Growing Up Poor: A Literary Anthology [Paperback] Coles, Robert; Testa, Randy and Coles, Michael H.

**Growing Up Poor: A Literary Anthology** brings together raw, honest voices that cut through the sanitized narratives about poverty we're usually fed. This compelling collection features stories, poems, and essays from writers who lived it—no trust fund babies cosplaying hardship here. The anthology explores themes of resilience, family bonds, and the complex relationship between shame and pride when money's tight.

Robert Coles, the Pulitzer Prize-winning psychiatrist and author, teams up with Randy Testa and Michael H. Coles to curate these authentic narratives that span generations and geography. Perfect for sociology students, literature lovers, social workers, or anyone tired of poverty being treated as an abstract concept rather than lived reality.

This preloved paperback from Patina Paperbacks shows some character but remains completely readable—much like the stories inside.

**Reader Reviews:**
"Absolutely gutting and beautiful. These aren't poverty porn stories—they're real people telling their truths without apology."
"Required reading for anyone who thinks they understand class in America. Eye-opening doesn't begin to cover it."