: Ghosts; Tourist attractions; Conmen
“The Big One” by Celeste LeBeaux
The Red Book
Possible themes: Fishing; Father-daughter relationships; Loss of a parent
“Bikes I Have Loved (And the Boy Who Rode Them)” by Kendra Sparks
The Maroon Book
Possible themes: Bicycles; Helmet Safety; Unrequited love
“The Blue Raspberry Banditos” by Leroy Wayson
Star Lit Volume One
Possible themes: Murphy’s Law; 7-Eleven; Slurpee’s; Safety reenactment
“Camp Bigfoot” by Gregory T. Burns
Star Lit Volume Nine
Possible themes: Bigfoot; Yetis; Specialized children’s camps; Sweat shops
“A Chance of Rain” by Bridget Grace Sheaff
Star Lit Volume Four
Possible themes: Dating; Boy-girl relationships; Unrequited love
“Chasing Sarah Jessica Parker” by Gregory T. Burns
The Pink Book
Possible themes: Obsessions; Fan clubs; Road trips; Sarah Jessica Parker
“The Code” by Leland Faulkner
The Gold Book
Possible themes: Rural living; Brothers; Excessive punishment; Death of a sibling
“The Columnists Widow” by Michelle Sanderson
The Maroon Book
Possible themes: Widows; Loss of spouse; Visiting the White House; Politics; Writers
“Confessions of a Teenage Rat” by Jake Barton
The Ivory Book
Possible themes: First Jobs; Like father like son; First love; Pizza parlors; Costumed characters
“Danny’s How-To VLOG on Surviving Middle School, Defeating the Bad Guys and Ruling the World”
By Bridget Grace Sheaff
Star Lit Volume Ten
Possible themes: Bullying; Geography bees; Video-blogging; Surviving middle school
“Dear Batman” by Jake Barton
The Orange Book
Possible themes: Depression and youth; Batman; Superheroes; Little sisters
“Dustin” by Leo Cannon
Star Lit Volume Eight
Possible themes: Mentally-challenged youth; Accidental homicides; Interrogations
“Election Day” by Gregory T. Burns
Star Lit Volume Three
Possible themes: Political campaigns; Presidential elections
“Eye Spy” by Michaela Murphy
Star Lit Volume One
Possible themes: The Kennedy’s; Spying; Family vacations; Glass eyes; Accidents
“The F-Word” by Matthew Yasuoka
Star Lit Volume Six
Possible themes: Friendship; Parental abandonment; Gay father; Tolerance; Acceptance
“Forgive and Forget” by Bridget Grace Sheaff
Star Lit Volume Three
Possible themes: Chronic Memory Syndrome; Bullying; Sisters; Forgiving; Forgetting
“Forgotten” by Elise Sharron
Star Lit Volume Four
Possible themes: Homeless; War vets; Friendly fire
“Friends 4 Life” by Gregory T. Burns
The Red Book
Possible themes: Friendships; Boy-girl relationships; Dolls; Death of a friend; School
(Please note: Contestants may NOT use the “song” in the “talent show” scene.)
“A Ghost of a Chance” by Jake Barton
Star Lit Volume Four
Possible themes: Life after death; Murder mysteries; Meeting friends online
“Gilgamesh, Iowa” by Scott Augustson
Star Lit Volume One
Possible themes: Friendships; Childhood role-playing; Terminal illness; Assisted suicide
“Giving Thanks” by Gregory T. Burns
The Ivory Book
Possible themes: Dysfunctional families; Thanksgiving; Paybacks
“The Good Mother” by Elise Sharron
The Ivory Book
Possible themes: Sexual child abuse; Vigilante justice; Women in prison
“Goodbye Dick and Jane” by Arthur Hoppe
Star Lit Volume Two
Possible themes: Textbook publishing; Evolution; Sex Education; Reinventing the family unit; Keeping up with the times
“The Grimm Girls” by Gregory T. Burns
The Gray Book
Possible themes: Revenge; Hair; Agoraphobia; Breaking and entering; Crime doesn’t pay; Fear of short people; The Brothers Grimm; Spoofs
“Group Scare-apy” by Gregory T. Burns
The Maroon Book
Possible themes: Psychology; Famous monsters; Group therapy; Halloween
“Gums” by Bryan Denbow
The Gray Book
Possible themes: Small town celebrations; Fireworks; Spoofs; Jaws; Salmon; Fear of going into the water
“Heads Up; Off; Whatever: An Oral Book Report on Marie Antoinette” by Gregory T. Burns
Star Lit Volume Seven
Possible themes: The Internet; Misinformation; Girl’s schools; Marie Antoinette
