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Okay, don’t judge me, but I was the kid who loved my English classes in high school. A specified time to write, read, and think critically? Sign me up again and again! What really marked my high school experience were the books I read as a student. They made me laugh and cry, challenged me, and expanded my world. Keep reading to learn about some of my favorites 📚

," I remember feeling intimidated by the book’s length. At 16, it was probably one of the longest books I’d read (outside of the "Harry Potter" series). I fell in love with Jane’s sweeping story of self-discovery, love, and incredible courage, though. Since high school, I’ve seen the movie and also the 

Alley Theatre’s beautiful rendition of the play

 last year. Definitely a classic story that’s still just as beautiful today.

 is still one of my favorite books as an adult. It has everything to keep a reader intrigued: a gripping mystery, glamorous parties, characters that jump off the page, and the iconic setting of Long Island, New York. The summer before my senior year of college, "The Great Gatsby" 

 debuted, and it made me love the book even more! This 

scene with Daisy and Gatsby still lives rent-free in my head,

 specifically with Lana Del Rey’s song “Young & Beautiful" on repeat.

always stayed with me because it was unlike anything I’d ever read before. This satirical story follows a group of mistreated and overworked animals who want to create a better environment for themselves. Decades after it was originally published, this novel becomes increasingly more relevant with each passing year.

" at school or for pleasure, but this book solidified my identity as a writer. I can’t believe this was the first novel Toni Morrison ever wrote! In this haunting story, Pecola Breedlove, an 11-year-old African American girl, prays for her eyes to turn blue, so she can be considered beautiful. As a teenager struggling with my own identity at the time, Morrison named feelings that I didn’t even know existed in myself. Now, as an adult, I stand proud of who I am today, what I look like, and where I come from — and a lot of that comes from reading great Black writers like Morrison.

The best bookstores in Houston

The best books Hey Houston Newsletter Editor Brooke Lewis read in high school. 

The Books We Read in High School 

The Best Classic Books From High School

Find the best of everything that Houston has to offer.

Houston’s Best

Houston's Best

In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that separating children in public schools 

. The landmark Brown vs. Board of Education ruling led to many schools integrating across the country. However, did you know it took the Houston Independent School District until 1984 to fully integrate after the Supreme Court ruling and it remained as 

one of the largest segregated school districts in the United States

 for years? Here’s more on the complicated history.

After the Supreme Court ruling in 1954, some African American students applied to attend white schools in Houston and Harris County, but were denied access. At the college level, it took University of Houston 

until 1961 to admit its first Black graduate student

did not begin integrating its campus until the 1960s

. In HISD, the process was slower. In 1956, two Houston-area children, Delores Ross and Beneva Williams, 

tried to enroll in person at public white schools

, but were denied. Later that year, their families 

filed a class action lawsuit against the school district

. Despite the lawsuit, it took until 1960 for a federal judge to order the school district to implement a plan for desegregation.

After the order from the federal judge, the school district began to integrate one grade level per year starting with first grade in September 1960. As the years passed, younger grades began to integrate, but some Houstonians pushed for full desegregation. In May 1965, Reverend William Lawson, a civil rights icon in Houston, 

called for Houstonians to protest HISD’s “stair-step integration.”

 Thousands of African American students boycotted schools and about 2,000 marched to HISD headquarters. 

However, as time passed, the school district started to make progress. In 1975,

 the district opened its first magnet schools

, which offered specialized programs to any student across the district and helped schools to continue to desegregate. By 1981, a judge reviewed the original case brought in 1956 by Ross and Williams, and 

 The school district finally settled the decades-long case out-of-court in 1984 with the NAACP and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. In a full-circle moment, Ross attended a ceremony to sign the settlement.

Why did it take years for Houston schools to fully integrate after the Brown vs. Board ruling in 1954? 

Why Houston Schools Took Decades to Integrate 

Why Houston Schools Took Decades To Integrate

People, places, and scenes from Houston's past.

