Growing up Poor: A Literary Anthology Book

This is a strong collection of both fiction and non-fiction covering a wide diversity of impoverished backgrounds. Although it includes several classic selections (works by Cisneros, Hurston, & Alexie), most of the works are less well-known, yet just as powerful. In fact, a couple of the stories by these less famous authors moved me so profoundly that I have already begun looking for other works by them.
My only criticism about this anthology is that instead of sticking with only first-person narratives, it also includes a few biographical essays written by the chief editor, Robert Coles. My guess is that these third-person pieces were included as a means of offering perspectives from other demographics not covered in the other selections e.g. an African-American male who was one of the first to attend an all-white school in 1960s-era Atlanta, a young white girl growing up in deep Appalachia, etc. Although I commend the editors for attempting inclusivity, I think 1st-person works by people from those segments of the population would have been a better choice than profiles told through the lens of privilege. Having said that, this collection is almost 20 years old (published in 2001), but it still carries a lot of value. I'd like to see an updated anthology released. These types of stories have the potential to build empathy in their readers--a trait that seems to be missing in many circles in 2020.