Prathysha Kothare loves words, as you can tell from her first book, “Crooked: An Anthology” (2020, 123 pp., $7.99, print, Amazon, Google; $6.49, Kindle).

The 18-year-old Parkland High School senior writes poetry, short stories and essays that combine an older tradition of eloquence with a modern outlook on today’s world.

“I read a lot of classical literature and 18th and 19th century poetry, but I also add a lot of modernism and contemporary styles in my own poetry,” Kothare says in a phone interview.

“I am interested in the origin of words. I like language exploration, and to play around with vocabulary and use some obscure words.”

A verse from her poem, “The Broker’s Ballad,” might have been written a couple hundred years ago: “Yet remained he potent, a tyrant turning the tides of the stock/Fiendish were his conquests, quick was he to gloat and mock.”

The opening verse of “The Dregs” suggest a modern image: “And they went dancing in the rain, stepping on glass with bare feet, downing acid to numb the brain/Screams ringing loud and indiscreet.”

In January, Amanda Gorman, a young woman of 22, read her work at the inauguration of President Joe Biden. Kothare says Gorman “inspired other people. It showed that everyone can express themselves through poetry.

“It has a wonderful ability to convey a message. Our modern society errs on the side of brevity.”

In the social media environment where people consume short bursts of information, poetry can deliver an emotional message in few words.

“Poetry makes a succinct comment on social human themes,” she says.

Kothare has been accepted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she plans to major in chemical engineering with a focus on biology.

In 2018, at age 15, she won a grand award at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for biomedical engineering research.

Her father, Dr. Mayuresh Kothare, is the R. L. McCann Professor and Department Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Lehigh University.

Her mother, Simone Kothare, has a PhD in chemical engineering and is a business development manager at Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Kothare has grown up in India and Brazil, where her mother is from, as well as the United States, giving her insight into different languages and cultures.

Kothare has been host of WDIY Lehigh Valley Public Radio’s “Teen Connect” program for about one year. The show examines local and world issues that affect teens and the community. She became host after being interviewed on the station about her scientific research and historical essays.

The title of her book, “Crooked,” was inspired by what she says is the skewed world we live in. The middle of the book contains four short essays, which she calls “poetic discourses,” about philosophical questions. She says the book’s format was inspired by her time on the Parkland Debate team.

“They are essays without a lot of facts. As a debate captain, I had to teach essay-writing. You write an introduction with a ‘hook’ to give a picture to the audience, which is then followed by organized facts to support the premise.”

Proceeds from “Crooked” will be donated to construct a computer lab in Kenya. Kothare leads a cultural exchange project with Kenya.

“In the elementary school I used to go to, there were pen pals with Kenya. Kids would talk about art projects or books they read. There would also be live video chats and virtual letter exchanges.”

She contacted The Baum School of Art, Allentown, and local churches to provide supplies and aid to Kenya.

At the conclusion of “Crooked” are three short stories and a preview of her next project, a novel, “The Donovan Homicide,” set in Boston, New York City and Europe.

“It’s a change from what I was doing before,” she says, “a mystery novel set in the 1970s. The hero is partly Sherlock Holmes, but with flaws, coming from a less than ideal background.”

“Literary Scene” is a column about authors, books and publishing. To request coverage, email Paul Willistein, Focus editor, Lehigh Valley Press: pwillistein@tnonline.com