Tammy Shen

Lowercase Tammy Shen

lowercase: An illustrated poetry book that fights the stigma on mental illness. All proceeds will be donated to the Jed Foundation, a nonprofit that protects mental health and prevents suicide in adolescents and young adults. Humans are connected by emotion. That's what makes us powerful. "lowercase", a debut illustrated poetry book by teenage author Tammy Shen, embraces raw, universal pain and emotion that anyone can relate to. In a world where mental illnesses are heavily stigmatized, Shen captures universal pain to connect humanity and encourage acceptance. The book gives a voice to those who are silenced in fear. The poems highlight the relatable but uniquely personal stories from different perspectives of people to create a sense of unity. Pain isn't always magnified. Sometimes it lurks in the back of our minds. By understanding that pain can be subtle, we can be more mindful of others and reduce the stigma.