Crib Notes-Well-Versed...
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Poetry is having a moment and it’s resulted in a burgeoning popularity for novels in verse. It takes a remarkably skilled writer to craft an entire novel in this format and when done well can be an exceptionally powerful experience for the reader. Trust me, the titles I have compiled here are effortless to read compared to The Canterbury Tales!
LONG WAY DOWN - Jason Reynolds
Sixty seconds. Gone in a blink. This entire novel takes place within that one single moment. That’s how long it will take a kid to decide whether or not he’s going to murder the man who killed his brother. Will gets on the elevator with revenge on his mind, and as it stops on each floor on the way down, he is faced with a connection to his brother with each opening of the doors. Potent and brilliant.
If You Liked…Dear Martin, The Crossover
CLAP WHEN YOU LAND - Elizabeth Acevedo
Two sisters, living in different countries, are forced to face an unsettling new reality as they mourn the death of their father. They must also grapple with the unraveling of all the secrets he kept. Teeming with emotion and distinct with each girl’s voice, this is a stunning read.
If You Liked…On The Come Up, Girl In Pieces
THE IMPOSSIBLE LIGHT - Lily Myers
Lily’s world is in flux. Her dad has moved out, her mother is withdrawn, her brother is away at college and her best friend is ghosting her. As she navigates all these changes, her body is also changing in ways she doesn’t feel in control of. This book explores the reality that identity and self-worth must be taught before they can be learned.
If You Liked…Dumplin’, Leah On The Offbeat
PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE - Ellen Hopkins
A compelling, provocative and complex novel that belongs in this particular moment more than ever; tackling issues of racism, gun violence and white supremacy. One tense week finds a group of people in a town wrought with political and personal tensions considering gun violence. Someone will fire. And someone will die.
If You Liked…The Hate You Give, Poet X
