IST 605: Novels in Verse for Young Adult and Middle Grade Readers

Written by the NCTE Excellence in Children’s Poetry Award Committee, this article recognizes 2024’s list of Notable Books (books were published in 2023). Criteria for recognition on this list include notability in language, poetic devices, and “application to children ages three to thirteen.” Secondary educators will find value in the titles and summaries included for all the works; the picture books can be used as introductions to the genre or as mentor texts coupled with more advanced works. Kids of all ages love picture books!

In celebration of April as National Poetry Month, Terry Hong curates a list of nine middle grade verse novels and seven young adult verse novels. The titles included are intentionally selected to amplify marginalized voices in both authorship and character experiences.

Kirkus Reviews are respected and considered often by librarians when determining whether a title will be added into the library’s collection. This is an up-to-date list of fifteen verse novels organized into “children’s” or “teen and young adult.” A full review includes an image of the cover art, an in-depth summary of the story, and identifying information such as publication information, ISBN, categories, page count, and more. This is a useful tool for educators when considering building a classroom library inclusive of verse novels or recommending titles to students.

This article is essentially a conversation with authors and editors of verse novels, and examines the power that this format carries when examining intense emotions, themes of identity and difference, and the ability to “reframe forgotten or submerged histories through the language of poetry.” The physical layout of a verse novel (more white space and less words on the page) are a comfort to readers as they work to analyze and process complex ideas at a pace that is individualized and not rushed. Another specific benefit of this article is the inclusion of a number of titles/authors; this list can be utilized to plan lessons and match readers with potential “best fit” titles.

An article that emphasizes the powerful force of character as a vehicle for theme in the verse novel. Additionally, this article considers the impact of sound devices and language, celebrating the poetry alongside the narrative story. Uniquely, the perspective of an author drawn to write in this format is considered and discussed. There is also a distinctive thought process here that considers how readers interact with verse novels in a way that personalizes the experience and allows them to “fill in the blanks” along with the author, considering the experience of reading as a collaborative endeavor.