DePaul’s Blue Book: Best American High School Writing is a one-of-its-kind annual anthology featuring the best English and Spanish poetry, stories, essays, and journalism from teens across the country. The anthology is edited by Professor Chris Solís Green, who leads a team of student editors from DePaul’s English, Journalism, and Writing, Rhetoric & Discourse departments.

Free copies of the Blue Book are distributed to contributors, finalists, and teachers who submitted accepted work. Anyone can order free physical copies through our order form or can read a free digital copy through our website. We hope that high school teachers will consider using the anthology as a textbook in their classes to highlight and inspire writing done by students.

Gia Clarke – Journalism Editor – GCLARKE5@depaul.edu

Gia Clarke (she/her) is a junior journalism major. She currently is the Deputy Managing Editor of 14 East, DePaul’s online magazine. She is a well rounded student journalist, covering topics ranging from hard news coverage to entertainment writing. In her free time, she enjoys creative writing, reading, and making music.

Luna Diaz – Undergraduate Student Associate Editor – ldiaz75@depaul.edu 

Hello!! I’m Luna, a second-year English major with a concentration in Creative Writing, along with minors in Professional Writing and Fundamentals in Psychology. I am thrilled to be joining Depaul’s Blue Book as I find that it showcases how meaningful art can come from anywhere and can be made by anyone. Looking forward to reading and being inspired by what young writers will submit!

Ella Yates (she/her) – Undergraduate Student Associate Editor – eyates4@depaul.edu

Hi! My name is Ella and I am an undergraduate senior majoring in Writing and Rhetoric with a minor in Creative Writing. When I’m not working with Blue Book, I am also a co-editor for Honorable Mentions, a newsletter for DePaul’s Honors Program. I’m excited to see the amazing submissions from young writers and hope Blue Book will inspire students to pursue their passions in writing!

Victoria Carl (they/them) – Managing Editor – vcarl@depaul.edu 

Hi 🙂 I’m a graduate student in DePaul’s MFA in Publishing and Writing Program. In addition to Blue Book, I’m currently at work on a sci-fi horror novel about a haunted space station. You can read my writing in SFRA Review, Crook & Folly, Special Interest Magazine, and Polyphony Lit, among others. Fun fact: my first publication was in a high school anthology similar to Blue Book, and that’s what gave me the confidence to pursue writing in college.

NATALIE MILLS BONTUMASI (Book Designer)  

In her Chicago-based design practice, Natalie Mills Bontumasi has focussed on book design, visual communication, and signage for non-profit organizations and artists for more than twenty years. Her work is included in the Chicago Design Archive. 

Chris Solís Green (he/him) – Editor – cgreen1@depaul.edu 

I’m the author of four books of poetry: The Sky Over Walgreens, Epiphany School, Résumé, and Everywhere West. My poems have appeared in such publications as Poetry, The New York Times, and Prairie Schooner. I’m also a founding editor of Big Shoulders Books whose mission is to disseminate, free of charge, quality works of writing by and about Chicagoans whose voices might not otherwise be amplified. I’ve edited four anthologies including I Remember: Chicago Veterans of War, American Gun: A Poem by 100 Chicagoans, and Chicago Mosaic: Immigration Stories of Objects Left, Lost, or Kept. I’m a Distinguished Writer in Residence in the English Department at DePaul University. More information can be found at www.chrissolisgreen.com.