Ten of the Best: Verse Novels
Over the past ten years, the verse novel has increased in publishing popularity. The sharpness of a story told in verse provides an immediacy which engages the reader into the narrative, heightens emotion and hooks them into reading. Although often described as an easier read, the white space on the page challenges the reader to fill the space and think more deeply, connecting with the story in new and exciting ways. Charlotte Hacking choses ten of the best.
With so many incredible offerings and more on the horizon, including the second verse novel from Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, The Boy Lost in the Maze (Otter-Barry, £12.99), releasing next month, it was hard to narrow this list to just ten, but here is a selection that have stayed with me since first reading.
The Weight of Water
Sarah Crossan, Bloomsbury, 9781526606907, £7.99
I had to start with Sarah Crossan, not only because she’s an incredible writer, but also because she opened up the genre in the UK. The success she achieved with this book and subsequent titles paved the way for many of the UK writers now writing in verse. I could have picked any of her verse novels, but chose this one as I remember the excitement of reading this for the first time and the feeling of it being fresh and innovative. Sarah’s characterisation is incredible. She knows her characters inside out and the voice is always so incredibly authentic, be it a 13-year-old Polish girl like Kasienska in this story or the American brother of a Death Row inmate in Moonrise. You live every moment of the journey Kasienska goes through because of the authenticity of Sarah’s writing, which comes from the research and emotional pull that is woven into the story.
Brown Girl Dreaming
Jacqueline Woodson, paperback released 27/04/23, Hachette, 9781510111738, £7.99
I first became aware of Jacqueline Woodson’s writing after reading Locomotion with the Year 5 class I was teaching at the time. The children adored her voice and style and were gripped by the emotive narrative and the chance to see familiar lives reflected in their reading. I find it incredible that more of her work isn’t published in the UK, but am delighted to see Hachette are releasing Brown Girl Dreaming in paperback in April 2023. This is the story of Woodson’s life, impeccably crafted in rich verse, full of imagery, information and inspiration. It’s not only about her family and life growing up in the 1960’s and 70’s, it’s a rich lesson in History from a particular time and place, far wider than children will experience in school.
Out of the Dust
Karen Hesse, Frances Lincoln, 9781845076085, £5.99
I’ll never forget reading this book for the first time – I can only describe the reading experience as visceral. The narrative tells the story of Billie-Joe and her family, living in the harsh reality of the Oklahoma Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. The writing is so real, so evocative, that you literally feel dry and parched as you read it. Story events took me inside the reality facing the family at the time in ways that no writing had ever done before – some hit you like a literal punch in the guts. Sadly, the book is now out of print, but I was reminded of it again recently as I read C.G. Moore’s Gut Feelings (UCLAN, £7.99) – an very different narrative, but with the same visceral quality in the writing and another incredible read.
Louisa Reid, Guppy, 9781913101367, £7.99
This compelling narrative gripped me from start to finish. Structured around a dramatic court case, and centred on the character of Joe, caught up in a situation that has spun out of control, the story explores themes pertinent to its young adult audience; the grip of first love, manipulation in a relationship and social class. The heartfelt narrative is formed of beautifully crafted verse full of imagery, emotion and honesty. Louisa Reid has carefully considered the way that words can be laid out through the form to enhance the storytelling. A difficult read at times, as you watch events unfold in raw and real detail, but the narrative is handled with such sensitivity and skill, making it an enriching and ultimately enjoyable read.
Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Chris Priestley, Faber & Faber, 9781913101367, £7.99 also as a Graphic Novel, illustrated by Danica Novgorodoff, Faber & Faber 9780571366019 £12.99
Jason Reynolds is a master of lyrical storytelling. The first-person narrative is delivered in sharply written verse, drawing the reader in to the life of the main character, Will, and the dilemma he faces after his brother is killed. The continuous aspect of the narrative means that it’s an unputdownable read and the simplicity of the writing pulls no punches in delivering a narrative that opens discussion and debate around the themes raised in the book. I was lucky enough to see Jason speak recently and the humanity, strength and vulnerability that pervades in his writing and that he embodies is much needed in the current climate. The evocative illustrations by Chris Priestley in the original paperback pair perfectly with the text; the more recent graphic novel illustrated by Danica Novgorodoff brings the text to life for a new group of readers. For the same reasons I’d also draw attention to Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam, HarperCollins £7.99.
