Novels in Verse – Poetry for the Reluctant Reader

Have you ever thought of taking your poetry one step further by writing an entire novel in verse?

What is a Verse Novel?

Verse novels combine poetry with story. Works such as the Iliad and the Odyssey and Vergil’s Aeneid are considered epic poems even though they are book-length. Epic poems are on a grand scale but nevertheless, they are still poems. Verse novels may consist of one long poem or shorter collections of poems but they still tell a story. Prose focuses more on story and character while poetry centers more on imagery and language.

I haven’t been ambitious enough to try a verse novel yet (except for a picture book), but since I write middle grade novels I decided to see what were the highest recommended middle grade novels in verse.

In researching, several verse novels consistently popped up on every list of suggested books. These lists included:

1. Love that Dog – Sharon Creech

A boy finds his voice with the help of a teacher, paper, pencil and a dog.

2. Out of the Dust – Karen Hesse

In the dustbowl of Oklahoma, a young girl must come to terms with a terrible accident that left her unable to play the piano.

3. The Crossover (The Crossover Series) – Kwame Alexander

Follow the antics of twin basketball stars.

4. Brown Girl Dreaming – Jacqueline Woodson

Catch a glimpse of what it was like to grow up as an African-American in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

5. Caminar – Skila Brown

This story was inspired by true events that happened during Guatemala’s civil war.

6. Inside Out and Back Again – Thanhha Lai

The story is inspired by the author’s experience fleeing Vietnam after the fall of Saigon when she immigrated to Alabama.

7. The Red Pencil – Andrea Davis Pinkney

See the horror of Darfur told through the eyes of a twelve-year-old refugee.

8. Home of the Brave – Katherine Applegate

The story of a young African boy, the only survivor of his family who is sent to America to live while he waits to find out the fate of his mother.

9. Little Dog Lost – Marion Dane Bauer

The story of a dog who needs a new owner, a boy who need a dog, and a neighbor who need a family and how they all come together.

10. Mountain Dog – Margarita Engle

A boy learns about unconditional love for the first time.

Parents might consider one of the above books or one of the many others available if they have a reluctant reader. Verse provides a way to entice a child to read. Try a verse novel with your reluctant reader.

Darlo Gemeinhardt writes middle grade novels. She believes that there is a story in every dog. In her spare time she takes care of 1 husband (of 40 years), 29 dogs and trains with TALLAO, K-9 SEARCH AND RESCUE. Visit her at From the D.O.G Pen.com