Novels in Verse to Incorporate Poetry in Your Classroom Through Independent Reading
National Poetry Month (April) is upon us! It’s the perfect time to highlight famous poets, explore poetic devices, and give students a chance to write poetry of their own. Unfortunately, I was never able to give this literary month the attention it deserves in my classroom due to pacing guide constraints, a scripted curriculum, and, at times, an inflexible department.
If that’s you, too, do not despair! You can still highlight the beauty and creativity of poetry through your independent reading routine. The best part? It doesn’t have to add any minutes onto what you do already and it might just get students onboard with poetry faster than a traditional lesson.
Here’s what to do: Take a few minutes to browse the list below of highly engaging novels in verse. Round them up–from your classroom shelves, your school library, or even a public library. Display them in your classroom during the month of April and plan to book talk at least three of these novels this month.
During your book talks, showcase the unique format that is a novel in verse and explain to students that it is actually poetry! Be sure to read a section aloud (I always provide specific pages in my book talk guides) so students know that these books are nothing like the stuffy, stereotypical, or boring poems they may imagine in their head.
Voila! You have successfully and meaningfully integrated poetry into your students’ lives with very little effort. Even better news? The titles listed below are actually some of my favorite middle school novels of all time. Keep reading to hear a little bit about each title!
Alone by Megan E. Freeman
Imagine waking up to a completely deserted town. Your friends, family, and neighbors all gone. No one can be reached by phone, and other than an abandoned dog, you are completely and utterly alone. This is the exact position Maddie finds herself in when her entire Colorado town (and all surrounding towns) are evacuated while she was sleeping. Maddie is left with only one goal: to survive. Little does she know, it will be months––or more–– before anyone comes looking for her.
Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt
Things change in 7th grade for Selah. She has a new principal, new teachers, and new stressors she struggles to manage. Overstimulating sounds, lights, and school demands start to build. And then, a classmate touches Selah’s hair without asking first, and Selah snaps. She does something she can’t take back, and it just might cost her the chance of staying at her school. The worst part? Even her mom and best friend start looking at her like she’s crazy…
Unbound by Ann E. Burg
Grace was born into slavery. While her mama works on the tobacco fields, Grace works in the kitchen of the plantation home where the mistress is miserable and cruel. Grace’s mama warned Grace to keep her thoughts to herself, but when Grace accidentally tells the mistress how she really feels about the cruelty and unfairness she witnesses, she endangers her entire family. With little time to plan, Grace decides that her family has to run. But running is perilous. They will be hunted, and even if they’re not caught, something in the wild could kill them. Is it worth the risk?
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Josh and his twin brother, Jordan, are best friends and star players of their basketball team with the encouragement and coaching from their father–former pro basketball player, Chuck “Da Man” Bell. Things change, though, when Jordan meets a girl at school and begins spending all his time with her. Josh feels abandoned and jealous. To make matters worse, their dad’s recent health issues leave Josh feeling even more alone. Then, a mistake born from Josh’s anger changes everything. Can he make things right? Can he find a new normal when everything around him is changing and feels out of his control?
House Arrest by K.A. Holt
Money was always tight for Timothy and his mom, but when his dad left after his baby brother Levi was born and diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition, things get even worse. One day, when there isn’t enough money to buy Levi’s medicine, Timothy steals a wallet to pay for it. Was it wrong? Yes. But was it worth it? Yes. Timothy has to pay for his crime, but the more time goes on, the more the lines of right and wrong blur.
Knockout (a standalone sequel to House Arrest) by K.A. Holt
Levi’s mom and older brother, Timothy, have sacrificed everything for Levi since birth, when it was unclear if he was going to survive his medical condition. Now, as a seventh grader, Levi wants more freedom to explore and experience life, but he is consistently held back by his overprotective mom and brother. His best friend, Tam, and Levi’s dad are the only people who don’t act as though Levi is one second away from a hospital visit. When his dad encourages Levi to start boxing, and even promises to keep it a secret from his mom and Timothy, Levi jumps at the chance.