Houston History

Are you having a hard time finding somewhere entertaining and affordable for your kiddos to be when school lets out? I know after-school care can be extremely expensive across Houston, but don’t get too stressed out just yet! There’s plenty of free and low-cost fun options. From storytime at Houston Public Library to free tennis lessons, I’ll show you where your kids can have a good time on a budget.

What could be a better place for your kids to read and learn something new than their local library? Whether you want to play board games, enjoy storytime, play with Legos, or work on arts and crafts, there’s tons of kid-friendly free fun. Check out 

🏊 Houston Parks and Recreation Department Activities

 and other after-school activities for kids? Whether your child wants to swim, play soccer, or participate in flag football, they can try something new this fall. The city also has after-school enrichment programs where kids can work on crafts, explore nature, and do fitness activities.

If you have a daughter in 4th or 5th grade who’s interested in STEM, 

enroll them in this weekly after-school program

. The girls will participate in exciting scientific investigations and other activities that will sharpen their science, technology, engineering, and math skills.

Want your child to be the next Coco Gauff or Naomi Osaka? The City of Houston is partnering with the Houston Tennis Association to offer 

free year-round beginner and intermediate tennis lessons

 at tennis centers and neighborhood courts across the city. Another plus? This program is open to kids up to 18 years old, so your whole family can up their tennis game!

Back in 2016, Houston Endowment initiated a study that found 

several Houston neighborhoods did not offer quality out-of-school activities

 alongside other organizations and city departments. This program now connects kids with fun opportunities all over Houston, from performing arts and Girl Scouts to tutoring and mentorship, there is something for everyone in your family. Use 

The best free or low cost after-school activities in Houston. 

The Best Free or Low Cost After-School Activities in Houston

The Best Free or Low Cost After-School Activities 

Tips and tricks for living your best Houston life, by locals, for locals.

Houston Life Hacks

Houston ISD has been dealing with a state takeover since June 2023, when elected school board members were ousted and the state installed a new superintendent after years of poor academic performance at a single high school. So, how long will the takeover last, and what’s changed in HISD since?

announced that Mike Miles would take over as superintendent

 in June 2023, HISD entered a period of dramatic change. Miles 

 overhauling dozens of schools to improve their academic performance. NES schools 

 timed lessons, higher pay for educators, and turned libraries into “team centers.” Many parents and community members have criticized the system, claiming it has led to high principal and teacher turnover and creates a rigid learning environment. In June, the Texas Education Commissioner announced the state takeover will continue until 2027, so HISD

What’s Happened in HISD Since the Takeover?

More than 7,000 students and over 160 principals 

have left the school district since the state takeover

more than 2,300 teachers of the district's 10,000 teachers departed.

 At the same time, academic performance has improved. HISD’s passing rates on the STAAR exam increased closer to the statewide performance. High school students who took end-of-course exams also increased passing rates, except English I. Meanwhile, HISD is reporting that 

 from the state’s accountability ratings, compared to 121 receiving a “D” or an “F” before the state takeover.

In order to exit the state takeover, HISD must have no campuses with multiple years of failing ratings; comply with special education laws; and improve board governance. In June, Miles 

 and an $82,000 raise. HISD doesn’t plan to expand the New Education System this school year, and the administration may 

have to close about 10 schools due to low enrollment

How long will Houston ISD's takeover go on? 

How Long Will Houston ISD's State Takeover Last? 

What Houstonians have been wondering. We break down why things in Houston are the way they are and how they work.

Houston, Explained

Located in the heart of Houston’s Third Ward, Emancipation Park has been a place for Juneteenth celebrations, community gatherings, and other traditions for generations. Today, you can go for a swim at the community pool, listen to jazz as you watch the sun set over the downtown skyline, or enjoy a performance at Blessing Theater. More than 150 years after it was purchased by newly freed African Americans, the park stands as a testament to the resilience of Third Ward.