“Human Interest Story” by Rick Francis
Star Lit Volume Five
Possible themes: News Reporters; Workplace romances; Secret relationships; Tabloid television
“The Human(e) Society” by Gregory T. Burns and Bryan Denbow
Perform Volume One
Possible themes: Dogs; Adoption; Politics; Birth; Science fiction; Shelters; The future
“Hydrangea” by Regina Phelps
Star Lit Volume Two
Possible themes: Importance of names; Living in the South; Family ties
“I Dream of Lillian” by Elise Sharron
Star Lit Volume Five
Possible themes: Motherhood; Cancer; Guardian angels
“I Love Lucy” by Celeste LeBeaux
Star Lit Volume Six
Possible themes: Sexual assaults; Sisters; Intruders; I Love Lucy
“I Might Be Edgar Allan Poe” by Dawson Nichols
Star Lit Volume One
Possible themes: Edgar Allan Poe; Mental health; Mental institutions; Fire; Insanity
“The Incredible Adventures of Maw-Maw’s Blanket” by Bryan Denbow
The Brown Book
Possible themes: Imagination; Sibling relationships; Adventures
“The Invisible Line” by Manuel Montez and Kassondra Ortiz
Star Lit Volume Ten
Possible themes: Human trafficking; Human smuggling; Illegal aliens; Crossing the border; Searching for a better future
“Isaac Woodard: In His Own Words” by James Blaylock
The Bronze Book
Possible themes: Racism; World War 2; Living with Blindness; Heroes; Soldiers
“It’s Not About the Hair” by Bridget Grace Sheaff
Star Lit Volume Eight
Possible themes: Hair; Cancer; Locks of Love; Sister bonding
“The Judy Dream” by Gregory T. Burns
The Green Book
Possible themes: Psychology; Dreams; The Wizard of Oz; Reincarnation
“Kissing Lessons” by Bridget Grace Sheaff
Star Lit Volume Six
Possible themes: Boy-girl relationships; Boy-girl parties; Kissing; Closets
“Labels” by James Blaylock
Star Lit Volume Three
Possible themes: Bullying; Judging people; Hazing; Football; Being the new kid in school
“Lies of the Heart (And Other Hidden Trivia Facts)” by Kendra Sparks
The Brown Book
Possible themes: Boy-girl relationships; Break-ups; Hot dogs; Cellos; Trivia game shows
“Little Secrets” by Celeste LeBeaux
The Purple Book
Possible themes: Incest; Sisters; Road trips
“Locked In” by Rick Francis
Star Lit Volume Five
Possible themes: Trapped; Ghosts; Mexican restaurants; Bathrooms
“Love in a Unit” by Robert Hodgson Van Wagoner
Perform Volume One
Possible themes: Rape; Marriage; Surviving traumatic experiences; Self-defense
“Malcolm X. Jefferson Elementary Proudly Presents a Fifth-Grade Production of A Chorus Line”
By Gregory T. Burns
Star Lit Volume Four
Possible themes: Inappropriate teachers: Acting: Putting on a play
“The MANcation” by Gregory T. Burns
The Bronze Book
Possible themes: Vacations; Male bonding
“Millionaire Boy” by J.E. Matzer
The Gold Book
Possible themes: Game shows; Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?; Contestants; Regis Philbin; Trivia knowledge
“Missing Michael” by Leo Cannon
Star Lit Volume Eight
Possible themes: Divorce; Allergic reactions; Siblings; Death of a brother; Michael Jackson
“Mother Dear” by Bryan Denbow
The Silver Book
Possible themes: Physical and mental child abuse; Mother-daughter relationships; Movie stars; Acting
“Mother’s Day” by Celeste LeBeaux
The Yellow Book
Possible themes: Mental retardation; Mother-daughter relationships; Death
“Mourning Love” by Celeste LeBeaux
The Green Book
Possible themes: Funerals; Romance; Death; Finding love in unlikely places
“The Munchies Games” by Jennifer Riley and James Killmurry
Perform Volume One
Possible themes: Survival; The Hunger Games; Odd game shows; Satires
“The Mysterious Gift in Apartment 122” by Bryan Denbow
Star Lit Volume Five
Possible themes: Urban living; Paranoia; Relationships
“Never Clip Your Toenails Under the Influence of Drugs” by Sandy Maranto
Star Lit Volume Nine
Possible themes: Breast cancer; Breast Augmentation; Relationships
