What Gives Stacy Wells Hope

More hope. From the kidlit community, to you.  

No matter where you are. No matter what’s going on around you. No matter what is pulling your attention or competing for space in your mind. May these next few minutes offer you rest, peace, and hope.

Hope Ep. 30 - December 13, 2025

Stacy Wells, co-author of Stronger Than (Heartdrum), with co-author Nikki Grimes and illustrated by E.B. Lewis, shares what is giving her hope today: people out in the world who are doing good things.

Listen along:

About the Book:  Stronger Than by Nikki Grimes and Stacy Wells; Illustrated by E.B. Lewis. Published by Heartdrum.

Renowned author Nikki Grimes and debut picture book writer Stacy Wells (Choctaw) lend their resonant voices to award-winning artist E. B. Lewis’s (Lenni Lenape) rich watercolors in this story of a Black Choctaw boy who finds strength in the example and history of his ancestors.

When Dante struggles with nightmares, his mother believes learning his family’s history will help him cope. The roots on both sides of his family tree run deep, with stories of survival through events Dante’s mother calls “daymares.”

Taking discovering his heritage into his own hands, Dante finds out hard truths—but also a love that shines through generations and, finally, a strength to sleep through the night.

Features author and illustrator notes, historical references, a glossary, and a note from Heartdrum author-curator Cynthia Leitich Smith.

Transcript:

Stacey: "You know, I thought you would ask this question, and I actually took screenshots because people give me hope and I see the human and the kindness of people every day in this world. And it really does bring me hope when I see people go out of their way to help others.

So one of the things that I came across recently is there was a dance held at the Angola Prison for inmates who haven't seen their daughters in years. And I thought that was a beautiful expression of humanity. And like rehabilitation and just that piece of them being human. Like I said, it is just a beautiful act.

I've enjoyed all of the Brendan Kennedy.. I think he goes by Waywaw, he was, I guess the director for the Macy's Thanksgiving parade and it was so full of life and love and I appreciated the way he responded to everything. I love that they had those powwow dancers at the parade. I just love all that and I think that gives me lots of hope.

Oh, and Shonda Rhimes just recently invested one and a half million dollars to protect the sacred ground of where Emmett Till was tortured and murdered. And I just thought, that's a beautiful gift that she's giving to everyone in the United States, to the world. And so that story is not forgotten, and that gives me hope because there are people out there doing good things.

And that gives me hope."