After slavery was abolished in 1865, an influx of 

African Americans moved to Houston from neighboring plantations

. They began to purchase land and build homes in the city, especially in Third and Fourth wards. Some combined resources and purchased property to build schools and churches. The Rev. Jack Yates, politician Richard Allen, and the Rev. Elias Dibble, who were also former slaves themselves, purchased a place for African Americans to celebrate Juneteenth, the day enslaved Texans officially learned slavery ended in June 1865. The group bought the 10-acre plot for Emancipation Park in 1872. In the late 1930s, a recreation center, swimming pool, and a bathhouse were added. For years, the park served as a community hub. It also was 

the only public park and swimming pool open for African Americans

As years passed, Third Ward residents wanted a modern update for their historic park. In the early 2000s, two residents who were born and raised in Third Ward 

created a nonprofit called the Friends of Emancipation Park

 to push for resources for the park. Philip Freelon, a renowned architect who also designed the The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., led the park’s $33.6 million redesign. It included a new recreation center, a beautiful green lawn for events with family picnic areas, and a restored stage area for indoor and outdoor performances. In 2017, more than 8,000 people partied at 

the first Juneteenth celebration held at the newly renovated park

. With fears of gentrification in the neighborhood, 

many hope the park will preserve Third Ward’s rich history

Since the redesign, when you drive down Emancipation Avenue, it’s hard to miss the main building's bold orange colors. The park hosts events all year long like 

, summer programs for children, and community plays. Right across the street, you can order something delicious from 

 (my vote is the pound cake waffle with chicken!) or get a book from 

 inside Eldorado Ballroom for your summer reading. Right now at Emancipation Park, you can also explore an exhibit in 

honor of the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

Emancipation Park has remained a legacy in Third Ward for more than 150 years. 

Emancipation Park's Lasting Legacy in Third Ward

Emancipation Park's Lasting Legacy 

 this month, allowing the state to create a $1 billion school voucher fund for private school students in Texas. Abbott has said school vouchers are about allowing Texas families to have “education freedom,” and opponents of the legislation say 

it will harm the state’s public schools

Families of any school-aged child in the state can 

apply for roughly $10,000 of taxpayer money

 to use on private school education or things like textbooks, transportation, and therapy. Students with disabilities are eligible for up to $30,000 in additional support under the new law.

The money will go to families through state-run bank accounts. Public schools, in comparison, receive 

 per student each year from the state and through local funding.

, but the voucher program is not expected to launch 

Most anyone can receive a school voucher. Students already attending private schools and students with disabilities can apply for vouchers. Students must be U.S. citizens to receive voucher money and cannot be enrolled in a public school while using a voucher. Students who are leaving the public education system for private school will be prioritized in the program, as will families living at or below 500% of the federal poverty level, according 

How Private School Vouchers Will Impact Houstonians

How will the new school vouchers affect Houston students and parents? 

What To Know About Texas’ New School Vouchers Law

Test your knowledge on Houston news with Hey Houston's weekly news quiz.

Take the Weekly Houston News Quiz February 2025

Take the Weekly Houston News Quiz

Hey friends! Did you keep up with all of the happenings in Houston this week? Test your knowledge with our brand new Hey Houston news quiz, which kicks off today! Try it out, and see if you’ve been paying attention to the Hey Houston news section 😉

Take our bi-weekly news quiz testing your knowledge on all the news happening in Houston. 

Have You Kept Up With Houston's News in January 2025? 

Take The Weekly Houston News Quiz!

This week in Houston is definitely colder than normal outside, but just how cold can temperatures drop in our city? Well, let’s just say you’ll be grateful for today’s temps after reading how chilly it got in January 1930. Keep reading to learn more about the coldest day ever in Houston and historic winter freezes.

recorded its coldest day ever at only 5 degrees

. Decades later, another historically cold year in Houston was 1983, when Houstonians experienced 

four full days in a row of below freezing weather

. Yikes! Then in December 1989, a winter storm brought more frigid weather. Houstonians saw 1.7 inches of snow fall on Dec. 22, and the temperature dropped to 7 degrees on Dec. 23. The weather remained chilly the rest of the month with 14 nights of temperatures at or below freezing, making it the coldest month on record for Houston and Galveston.

