Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature from The Broke and the Bookish. This week is a TTT Rewind week. I’m going with the topic Books I’m Dying to Read, with a focus on Novels in Verse.
April is poetry month, and I know verse novels aren’t exactly the same thing, but they are poetic in their own way. I like reading the heavier hitting verse novels like ones that tackle issues/tough topics. The books are often quick reads with fewer words on the page, yet powerful and substantial in other ways.
I want to read more novels in verse, and I even have a verse collection on my kindle. Here are 10 that I’m eager to check out:
1. The Language Inside by Holly Thompson – May 14 Delacorte. A multicultural verse novel about identity and post-tsunami Japan.
2. Out of This Place by Emma Cameron – May 14 Candlewick Press. First released in Australia as Cinnamon Rain.
3. The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan – July 23 Bloomsbury USA. A MG/YA coming of age about a Polish girl who moves to England and tries to fit in.
4. Canary by Rachel Alpine – August 1 Medallion Press. This contemporary deals with assault, and the premise kind of reminds me of Daisy Whitney’s The Mockingbirds.
5. Smoke by Ellen Hopkins – September 10 Margaret K. McElderry Books. Companion/sequel to Burned.
6. Freakboy by Kristin Elizabeth Clark – October 22 Farrar, Straus & Giroux. A transgender coming of age novel.
7. My Book of Life by Angel by Martine Leavitt – A novel in verse about teen prostitution and addiction.
8. Inside Out and Back Again by Thanha Lai – A verse novel about a girl who has to leave Saigon for America when the Vietnam War hits too close to home.
9. Defy the Stars by Stephanie Parent – An edgy, modern Romeo & Juliet inspired novel in verse.
10. Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams – A dark, intense story about sisters going through a traumatic event.
Do you like verse novels and have any recommendations? Let me know what made your TTT list today!
Fabulous list! I’ve read some of these and have advance copies of others. I haven’t read them yet because I’m trying to finish writing a verse novel myself!
I think I saw your verse novel listed on GR! Looking forward to hearing more about it 🙂
The only verse novel that really stuck with was Crank by Ellen Hopkins. I loved how she used the shape of her verses to create the mood. Have you read that one?
No, I haven’t read Crank yet, but I have a copy! Glad you liked it- Hopkins really is amazing.
Inside Out and Back Again looks really good! 🙂 I chose Top Ten Favorite Quotes from Books: http://aliceinreaderland.com/2013/04/15/quotes/
Alice @ Alice in Readerland
Wow, I have never heard of any of these. I didn’t realize there were so many verse novels out there. I may have to give some of those a try.
Here’s mine http://foreverdream21.blogspot.ca/
ooh these are all new to me. I’ll have to see which of them you end up recommending 🙂
My TTT
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book in verse. I’ve heard of Ellen Hopkins before but haven’t read any of her works. I love the sound of Defy the Stars – I’m definitely going to read this one. This is a great list topic! Happy tuesday 🙂
I’m not the biggest fan of novels in verse but you MUST read Glimpse. It was absolutely stunning! She has another book called Waiting which is also beautiful and heartbreaking. Great list! I will definitely be looking some of these up.
Bekka @ Pretty Deadly Reviews
My Top Ten
Great topic. I need to mark more Hopkins off my list & venture out from there. Very interested in the Romeo-Juliet and the girl who fled Saigon.
Inside Out and Back Again is excellent. So is everything by Ellen Hopkins.
I will have to check some of those out; I haven’t read many of this subgenre. I really loved “Under the Mesquite” by Guadalupe Garcia-McCall and highly recommend it, though!
Great topic! I’ve only read The Weight Of Water which I enjoyed.
I am not really all that familiar with Novels in Verse. I should really check it out. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
Gah! I am DYING for The Weight of Water! Great post 😀
My WoW
I’ll admit I don’t read many verse novels – actually I’ve only read one! But I did love that one (it was horror). This is a great idea for a top ten, since verse seems to be gaining popularity!
The only verse book I have read was Cloud Busting by Malorie Blackman. Think ill check a few of these out as I enjoyed it last time.
I’ve never read any YA in verse. When I was younger I read Love That Dog, but that’s about it 😛 It’s hard for me, to like, wrap my head around verse because it’s so internal. I prefer lots of story and description and interaction.
i am a not a huge verse reader though i know there are some great verse books out there. inside out and back again is the only one of those that i have read and it’s very good. great list, lucy. i may have to put a few of these on my tbr pile.
Great choice of topic for today! I can’t believe it’s only been recently that I’ve discovered verse novels! And now you’ve provided me with a list of ten of the best! Thanks. 😀
I am SO excited for Canary. Been waiting on it for a while! I like the premise of a school with secrets.
I checked out Inside Out and Back Again this month because I wanted to read a novel in verse in honor of National Poetry month! I am looking forward to it!
Thanks for stoppin’ by!
I’m not a huge poetry fan, but sometimes I can really get into a novel in verse. These are kids books, but I loved Love that Dog and Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech. I should look into some of these.