Published in 2008, author Minfong Ho offers us the chance to question the false choices we inherit, chicken or hawk, good or bad, and see how much of ourselves gets buried under those labels. Shadow work, like Lani’s flight, is the courage to embrace what was once condemned and discover it is not our enemy but the very part of us that lets us soar.

Published in 2010, author Chua explores the profound and enduring impact of unrequited, or "shadow" love. Retold in Rose's dignified, perceptive, and quietly heartbreaking voice. Lace up, let’s run to the same sinking feeling but a different Titanic.

Published in 2010, author Chua shows us his journey to Venus, a landscape of barbed affections and quiet sabotage, where a mother and daughter orbit each other in mutual mistrust, each guarding their claim to beauty, love, and power. Lace up, let’s run to the haunted house.

Published in 2008, author Minfong Ho encourages us to carry the hopes and challenges of new beginnings, like a tropical flower blooming quietly in cold ground. Lace up, let’s run to a Laotian’s home in America.

Published in 2010, author Chua enlightens us what happens when love, pride, and sambal collide. Lace up. Let’s run to the nasi lemak stall together.

Published in 2008, author Minfong Ho invites us to a birthday celebration that casts quiet light on what success and wealth often leave in the shadows. Lace up. Let’s run to the fancy party together.

Tales for Running

Inspired by the original song from Spirited

Wilfred Owen (1893–1918), one of the most powerful voices of World War I poetry, used his verse to reveal the struggles of ordinary people. While best known for his war poems, Miners takes a different yet equally powerful approach. Written after a mining disaster, it draws a striking parallel between the sacrifices of miners and soldiers—both toiling in the dark, often unnoticed. It’s a fitting reminder for International Workers’ Day that everything we rely on: every comfort, every bit of progress, comes from the hard work of people we don’t always see. Owen’s poem urges us to acknowledge those whose efforts shape the world, even when they remain in the shadows.

Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) was a master of words, capturing both the strength of the individual and the power of community. His poem If— is a timeless guide to resilience, patience, and integrity—offering wisdom on how to navigate life’s trials with dignity and stillness. But Kipling also understood that no one stands alone. In The Law of the Jungle, taken from The Jungle Book, he explores the balance between personal strength and the responsibilities we owe to others (Season 2 Episode 2). Together, these poems remind us that success isn’t just about endurance—it’s about knowing when to trust yourself and when to stand with others.