It gives us great pleasure to formally announce our 2008-2009 book project. We will be working with Arlette Crosland at Garfield High School in East LA, her students, and Father Greg Boyle (founder of Homeboy Industries) to produce a book about the Hero's Journey (the archetypal myth described by Joseph Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces).

Many of the students have already taken their first steps. Here's the beginning of a piece that one student, Alex, wrote for her visit to 826LA West in August:

One slate gray Liverpool morning, Ringo Starr found in his mailbox a typed letter, wrapped around a drumstick, that stated: "Paul is Dead."

The drumstick transformed, grew mechanical legs, and chased poor Ringo back into his house.

Then, from the bathroom window, Sgt. Pepper came, rescued Ringo from the aggressive drumstick, and said, "Tomorrow may rain, so follow the sun and find Paul."

Still, these young writers' journeys have yet to really begin. Their roads will be long, challenging, yet ultimately very rewarding when we release the book next year. They will start writing once they return to school in late October, and will write, rewrite, and edit all the way until February. If you'd like to help out on this journey, as a tutor/editor/photographer/illustrator/designer, please write Julius.