Words & Narratives: New Novels in Verse

Want to celebrate National Poetry Month and still read fiction? Novels in verse might just be your thing - they have all the characters and plot of a novel, narrated in poetry that can range from free verse (little to no pattern) to shape/concrete poems (physical structure) to specific poetic forms (grammatical and syllabic structure). Find one that suits your fancy!


Ebb and Flow by Heather Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jett has not had a great year – after his father goes to jail for his involvement in a drunk driving accident, he and his mother move away for a “fresh start” that doesn’t go the way either of them wanted. Now, Jett is back on the Eastern coast to spend the summer with his Grandma Jo, who speaks in puns and tells him stories about herself at his age, a young Joanna. Slowly, Jett tells his own story, and struggles with wanting things to go back to how they were while also hoping the summer will help him move on from the mistakes of the past year.move on from the mistakes of the past year.

As Grandma Jo says:
“…life is like the tides.
In, out.
Back, forth.
Push, pull.
High, low.
You just have to go with the flow, you know?” (p. 177)

Told in verse from Jett’s perspective, Ebb & Flow mimics the tides it refers to – swelling with emotion, pulling back, and surging again as Jett reveals his truths and secrets.


Knockout by K.A. Holt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Levi was born prematurely, and as a result he’s smaller than most of his classmates. And while sometimes he needs an inhaler or gets tired easily, he’s still mighty, and wants to prove he’s not as weak as his mom and brother think. When his dad offers to pay for a sport – any sport – he chooses boxing. That will show everyone how strong he is, right?

Shape poetry and Levi’s quick and punchy voice give this novel in verse plenty of heart. Readers will cheer for Levi as he makes his way through seventh grade, trying to avoid drama, keep his friendship with Tam, and impress everyone with his boxing.

 The Crossover and Rebound by Alexander Kwame
My ratings: 4 of 5 stars

With The Crossover and Rebound, Kwame Alexander does what he does best - tells a powerfully compelling story with fun and accessible language and imagery. We first meet the Bell brothers - Josh and Jordan - and their antics on and off the basketball court, and then in Rebound, we get the story of their father, Chuck, and how he came to be their supportive and admired basketball coach. Both books feature free verse and rhyming poetry that is dynamic, while Rebound also includes several full-page comic-style illustrations.

The Way the Light Bends by Cordelia Jensen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sisters Linc and Holly could not be more different, which used to bring them closer together. These days, though, their differences are only highlighting the fact that had Linc not been born around the same time that their parents adopted Holly, they'd never even know each other, much less be friends. Told in free verse from Linc's perspective, this is a story of fitting in while accepting what makes you unique, and playing to your personal strengths instead of focusing on your weaknesses. The pared back yet clean language gives each word more emotional weight without straying into the abstract.


Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

15-year-old Will knows the rules. When someone you love is murdered - no crying, no snitching, revenge. Will is ready to follow these rules for his brother Shaun until he gets on the elevator and meets different people on each floor on the way down. Each of these people knows Will or his brother - but they're also all dead. What do they know that Will doesn't? And what will Will know by the time the elevator reaches the ground floor? Long Way Down is a fast read that lingers.

Extras: Sharp Teeth, Solo, Bull, or view all my reviews.