“The Northwest Chapter of the Mississippi Coon Club Presents William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Gregory T. Burns
The Bronze Book
Possible themes: Fundraising; William Shakespeare; Acting; Putting on a play
“Office Space: Cubical Paradise or Death Factory?” by Gregory T. Burns
Star Lit Volume Ten
Possible themes: Work-related accidents; Working in an office; Misfortunes; Surviving personal tragedies
“Parton Me” by Tamara Coston
The Teal Book
Possible themes: Fear of public speaking; Overcoming obstacles: Dolly Parton; Look-alike contests
“The Patron Saint of Pinocchio” by Gregory T. Burns
The Blue Book
Possible themes: Siblings; Death of parents; Puppets
“Perfect” by Bridget Grace Sheaff
Star Lit Volume Two
Possible themes: Marriage proposals; Murphy’s Law; Relationships; Fear of commitment
“The Perfect Love Story” by Michael McClain
The Blue Book
Possible themes: Relationships; Marriage proposals; Quest for perfection; Hot air balloons
“The Pom-Pom Boys” by Joseph Reed
The Ivory Book
Possible themes: Football players; Cheerleaders; Peer acceptance; Tolerance; Punishment
“Pretty” by Yolanda Williams
The Pink Book
Possible themes: Sexual assault; Defining beauty; Self-mutilation
“Prissy Thomas” by Sarie Fisher Norvel
The Orange Book
Possible themes: Post Traumatic Syndrome; Bullying; Altered personalities
“The Queen of Oz” by Kristy Thomas
Star Lit Volume Seven
Possible themes: Surviving a natural disaster; Tornadoes; Joplin, Missouri; The Wizard of Oz
“The Queen of the Swamp” by Leland Faulkner
The Bronze Book
Possible themes: Unusual pets; Alligators; Childhood; Grandparents; Siblings: Death; Summer vacations
“The Rabbit Report” by Gregory T. Burns
The Orange Book
Possible themes: Plagues; Rabbits
“Ribbons” by Celeste LeBeaux
The Pink Book
Possible themes: Breast cancer; Mother-daughter relationships; Ribbons for a cause
“Romeo and Juliet in Hollywood” by Gregory T. Burns
The Teal Book
Possible themes: William Shakespeare; Movies; Romeo and Juliet; Boy-girl relationships; Hollywood
“Ruffled Feathers” by Gregory T. Burns
The Teal Book
Possible themes: Defining beauty; Ugly; Acceptance; Appearances; Ducks
“Sally Smart: Second Grade Sleuth” by Gregory T. Burns
The Red Book
Possible themes: Crime solving; Smart kids; School; Hamsters
“The Secret Language of Fish” by Gregory T. Burns
The Gold Book
Possible themes: School; Biology; Dissecting a frog; Freshmen; Boy-girl relationships; Fish; Flirting
“Sparkle: The Documentary” by Gregory T. Burns
The Pink Book
Possible themes: Beauty pageants; Unusual talents; Beauty
“Special” by Jake Barton
Star Lit Volume Nine
Possible themes: School shootings; Mentally-challenged young adults
“The Star-Gazer” by Jake Barton
Star Lit Volume Three
Possible themes: Alien abductions; UFOs; Aliens
“Sunflower Street: Episode 4 (Erma and Molly Get a Date)” by Bryan Denbow
Star Lit Volume Seven
Possible themes: Dating; Sadie Hawkins Dance; Puppets; Sesame Street; Children’s television programming
“A Taste of Purple” by Carol Rust
The Purple Book
Possible themes: Segregation; Popsicles; Rural living
“Teensploitation” by Scott Augustson
The Gold Book
Possible themes: Best friends; Teenage relationships; Teacher-student relationships; Friendship; Prom
“The Testing of Napoleon” by Gregory T. Burns
The Blue Book
Possible themes: Obsessions; Remote-controlled cars; English as a second language; Searching for friends
“Thirty Minutes with Julie” by Gregory T. Burns and Sandy Maranto
Star Lit Volume Nine
Possible themes: Teenage pregnancy; Unwed mothers; Adoptions
“The Three Step Method” by Scott Augustson
Star Lit Volume One
Possible themes: Psychology; Patients; Insanity; Role-playing; Pushing someone over the edge
“Tiger in a Cage” by Jake Barton
The Teal Book
Possible themes: Euthanasia; Drowning; Being in a coma
“Timeline’s Primetime Special: The Amazing Adventures with Ann and Armando (Exposed!)”
