April is National Poetry Month! In honor of poetry, this week we are highlighting novels in verse, which is a type of narrative poetry, for children and teens. These novels often make for quick reads that pack a lot of depth. It's a way to tell deep and sometimes difficult stories in a lyrical, beautiful way. Because of this, novels in verse seem to be becoming more and more popular, especially with reluctant readers. If you or a young person you know is interested in trying one out or already loves the genre, try some of the recommendations below.
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
This book won the 2015 Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award Honor. It's a story written in hip hop verse about two young twin brothers who love basketball. Life is changing for them, though, as they deal with competition on and off the court, budding romances, and the challenging news of their dad's illness. Watch for Kwame Alexander's newest title,
Booked, coming out later this year!
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
This book won the 2014 National Book Award for Young People's Literature, the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in Young Adult Fiction, and was a Newbery Honor Book. It is well deserving of all of the accolades. Woodson expertly writes of her childhood growing up in the 1960s and 70s in South Carolina and New York.
Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir by Margarita Engle
Margarita Engle has written many wonderful book for children. Her most recent book, Enchanted Air, is a winner of the Pura Belpre Award. The book looks back at Margarita's childhood and the time she spent in the United States and in Cuba. She tries to make sense of the tension between these two countries, both of which she calls home.
If you enjoy this one you might also like her other books in verse.
Silver People: Voices from the Panama Canal won the Americas Award and has received many other accolades. In a variety of poetic voices Engle tells the stores of the "silver people" who did the difficult work of building the Panama Canal.
The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney
This book in verse tells the coming of age story of Amira, a young girl living in Sudan. Her life is uprooted when the Janjaweed militants arrive and her family is forced to leave their home. Amira focuses on her dream of attending school as her family deals with the turmoil around them.
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
This book won the National Book Award and is a Newbery Honor Book. Inspired by the author's experience growing up, it tells the story of a young girl and her family fleeing Vietnam and moving to Alabama.
Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
Jake isn't too sure how he feels about writing poetry for school, but he is sure of one thing - that he loved his dog, Sky. Told in poems written by Jake, we learn about the loss of his pet. Many wonderful poets are introduced in the book as well. Jake is inspired by them to write his own poems. The follow up book,
Hate That Cat, continues with Jake's story through his next year in school.
