Fresh Picks from the YA Shelf
Each month we explore a new theme, buzzworthy topic, or genre in young adult literature. Included is a curated list of reads that capture this month’s mood, so whether you’re looking for romance, adventure, drama, plot twists, or thought-provoking reads, there’s something waiting for you. Happy reading!
Celebrating YA Novels for National Poetry Month
April is National Poetry Month, which is a time to celebrate the poetry genre, showcase the work of poets, embrace the power of words, engage with the expressiveness of rhythm, and experience the power of stories told through poems. Before diving into poetry, many readers may think of poetry as academic and elitist. Rather than feeling intimidated by having to decipher complex and hidden meanings, know that poetry is just another vehicle for human expression. It’s a medium for conveying lives and lived experiences from diverse voices, for expressing hopes, fears, and other inner feelings, for building connections, for fostering community, and for conveying poetic intimacy.
What Is a Novel in Verse?
Novels in verse open up the world of storytelling. Traditional poetry relies heavily on structure, regardless of the form of poetry used to create self-contained works. Novels in verse, on the other hand, act differently than traditional poetry by serving as a unique format for conveying narrative stories using the emotional lens of poetry. While traditional novels use paragraphs to build immersive narratives with structured expositions, novels in verse often use the medium of poetry, written in either structured or free-verse format, to communicate emotional impact by offering readers insight into a character’s experiences, memories, thoughts, and feelings.
Why Do Novels in Verse Stand Out?
Heavily character focused, novels in verse often act as a snapshot of their characters’ consciousness rather than prioritizing more plot-driven storylines. In YA literature, this lends itself well to exploring the emotional intensity behind tough topics that often come with coming-of-age stories. Subjects of exploration include themes like grief, abuse, trauma, addiction, recovery, the exploration of identity, emotional longing, the search for belonging, social injustices, self-esteem, social dynamics, social pressures, and more.
Typically, more fast-paced than traditional prose novels, novels in verse can be an accessible way for young adults, especially, to engage with reading both poetry and novels. Inviting readers in with evocative and lyrical language, reducing the pressure and intimidation of reading dense paragraphs, and offering active engagement with relatable emotional themes, novels in verse offer readers an immersion and intimate glimpses into internal worlds.
National Poetry Month Reading List
Whether you are already a reader of poetry or not, these stories offer you a chance to engage with poetry and narratives in a new way. In honor of National Poetry Month, consider reading one of the impactful novels in verse listed below. Straddling different sub-genres, including contemporary realistic fiction, fantasy, and mythology, there’s something in this list for everyone.
(S)kin
Ibi Zoboi
Fifteen-year-old Marisol, who sheds her skin every new moon and shifts into a fireball witch, is connected by a family secret to 17-year-old Genevieve, who reaches for some memory of her estranged mother, in a novel in verse based on Caribbean folklore.
We Are All So Good at Smiling
Amber McBride
Whimsy, who is clinically depressed, befriends a boy named Faerry, with whom she feels a magical connection. Together, they brave the Forest, a place of monsters, fairy tales, and pain they’ve both been running from for 11 years.
Clap When You Land
Elizabeth Acevedo
This evocative novel in verse follows the experiences of two grieving sisters who navigate the loss of their father and the impact of his death on their relationship.
Bright Red Fruit
Safia Elhillo
Samira is determined to have a carefree summer – until she’s grounded. When she turns to an online poetry forum, she catches the eye of an older poet and feels wanted for the first time. Soon, she’s keeping bigger secrets than ever.
Truth Is
Hannah V. Sawyerr
17-year-old Truth uses slam poetry to address her personal struggles with college, relationships, and an unexpected pregnancy, but she never intended for a video of her poem to go viral.
Don’t Call Me a Hurricane
Ellen Hagan
Eliza, an environmental activist, is navigating the after-effects of a hurricane that devastated her coastal town while falling for Milo, a rich tourist who is at the center of a redevelopment that could put her community in danger–again.
Light Enough to Float
Lauren Seal
When 14-year-old Evie is diagnosed with anorexia, she begins the slow process of recovery with the help of caregivers and peers who are also battling their own disordered-eating habits.
Salt the Water
Candice Iloh
A confrontation with a teacher and a family crisis forces high school senior Cerulean Gene to drop out of twelfth grade and derails their dreams of moving cross-country and living off the grid.
Forever Is Now
Mariama Lockington
Suffering from agoraphobia after witnessing a scene of police brutality, Sadie discovers, with the help of family, friends, and online activists, that she can build a safe place inside herself.
Wave
Diana Farid
When her best friend’s cancer returns in the summer of 1987, none of her usual pursuits–surfing, singing, or reading poetry–can keep Ava afloat.
Ariel Crashes a Train
Olivia A. Cole
Ariel grapples with her fear of her own mind and violent fantasies, driven by her desire to meet her parents’ expectations and societal norms, until a summer job at a carnival leads her to new friends who help her discover her struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder and find acceptance and support for her true self.
Where the Heart Should Be
Sarah Crossan
In 1846 Ireland, where starvation abounds, 16-year-old Nell, a poor Irish scullery maid, falls in love with a British heir. What follows is a romance Nell tries to keep hidden in order to keep her family together and alive.
Nothing Burns as Bright as You
Ashley Woodfolk
Over the course of one wild and reckless day, two best friends become something more and the depth of their past, the confusion of the present, and the unpredictability of their future is revealed.
Ode to My First Car
Robin Gow
Claire, a closeted bisexual who might be in love with her best friend, gets a summer job at a local nursing home where an 88-year-old lesbian helps Claire grow more confident in her identity.
King of the Neuro Verse
Idris Goodwin
Stuck in summer school, seventeen-year-old Pernell navigates life and the challenges of ADHD while battling to become the Cypher King, leader of the lunchroom’s impromptu rap circles.
Lawless Spaces
Corey Ann Haydu
While a highly publicized sexual assault case threatens to destroy her and her mother, Mimi tries to understand their tense relationship by reaching out to the women of her maternal line through the journals they kept.
Muted
Tami Charles
Denver, a talented singer who wants to make music and escape her community, catches the attention of an R&B star who gives her access to fame and luxury in exchange for unscrupulous sacrifices.
I Am the Swarm
Hayley Chewins
The women of the Strand family have been magical — their gifts manifesting in different ways when they turn 15. But Nell knows that the magic is a curse because she sees how it’s impacted her mother and older sister. When Nell’s magic arrives in the form of insect swarms, she will have to decide how much of herself she’s willing to lock away to stop them–or if she can find the strength to feel, no matter the consequences. An intense, emotional read simmering with rage and magic.
Want More?
Looking for your next great read? Discover more curated YA booklists through past YA Reads blogs, and continue your reading journey. You can also submit a Bookologist request, and our staff will create a list of tailored book suggestions just for you.