Run, Rebel
Manjeet Mann, Penguin, 9780241411421, £8.99
This, the first of Manjeet’s verse novels, won the Carnegie Medal Shadowers’ Choice Award, a UKLA Book Award and the YA Sheffield Book Award and was shortlisted for the Branford Boase and the CLiPPA. The list of accolades is testament to the strength of the writing. A powerful, coming of age story about discovering your identity and individuality and the power of rebellion. The narrative explores the difficult and very real experience of being faced with intergenerational differences and the clashes that can occur when children grow up in a society and culture vastly different from that which their parents experienced. Covering complex themes and issues which are so real for many people carries a weight of responsibility to make the characters and events authentic and ensure that the book truthfully represented those affected. Mann achieves this incredibly well in a compelling, honest, heartbreaking and inspirational narrative.
Booked
Kwame Alexander. Andersen Press, 9781783444656, £7.99 also as a Graphic Novel, illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile, Andersen Press, £9.99
I remember reading this verse novel for the first time when it was submitted for the CLiPPA in 2017. Straight away I thought of so many children who would be hooked reading this. The story covers so many themes that resonate with its middle grade audience – the power of friendship, getting on and falling out, family separation and a love of a particular pastime, in this case football. Young readers will engage and empathise with the main character Nick, throughout the highs and lows of his journey. Kwame Alexander explores such a range of poetic forms and devices in his writing, all deftly chosen to enhance the storytelling in each particular verse. An absolute masterclass in verse novel writing. As with Long Way Down, the novel has been re-published in graphic novel form, brilliantly captured by Dawud Anyabwile.
The Poet X
Elizabeth Acevedo, HarperCollins, 9781405291460, £8.99
When I read this book, I wanted to pass it on to every young woman I knew, and in fact, this year, I gave a copy to my daughter on her 16th birthday. Xiomara’s story encourages young people to be confident in their own skin, define their own path and to explore their own journey. The intense and lyrical narrative explores issues of family, race, faith, femininity and growing into womanhood with confidence and control. It also highlights the power of language as a vehicle for finding your voice and speaking your truth, specifically through the medium of slam poetry. An incredible debut with the ability to make its teen audience feel seen, heard and understood.
Little Light
Coral Rumble, Troika, 9781912745166, £7.99
Little Light is a fantastic example of a verse novel targeted at a 9-13 audience, which tends to be the younger end of the verse novel spectrum. Coral Rumble tells the story of Ava, forced to navigate a new home and a life after her mum leaves her father. Teased at school and tormented at home by her young twin siblings, Ava finds peace in the kindness of strangers and companionship in an abandoned dog, Tracker. The book doesn’t shy away from some difficult themes and ideas, but handles these realistically and compassionately, allowing the reader to empathise with and take strength from Ava’s journey. Coral has thought carefully about the way she uses form and layout to enhance the storytelling, making the most of the verse novel medium.
Love that Dog
Sharon Creech, Bloomsbury, 9780747557494, £6.99
This is a verse novel that will stay with me always as it embodies exactly why poetry is so important for young people. It allows them to speak their truth and express their emotions about matters and experiences that are important to them, in their own voices. It also highlights the power of an excellent teacher in bringing the best out of their children by knowing them and what motivates them, including well-chosen poetry. Miss Stretchberry is a teacher who is passionate about poetry and, through her deftly targeted homework assignments, opens up Jack’s interest in poetry, enabling him to realise what it can do to help him express himself and make sense of the world around him. This short, but deeply compelling story will have you hooked and you’ll want to revisit it often, as I have on so many occasions.
Charlotte Hacking is Central Learning Programmes Director at CLPE. She is also a judge on the CLPE Poetry Award, the CLiPPA. Prior to that, she was a teacher and senior leader and taught across the primary years.
