When the Dragon Hatched

When the Dragon Hatched, the debut chapbook of youth poet Kayla McDaniel, is an honest and powerful exploration of grief, anger, self-discovery, and healing. Through the recurring image of a dragon-the emotions she once feared-Kayla charts her journey from loss and self-doubt to understanding and acceptance. These poems move from "The Egg," where the dragon is hidden and silent, through the burning stages of rage and heartbreak, to reflections on failure, compromise, and resilience. With clear, vivid writing, Kayla invites readers to see that emotions are not something to cage or destroy, but a part of ourselves to learn from and grow with. When the Dragon Hatched is a story of learning to live with your own fire, to be "who she'd want you to be," and to keep moving forward even when life feels heavy.

Developed through Youth Writers' Camp (Summer 2025), this initiative gives young people the tools to share their voices and experiences through creative writing. The program emphasizes social-emotional learning, self-expression, and community building, making it valuable for both youth and adults. Suitable for middle-grade readers and up, Youth Writers' Camp projects connect naturally to classroom and youth-program discussions about creativity, resilience, and the power of storytelling