Quote by Kwame Alexander: “My dad said, 'Don't let anyone steal your joy, son. Ever.'”

This protective advice emphasizes the importance of safeguarding one's happiness and inner peace. It teaches resilience and the determination to prevent external negativity or other people's actions from diminishing personal contentment and spirit.

Messages promoting emotional resilience and mental well-being gained traction in the late 2010s, with authors often incorporating such advice into their stories for young readers navigating social pressures.

American poet, educator, and bestselling author who won the Newbery Medal in 2015 for his verse novel The Crossover. He has been a prominent advocate for poetry in schools and his books have introduced a generation of young readers to the power of verse as a literary form.