By Gregory T. Burns
Possible themes: Exploitation; Television ratings; Children’s television programming; Grief; Manipulation
“To Every Coin” by Gregory T. Burns
The Gray Book
Possible themes: Defining beauty; Physical beauty; Relationships; Break-ups
“Tree Huggers” by Gregory T. Burns
The Yellow Book
Possible themes: Environmental activism; Fighting for a cause; Misunderstandings
“The United States of Science” by Matthew Yasuoka
Star Lit Volume Ten
Possible themes: Sexual identity; Gender identity; Sexual preference; The future
“Unsigned Paintings” by Joseph Reed
The Maroon Book
Possible themes: Nervous breakdowns; Funeral Directors; Mental Health; Loss of sister; Marriage
“When I See Her” by Sujin Jeong
Perform Volume One
Possible themes: The Sewol Ferry disaster; Boating tragedies; Post Traumatic Distress Syndrome
“The Witness” by Shannon Cartwright
The Blue Book
Possible themes: Death by lethal injection; Gangs; Saying goodbye; Sibling relationships; Faith
“Wreckage” by Jake Barton
The Silver Book
Possible themes: Blue collar workers; Traffic fatalities; Death; Towing
“You Are My Sunshine” by Bridget Grace Sheaff
Star Lit Volume Seven
Possible themes: Raising a child with special needs; Prosopagnosia; Face blindness; Psychological disorders
PROSE SUGGESTIONS FOR POI
“27 Dolls” by Leland Faulkner
The Purple Book
Possible themes: Dolls; Boy-girl relationships; Living in the South
“And the Award Goes To” by Shannon Cartwright
The Gray Book
Possible themes: Physical child abuse; Emotional abuse; Love of the movies; Overcoming obstacles; Scars
“Another Teenage Cliché” by Gregory T. Burns
Star Lit Volume Eight
Possible themes: Teenage relationships; Stalking
“Ball” by Brian Lobel
Star Lit Volume Two
Possible themes: Testicular cancer; Tour de France; Surviving cancer; Hula-hoop contests
“The Big One” by Celeste LeBeaux
The Red Book
Possible themes: Fishing; Father-daughter relationships; Loss of a parent
“Bikes I Have Loved (And the Boy Who Rode Them)” by Kendra Sparks
The Maroon Book
Possible themes: Bicycles; Helmet Safety; Unrequited love
“Blackbird” by Ray Dillard
The Yellow Book
Possible themes: Guns; youth and guns
“The Brand” by Ray Dillard
The Silver Book
Possible themes: Youth taking responsibility; Dogs; Cattle branding; Dog grooming
“The Code” by Leland Faulkner
The Gold Book
Possible themes: Rural living; Brothers; Excessive punishment; Death of a sibling
“The Columnists Widow” by Michelle Sanderson
The Maroon Book
Possible themes: Widows; Loss of spouse; Visiting the White House; Politics; Writers
“Confessions of a Teenage Rat” by Jake Barton
The Ivory Book
Possible themes: First Jobs; Like father like son; First love; Pizza parlors; Costumed characters
“The Days of Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwiches” by Bridget Grace Sheaff
Star Lit Volume Three
Possible themes: Chasing dreams; Leaving home; Struggling artists
“Dear Batman” by Jake Barton
The Orange Book
Possible themes: Depression and youth; Batman; Superheroes; Little sisters
“Eye Spy” by Michaela Murphy
Star Lit Volume One
Possible themes: The Kennedy’s; Spying; Family vacations; Glass eyes; Accidents
“The F-Word” by Matthew Yasuoka
Star Lit Volume Six
Possible themes: Friendship; Parental abandonment; Gay father; Tolerance; Acceptance
“Forgive and Forget” by Bridget Grace Sheaff
Star Lit Volume Three
Possible themes: Chronic Memory Syndrome; Bullying; Sisters; Forgiving; Forgetting
“Forgotten” by Elise Sharron
Star Lit Volume Four
Possible themes: Homeless; War vets; Friendly fire
“A Ghost of a Chance” by Jake Barton
Star Lit Volume Four
Possible themes: Life after death; Murder mysteries; Meeting friends online
“The Good Mother” by Elise Sharron
The Ivory Book
Possible themes: Sexual child abuse; Vigilante justice; Women in prison
“The Grimm Girls” by Gregory T. Burns
The Gray Book
