Embrace by Kennedy King

Introduction by Amy Friedman

Ode to POPS by Hazel Kight Witham

Part 1: Cracked Masks

Part 2: We the Brave

Part 3: Who We Are and Where We Are From

Part 4: Understand Us

Part 5: Mothers & Fathers

Part 6: Heartbreak

Part 7: Looking Back

Part 8: Six Word Memoirs

Part 9: See Our Stories

Epilogue by Claire LaZebnik

Contributors Bios

POPS stands for Pain of the Prison System, and POPS the Club stands for transforming that pain into dignity, belonging, and freedom. POPS the Club creates and sustains a welcoming and loving community in high schools that foster and support teenagers with loved ones in prison. Their stories, poetry and artwork are achingly honest expressions of their experiences: What it is like to live in dangerous and desirous neighborhoods, to love people in prison and those who have been deported or have died, to feel invisible, unseen and unheard and impotent. It is through these stories that club members enhance their transformation, from impotent to important, from invisible to seen, from silent to strong and understood. In the Key of Love is POPS the Club's fifth release (following Runaway Thoughts (2014); Ghetto By the Sea (2015); Before There Were Bars (2016) and Cracked Masks (2017)). These are stories from across the country, from Los Angeles, Belmont, Culver City, El Camino Real Charter, James Monroe, LA High School of the Arts, Lawndale, Santa Monica and Venice High Schools; from Baltimore's Renaissance Academy; and from Harrisburg's Sci Tech and Steelton Highspire High Schools.