2021 Winter Freeze That Everyone Wants to Forget

I used to get excited to see snow in the forecast, but after the freeze in February 2021, I don’t 

want to feel that cold again. If you lived in Houston in 2021, then you probably remember the 

historic winter freeze that impacted the entire state of Texas

. Icy cold temperatures blasted into the Houston area on Sunday (also Valentine’s Day!), bringing snow, sleet, and freezing rain. The freeze, called Winter Storm Uri, lasted a week and 

caused between $80 to $130 billion dollars in financial loss,

 power outages that lasted for days, road closures, and broken pipes.

remembers the chilly temperatures in January 2018

? Over the course of three weeks, there were ten nights where temperatures dipped to or below freezing. February 2011 was also quite cold for Houstonians! Temperatures remained in the low 20s for five straight days from Feb. 1-5 and then four straight days from Feb. 9-12. We also saw an ice storm on Feb. 4 that year! Meanwhile, around that time, I was a freshman in college, enjoying a snow day in Austin 😉

Cold Day Memory in Houston

Share your memory of a cold day in Houston

What have been the coldest days ever in Houston? 

The Coldest Days Ever in Houston

U.S. Rep Sheila Jackson Lee, one of the longest serving members in Congress, broke barriers during her career in public service, always advocating for people of color, women, and becoming one of the most recognizable faces at Houston community events. The longtime Congresswoman 

passed away earlier this year from pancreatic cancer

. Here’s more about the fierce political leader and her legacy.

Although a longtime Houstonian, Sheila Jackson Lee was born and raised in Queens, New York. She began college at New York University with a scholarship in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but transferred to Yale to finish her degree. She moved to Houston with her husband Elwyn Lee in 1978. Her start in politics was difficult. In the 1980s, she lost three consecutive local judge races. However, Jackson Lee continued to persevere. In 1989, she became 

one of the first African-American women to serve in an at-large position on Houston City Council

. In 1994, she beat out four-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Craig Washington to gain a seat in Congress.

As Congresswoman, Jackson Lee fought for those who didn’t have a voice, and was known for 

speaking on the House floor or before cameras on issues that she was passionate about

. She sponsored about 50 Congressional bills every legislative session, more than double what a typical House member files. Jackson Lee also authored the Violence Against Women Act and helped establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday. In Houston, she was easy to spot at food drives, funerals, and other community events. At one point, she helped Houston receive $1 billion in federal funding for the light rail system in 2009, after 

approaching then-Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood

 right before President Obama’s joint address to Congress. She invited him to Houston on the spot. Jackson Lee did face some public criticism, specifically after audio of her demeaning staffers leaked last year. She apologized in a statement saying, “in my zeal to do everything possible to deliver for my constituents I have in the past fallen short of my own standards, and there is no excuse for that.”

In June, Jackson Lee announced that she was battling pancreatic cancer. She died only a little over a month later on July 19, at the age of 74. Friends, family, and elected officials, including Vice President Kamala Harris, 

shared memories of Jackson Lee during her funeral at Fallbrook Church

 in August. She left behind her husband, and two children, Jason and Erica Lee. Her daughter, Erica, is currently filling out the rest of Jackson Lee’s term. In January, former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will take over the position. To honor her legacy and work advocating for the school district, Spring ISD 

will rename their Family and Community Engagement Center after Jackson Lee

U.S. Rep Sheila Jackson Lee, one of the longest serving members of Congress, died earlier this year from pancreatic cancer. 

education

The Best Classic Books From High School

Why Houston Schools Took Decades To Integrate

The Best Free or Low Cost After-School Activities

Latest articles

The Best Classic Books From High School

Why Houston Schools Took Decades To Integrate

The Best Free or Low Cost After-School Activities

How Long Will Houston ISD's State Takeover Last?

Emancipation Park's Lasting Legacy

What To Know About Texas’ New School Vouchers Law

Take the Weekly Houston News Quiz

Latest articles

How Long Will Houston ISD's State Takeover Last?

Emancipation Park's Lasting Legacy

What To Know About Texas’ New School Vouchers Law

Take the Weekly Houston News Quiz

Take The Weekly Houston News Quiz!

The Coldest Days Ever in Houston

The Political Legacy of Sheila Jackson Lee