Possible themes: Revenge; Hair; Agoraphobia; Breaking and entering; Crime doesn’t pay; Fear of short people; The Brothers Grimm; Spoofs
“How to Terrify the Opposite Sex” by Michaela Murphy
Star Lit Volume Two
Possible themes: Creativity; Boy-girl parties; Phantom of the Opera; Costume parties
“Hydrangea” by Regina Phelps
Star Lit Volume Two
Possible themes: Importance of names; Living in the South; Family ties
“I Love Lucy” by Celeste LeBeaux
Star Lit Volume Six
Possible themes: Sexual assaults; Sisters; Intruders; I Love Lucy
“Isaac Woodard: In His Own Words” by James Blaylock
The Bronze Book
Possible themes: Racism; World War 2; Living with Blindness; Heroes; Soldiers
“Lies of the Heart (And Other Hidden Trivia Facts)” by Kendra Sparks
The Brown Book
Possible themes: Boy-girl relationships; Break-ups; Hot dogs; Cellos; Trivia game shows
“Love in a Unit” by Robert Hodgson Van Wagoner
Perform Volume One
Possible themes: Rape; Marriage; Surviving traumatic experiences; Self-defense
“Millionaire Boy” by J.E. Matzer
The Gold Book
Possible themes: Game shows; Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?; Contestants; Regis Philbin; Trivia knowledge
“Missing Michael” by Leo Cannon
Star Lit Volume Eight
Possible themes: Divorce; Allergic reactions; Siblings; Death of a brother; Michael Jackson
“Mother’s Day” by Celeste LeBeaux
The Yellow Book
Possible themes: Mental retardation; Mother-daughter relationships; Death
“Mourning Love” by Celeste LeBeaux
The Green Book
Possible themes: Funerals; Romance; Death; Finding love in unlikely places
“Never Clip Your Toenails Under the Influence of Drugs” by Sandy Maranto
Star Lit Volume Nine
Possible themes: Breast cancer; Breast Augmentation; Relationships
“Parton Me” by Tamara Coston
The Teal Book
Possible themes: Fear of public speaking; Overcoming obstacles: Dolly Parton; Look-alike contests
“The Perfect Love Story” by Michael McClain
The Blue Book
Possible themes: Relationships; Marriage proposals; Quest for perfection; Hot air balloons
“Pretty” by Yolanda Williams
The Pink Book
Possible themes: Sexual assault; Defining beauty; Self-mutilation
“The Queen of Oz” by Kristy Thomas
Star Lit Volume Seven
Possible themes: Surviving a natural disaster; Tornadoes; Joplin, Missouri; The Wizard of Oz
“The Queen of the Swamp” by Leland Faulkner
The Bronze Book
Possible themes: Unusual pets; Alligators; Childhood; Grandparents; Siblings: Death; Summer vacations
“Ribbons” by Celeste LeBeaux
The Pink Book
Possible themes: Breast cancer; Mother-daughter relationships; Ribbons for a cause
“Special” by Jake Barton
Star Lit Volume Nine
Possible themes: School shootings; Mentally-challenged young adults
“The Star-Gazer” by Jake Barton
Star Lit Volume Three
Possible themes: Alien abductions; UFOs; Aliens
“A Taste of Purple” by Carol Rust
The Purple Book
Possible themes: Segregation; Popsicles; Rural living
“The United States of Science” by Matthew Yasuoka
Star Lit Volume Ten
Possible themes: Sexual identity; Gender identity; Sexual preference; The future
“The Witness” by Shannon Cartwright
The Blue Book
Possible themes: Death by lethal injection; Gangs; Saying goodbye; Sibling relationships; Faith
“Wreckage” by Jake Barton
The Silver Book
Possible themes: Blue collar workers; Traffic fatalities; Death; Towing
“You Are My Sunshine” by Bridget Grace Sheaff
Star Lit Volume Seven
Possible themes: Raising a child with special needs; Prosopagnosia; Face blindness; Psychological disorders
POETRY SUGGESTIONS FOR POI
“Apology” by Sara Sutterfield Winn
Star Lit Volume Six
Possible themes: Mentally-challenged youth; Apologies; Sorry’s; Regrets
“Attack of the B-Grade Boyfriends” by Yolanda Williams
The Yellow Book
Possible themes: Famous movie monsters; Boyfriends; Bad relationships; Teenage relationships;
The 1950’s
“Avoiding Kryptonite” by Jake Barton
The Red Book
Possible themes: Brothers; Superman; Leukemia; Hope
“The Beatles Poems” by Shannon Cartwright
The Red Book
