Tag Archives: novels in verse

Monthly Book Round-Up Middle Grade-Adult: April 2025

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Katy K.

My brief thoughts of the 14 books I read in April, including three re-reads of beloved books. Continue reading →

Posted in Adult, Audiobook, Books, Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Historical, Lists, Middle Grade, nonfiction, Print, Realistic, Romance, Sci-Fi, Teen/Young Adult | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Exploring Grief and Growth in ‘The Trouble with Heroes’

Posted on May 5, 2025 by Katy K.

Here’s a moving story in verse that includes mountains, blisters, many varieties of chocolate-chip cookies, and finding the space for the main character to reevaluate and come to terms with his deceased first responder father as the pure hero that other people see him as and the more complicated person he was in real life. Continue reading →

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Exploring Grief in Renée Watson’s All the Blues in the Sky

Posted on February 26, 2025 by Katy K.

Grief comes whether we want it to or not, and All the Blues in the Sky by Renee Watson is a beautiful and sensitive verse exploration. Continue reading →

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Honor Books: Yonder by Ali Standish and Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango

Posted on March 15, 2023 by Katy K.

Yonder by Ali Standish and Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango are two beautiful, reflective books that both won honors this year. Continue reading →

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Life Between Cultures: Red, White and Whole and Amina’s Song

Posted on June 28, 2021 by Katy K.

ere are two moving stories from Rajani LaRocca and Hena Khan, both authors I’ve enjoyed in the past, telling stories of middle school life for first-generation Americans, and which hit the spot for me so perfectly it was really hard to put them down. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Middle Grade, Print, Realistic, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess by Shari Green

Posted on June 13, 2018 by Katy K.

Last time, I reviewed this year’s Schneider Family Teen award winner, You’re Welcome, Universe.  Here’s the middle grade winner. Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess by Shari Green. Pajama Press, 2017 Macy is in sixth grade and struggling.  She’s horrified … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Middle Grade, Print, Realistic | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Posted on June 1, 2018 by Katy K.

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. Harper Teen, 2018. “My parents probably wanted a girl who would sit in the pews wearing pretty florals and a soft smile. They got combat boots and a mouth silent until it’s sharp as … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Print, Realistic, Teen/Young Adult | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Inside Out & Back Again

Posted on September 16, 2016 by Katy K.

Thanhha Lai’s beautiful novel-in-verse tells the story of a girl’s journey from Vietnam to America. Continue reading →

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