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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Cushing from Los Angeles, CA is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Cushing is requesting

A Diverse YA Novel Library for a Classroom Calming Space

Help me give my students a classroom library of Diverse YA Novels that will help enrich our classroom calming space!

  • $987 goal

This project expired on June 13, 2025.

This project expired on June 13, 2025.

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Celebrate Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

My Project

I teach a diverse group of artistic students at a Title I visual and performing arts school. Students come from all over the city to our public high school to receive a top-notch education in both academics and their chosen art form (music, dance, visual arts, or theater) and go on to study at some of the top academic colleges and art schools across the country.

Students deserve to see themselves represented in the literature they read, and my goal with this project is to do just that!

Studies have shown that reading for fun not only supports mental health but improves a students' literature skills- a calming corner full of high interest books will help my students in both of these ways! With this classroom library, students will be able to borrow and read books they are interested in- both for during class and to take home. My previous book collection was completely destroyed when a hurricane created a water leak in my classroom, and I look forward to recreating that calming space and resources for my students. Thank you in advance for your support of my amazing students!

Ms. Cushing Cortines School - Vpa Grades 9-12

Equity Focus

This project directly supports students at a historically underfunded school. Learn more about our Equity Focus.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Los Angeles, CA View local requests

More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

150 students impacted

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You donate directly to the teacher or project you care about and see where every dollar you give goes.

Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Ms. Cushing is requesting.

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

You can start a project with the same resources being requested here!

Where Your Donation Goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total
5 Book Bundle: Graphic Novels #3 - Underrepresented Authors (book set) White Bird, Ain't Burned All Bright, Run, They Called Us Enemy, Long Way Down • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $90.00 1 $90.00
4 Book Set: Graphic Novels #5 - Underrepresented Social Emotional Learning (paperback 12+) Junior High, Crush, Girl Called Echo, My Bilingual Summer • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $80.00 1 $80.00
4 Book Set: Graphic Novels #8 - Underrepresented Stories Social Emotional Learning (paperback, ages 14+ mature) The Talk, Hey Kiddo, Sunshine, Weirdo • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $75.00 1 $75.00
4 High School Favorites #1 (Ages 14+): Becoming, Black Enough, Just Mercy, Blackout (book set); Black Books Matters from MahoganyBooks • MahoganyBooks $70.00 1 $70.00
4 Book Set: Graphic Novels #4 - Underrepresented Stories Social Emotional Learning (paperback 10+) Snapdragon, El Deafo, Space Boy 1-3, Parachute Kids • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $60.00 1 $60.00
4 Book Set: Graphic Novels #1 - Underrepresented Authors (paperback, ages 10+) - American Born Chinese, Mexikid, Frizzy, When Stars Are Scattered • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $60.00 1 $60.00
Jason Reynolds & Track Series Collection (paperback boxed book set); Black Books Matter from MahoganyBooks • MahoganyBooks $28.79 1 $28.79
Wandering Stars: A novel (YA hardcover, Native American voices) • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $22.00 1 $22.00
We Are All So Good at Smiling (hardcover, YA ages 14+) x Black Books Matter from MahoganyBooks - teen mental health, social emotional learning • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $20.00 1 $20.00
Within These Wicked Walls (hardcover) - Reese's Book Club YA Pick • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $20.00 1 $20.00
Tokyo Ever After: A Novel (YA hardcover) - Reese's Book Club YA Pick • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $19.00 1 $19.00
A Place Inside of Me A Poem to Heal the Heart - Caldecott Honor Book (hardcover picture book, poetic) • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $18.00 1 $18.00
Genius: The Con (Genius, 2) • Amazon Business $17.09 1 $17.09
Furia (hardcover) - Reese's Book Club YA Pick • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $15.00 1 $15.00
Discovering Wes Moore (paperback) • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $14.00 1 $14.00
You Should See Me in a Crown (paperback) - Reese's Book Club YA Pick • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $12.00 1 $12.00
The Book Thief (paperback) • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $12.00 1 $12.00
The Light in Hidden Places (paperback) - Reese's Book Club YA Pick • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $12.00 1 $12.00
They Both Die at the End (paperback) • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $12.00 1 $12.00
The Downstairs Girl (YA paperback) - Reese's Book Club YA Pick • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $12.00 1 $12.00
Tokyo Ever After: A Novel (YA paperback) - Reese's Book Club YA Pick • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $12.00 1 $12.00
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter (paperback) • DonorsChoose Featured Favorites $11.00 1 $11.00
Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim • Amazon Business $10.49 1 $10.49
Tim Te Maro and the Subterranean Heartsick Blues • Amazon Business $10.47 1 $10.47
Punching the Air • Amazon Business $8.86 1 $8.86

Materials cost

$721.70

Vendor shipping charges

$9.88

Sales tax

$66.04

3rd party payment processing fee

$10.83

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$838.45

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$147.96

Total project goal

$986.41

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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Project Activity

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