Mariel-Ayen

Mariel-Ayen is the author of “Anak.” She was 16 years old when she wrote her comic. Mariel is from DC and her family is from the Philippines. She loves to draw – making designs for characters, creatures, vehicles, environments, and more! This project was not Mariel’s first story or comic, but will be the first one available to the public. Her favorite part of the writing process was thinking about how she can make a story that people can relate to, having characters that reflect both Mariel’s personal life, and the personal lives of others too. Mariel made “Anak” because it represents the personal struggles of trying to express yourself when you grew up in a different culture than your parents.

AAPI Youth Comics Zine

During the summer of 2023, ten young people from AALEAD came together to create this zine centering Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) stories. In collaboration with Shout Mouse Press story coaches and professional comics artists, they drew and wrote comics centering AAPI identities in diverse, authentic, accessible ways that affirm other AAPI young people, increase understanding, and foster an inclusive next generation.

Free download! Add to cart and checkout to download and print the zine. Educators are encouraged to print and share with your students!

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The Light Looks Like Me

By the young writers of Shout Mouse Press

Young people from across the LGBTQ+ spectrum came together to explore what love looks like to them, in all its iterations. This anthology was dreamed as a response to book bans nationwide targeting literature featuring LGBTQIA+ characters and themes, and the related silencing of these voices and conversations. With the help of local queer teaching artists, young writers and artists responded to that call through poetry, prose, comics, art, and more. Their work shows us the love that they find everywhere: in their friends and family, their communities, and bubbling through their brilliant selves.

This project was created in partnership with The DC Center for the LGBT Community, Sasha Bruce Youthwork, SMYAL, and Split This Rock.