New to Poetry? Start with Verse Novels

Why Verse Novels

It can be hard to find enjoyable poetry when it's a new interest. In school, they try to teach poetry that's outdated, complicated and hard to connect with. Even if it's not, they suck all the fun out it focusing on structure and interpretation. It's no wonder most people either intimidated by poetry or assume they won't enjoy it. On the end of the spectrum is contemporary poetry dominated by Instapoets. Not to say they are all bad, but I've found very few that stand out and include the depth, wordplay, rhythm and other elements that make great poetry; most fall short in one way or another. They also rarely include narrative elements.

Multiple people have told me they don't read poetry because they don't see the point of reading something that doesn't tell a story. Which is ironic considering our oldest stories were written in poetic verse. While long epics aren't exactly trendy anymore, there's still plenty of narrative poetry written and published. In particular, verse novels have become increasingly popular over the past decade. And why not, they perfectly combine the beauty of poetry and storytelling skills. I think they are great way to start exploring poetry.

Recommended Reads

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds–On his way to avenge his older brother, 15-year-old Will is confronted and forced to face the cycle of violence he’ll be contributing to. The whole book takes place on an elevator, a ride that seems to stretch time and pass too quickly. It’s a short read but it will stay with you long after you’re finished.

Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow–Criminals, lawyers, and feral dogs that also happen to be werewolves plotting world domination. Throw in a romance between a werewolf and dogcatcher and this is the most interesting verse novel I’ve read so far. It’s such a great story, you almost forget it’s written in verse.

Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill–Peek inside the minds of the young girls who sparked panicked witch-hunts in their community. Through shifting points of view, we see how a game has deadly consequences. I would say a must if you're interested in the Salem witch trials.

The Language of Fire: Joan of Arc Reimagined by Stephanie Hemphill–I jumped into this without really knowing much about Joan of Arc. I didn’t just learn her story but felt like I was a part of it. It was equal parts inspiring and heartbreaking.

Mary’s Monster: Love, Madness, and How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lita Judge-The book is written mostly from Mary's perspective in verse and includes beautiful illustrations. Each poem is a pleasure to read and we learn about the events in Mary's life that lead her to write such a revolutionary tale.

These are just a handful of recommendations, my recent favorites. I've curated a list of narrative verse for my Bookshop storefront by clicking the link below.

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