It's a New Orleans Thing is a collection of creative nonfiction pieces written by 11th graders at Living School. The clothing we wear, the places we visit, the objects in our homes, the traditions in our family and community: these all shape who we are and who we will become. Each young author wrote about artifacts of New Orleans history and culture that matter to them. Their words are powerful, evocative, and necessary.

With a Foreword by Fatima Shaik, Author of Economy Hall: The Hidden History of a Free Black Brotherhood

“We want our readers to see and understand New Orleans, how we feel about our city and how connected we are to our home. We are trying to get y’all to understand who we are and who New Orleans is.”

—Student Editorial Board, It’s A New Orleans Thing