Home of the Braveby Katherine Applegate
Kek’s father and brother were brutally killed in the Sudanese war just months ago. Even worse, in an attack on the refugee camp he was in, he was separated from his mother and they were never reunited. Now in Minnesota, Kek lives with his cousin and aunt. Though Kek initially is excited by the possibilities in America, he soon becomes discouraged by his language barrier and tremendous cultural differences. Will he be able to find joy in America after losing so much and also desperately missing his Sudanese life and wonderful family?
Canyon’s Edge by Dustin Bowling
In a tragic shooting last year, Nora’s mom was killed, and Nora’s life hasn’t been the same since. Not only did she lose her mom, she also lost the life she knew. Afraid of everything, Nora’s dad won’t let her out of his sight. No trips to the mall, no eating at restaurants, and no school. Nora is a prisoner in her home, and the loneliness eats away at her. She thinks a hiking trip will be the perfect time to talk to her dad about her feelings, but instead, a flash flood leaves separates the two, leaving Nora alone, defenseless, and without food or water in the desert. Will she be able to find her dad? Will he even be alive if she does?
Forget Me Not by Ellie Terry
Calli has Tourette syndrome, which causes her to have tics––she makes unintentional movements and sounds that often draw unwanted attention from her classmates. Calli’s mom makes no effort to understand Calli’s struggles, and she even seems frustrated and embarrassed by them herself. Despite this, Calli holds out hope that her new school in Utah could be the place where she finally makes a true friend. Especially when one of the most popular boys in school, Jinsong, seems to really like her...The only problem? iIt’s really hard for him to be nice to the person who everyone calls “freak girl.”
Starfish by Lisa Flips
Ellie lives in constant fear and shame because whether she is at home or at school, she is bullied about her weight. Her mother is relentless in the way she criticizes Ellie’s every move–going so far as to put Ellie in front of a mirror and point out every flaw on her body. Ellie’s older sister gave her the nickname “Splash” after she jumped in the pool when she was little, and it stuck. Ellie’s brother Liam is no better. At school, mean girls torture Ellie by making whale jokes every day. Ellie’s only escape is in her backyard swimming pool, a place where she can drown out the noise of her life and just be.
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
Will’s brother, Shawn, was murdered by someone in their neighborhood, and Will thinks he knows who did it. Will was raised to believe that seeking revenge was the only way, but part of him is hesitant. As he rides his building elevator to the street level, preparing to find Shawn’s killer, Will is visited by ghosts of his past–all people in his life who were affected by gun violence.
Before The Ever After by Jaqueline Woodson
Through the eyes of twelve-year-old ZJ, Woodson tells the story of ZJ’s dad, a famous pro football player who is suddenly plagued by long, intense headaches, dramatic mood changes, and unnerving memory loss. As ZJ’s mom and many doctors try to figure out what is wrong, ZJ is left mostly alone to process these changes and mourn the loss of the father he used to know. Fortunately, ZJ has three incredible best friends who stick by him throughout it all, even when many other “friends” fade away because his dad is no longer a star.
Closer to Nowhere by Ellen Hopkins
Hannah is beyond frustrated with being forced to share her once peaceful home with her cousin Cal. Calvin is constantly playing pranks, lying, having outbursts, and causing Hannah’s parents stress. Hannah has no idea why her mom is so patient with him, and her resentment is growing...
Finally, if you loved the sound of these novels in verse and want a zero-prep strategy for sharing them with your kiddos, check out my book talk guides. All the work of book-talking a title has been done for you.
Character info ✅.
Plot synopsis without spoilers ✅.
Suggested read aloud pages ✅.
A heads up for teachers about mature moments ✅. (And more!)
Find my novels in verse guides here and here. Grab the bundles at a great value here.
Want more great middle grade book recommendations? Subscribe to my Substack! It’s a free newsletter with tips to make independent reading routines stick, plus fun reviews of new middle grade titles you’ll want in your library.
You’re currently reading one stop in our Teaching Poetry Fest blog hop! When you’re finished, hop on over to Mary Beth’s post,Four Poetry Analysis Tasks That Work With ANY Poem, to keep the loop going, or visit the round-up post to take a look at all of the Teaching Poetry Fest ideas in one place.