Possible themes: Beatles; Beatles’ music; Beatlemania; Teen Idols; The 1960’s
“Cap’n Crunch and 2% Milk” by Matthew Yasuoka
Star Lit Volume Five
Possible themes: School shootings; Youth and guns; Violence at schools; Gun control
“The Corn Dog Chronicles” by Jake Barton
The Bronze Book
Possible themes: State Fairs; Competitions; Corn dogs; Sharing
“Dear Jeffrey: An Unsigned Note to a Serial Killer from a Former Classmate” by Celeste LeBeaux
The Brown Book
Possible themes: Serial killers; Jeffrey Dahmer; Unrequited love; First loves
“Decisions” by Bridget Grace Sheaff
Perform Volume One
Possible themes: Relationships; Marriage
“The Dog Pound” by Jake Barton
The Brown Book
Possible themes: Dogs; Impoundment; Animal activism
“E-Baby” by Celeste LeBeaux
Star Lit Volume One
Possible themes: Still-born deaths; Preparing for the arrival of a newborn
“Feeling Like Cinderella” by Kendra Sparks
Star Lit Volume Eight
Possible themes: Modern-day fairy tales; Cinderella; Being raised by single parents
“The Fourth of July Chronicles” by Jake Barton
Star Lit Volume Six
Possible themes: Patriotism; Fourth of July parades; Competitions
“Getting Through the M’s” by Celeste LeBeaux
The Blue Book
Possible themes: Mothers; Cancer; Spelling bees
“I Dreamed I Was a Video Game” by Jake Barton
The Gray Book
Possible themes: School shootings; Violence in youth; Guns and youth; video games
“If Columbine Were a Game Show” by Richard Callahan (from In the News)
Star Lit Volume Nine
Possible themes: School shootings; Game shows; Columbine
“The JFK Poems” by James Blaylock
The Green Book
Possible themes: Assassinations; John F. Kennedy; The 1960’s
“Kisses” by Elise Sharron
Star Lit Volume Seven
Possible themes: Kisses; Kissing; Family; Defining moments
“Last Night I Saw My Life Onstage” by Yolanda Williams
The Green Book
Possible themes: Domestic abuse; Billy Holiday
“Make No Mistake” by Kameron Lavine (from In the News)
Star Lit Volume Nine
Possible themes: Gun control; Gun violence
“A Man and His Watermelon” by Jackie Vernon
The Maroon Book
Possible themes: Unlikely friendships; Acceptance; Loss
“Mothers I Have Known” by Sandy Maranto
Star Lit Volume Ten
Possible themes: Mothers; Life lessons; Loss
“My Oscar-Caliber Father” by Shawn Douglas
The Purple Book
Possible themes: Fathers; Actors; Death of parent
“Numbers” and “Dark Shadows” by Richard Callahan
The Orange Book
Possible themes: UT Tower shootings; Violence at school; School shootings; The 1960’s; Charles Whitman
“One Time the Fat Girl Danced” by David Marshall Marquis
The Silver Book
Possible themes: Obesity; Acceptance; School dances; Chivalry; Pride
“Out of the Wolf’s Mouth” by Kendra Sparks
The Gold Book
Possible themes: Modern fairy tales; Grandmothers; Little Red Riding Hood; Wolves; Survival
“Penny for Your Thoughts” by Shannon Cartwright
Star Lit Volume Two
Possible themes: Homelessness; Shelters; Disintegration of the family unit; Divorce; Survival; Self-worth
“The Princess and the Pea Poems” by Kendra Sparks
The Ivory Book
Possible themes: Modern fairy tales; Desire/Wants; Abuse; Mothers; Princesses; Relationships
“Queen of the Riverdale Retirement Home’s Annual Valentine’s Day Dance” by Celeste LeBeaux
Star Lit Volume Three
Possible themes: Old age; Retirement homes; Dances; Eternal devotion; Lasting relationships
“The Seven Brightest Stars in Heaven” by Celeste LeBeaux
The Pink Book
Possible themes: NASA; Space Shuttle Challenger explosion; The 1980’s; Disasters; Space exploration
“Something to Cheer About” by Celeste LeBeaux
The Teal Book
Possible themes: Cancer; Cheerleaders; Football; Encouragement; Overcoming adversity
“Story on Page Six” by Will Webster
Star Lit Volume Four
Possible themes: Death of mother; Coming to terms; Loss; Auto accidents
“A Year in the Life of Jasmine Spinner” by Kendra Sparks
Star Lit Volume Seven
Possible themes: Speech teams; Forensics; Oral Interpretation; Being a novice; Teams |