White Rose
by Kip Wilson
Publisher: Versify
Publication Date: April 2, 2019
Author Kip Wilson has created a beautiful portrait of resistance in the face of grave danger with WHITE ROSE. Written in verse, this novel is a brilliant retelling of the boldness displayed by a young group of German students who put their lives on the line in order to fight for what they believed in. Told from the point of view of Sophie Scholl, the only known girl in the White Rose Nazi resistance group, the novel explores the concept of freedom and what the consequences of passivity are.
If you couldn’t already tell, I loved this book. While I am typically wary of books that are not in prose form, I could not have been more pleased with the way WHITE ROSE was written. The poetry and negative space lend themselves so well to the telling of this story that, at times, I forgot I was reading poetry at all. Not only is WHITE ROSE a heartbreaking true story, the message it conveys also feels eerily modern. Sophie is constantly preaching the importance of standing out in the face of injustice. I was both deeply moved and deeply disturbed by this novel, and sincerely encourage any reader to give it a chance. After all, you might just finish it feeling inspired to spark change - much like Sophie Scholl.
Shout
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 12, 2019
SHOUT by Laurie Halse Anderson is, in part, a sequel to SPEAK, Anderson’s critically acclaimed 1999 novel. In SPEAK, Melinda struggles to find her voice and speak out about having been raped. Melinda was a semi-autobiographical version of Anderson herself. However, SHOUT diverges from this fictional character and world, revealing Anderson’s true and heartbreakingly real experience as a girl growing into adulthood (then later, tells of the resistance she faced after writing SPEAK). Written entirely in verse, Anderson begins innocent anecdotes that, with one phrase, devolve into nightmares. Her pin-prick attention to detail and expressive prose is indulgent and gripping at the same time. One of the most moving elements of this book is her portrayal of her parents, conclusively complicated, yet loving and hopeful. Anderson describes her parents with detail and care, remembering vivid, emotional, and colorful moments in which Anderson’s childish perception and mature hindsight both play a part in revealing truth. Anderson’s personal and often emotionally raw verse is effectively moving. Throughout SHOUT, the horrors of sexual abuse and rape are laid bare to the reader. Anderson pulls no punches as she approaches the topic with fury and passion. While beautifully written and incredibly moving (more than one tear was shed), SHOUT is a vessel through which Anderson calls boys and girls, parents and teachers, to awareness and to action.
Moonrise
by Sarah Crossan
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: May 8, 2018
Warning: this book will make you cry. MOONRISE by Sarah Crossan is a poignant novel that explores the far-reaching impacts of capital punishment in modern society. The book is written from the perspective of Joe Moon, whose brother, Ed, is on death row. It would have been easy for Crossan to make the novel purely a political statement, but, luckily for the readers, she doesn't. Instead, she uses complex characters to convey a nuanced perspective on this issue.
The novel is written in verse rather than prose; if I'd known this when I was looking for a book, I probably wouldn't have chosen it, but don't let it stop you! The short lines ensure that each word packs a punch and add to the overall feeling of urgency. In all, MOONRISE is a truly incredible reading experience and is sure to stick with you for a long, long time.
The Poet X
by Elizabeth Acevedo
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: March 6, 2018
Elizabeth Acevedo’s debut novel THE POET X tells the story of a young Dominican high-schooler living in Harlem, named Xiomara, who must tread the line of expectations and expression. Her mother expects her to obey the order of the church, but Xiomara has so much she yearns to say.
THE POET X is a fantastic verse novel that covers topics relevant to teens today, like how to live for yourself instead of others. For those who are a fan of poetry, Acevedo — an experienced slam poet — delivers on all fronts! The verse is beautiful, and anyone can see a bit of themself in Xiomara. It might not be the typical YA novel, but THE POET X is an unprecedented must-read!
Long Way Down
by Jason Reynolds
Publisher: Atheneum
Publication Date: October 24, 2017
LONG WAY DOWN is the story of Will, a young boy whose brother was just shot down and killed. Following the rules of his neighborhood- Don’t Cry, Don’t Snitch, Get Revenge- he seeks his brother’s killer. But now in an elevator ride down to the street he begins to realize that sometimes bullets miss. And there is always someone else who knows the rules.
Told in lyrical verse, I really enjoyed this book. The author uses this method to give a new meaning to words that would otherwise be meaningless. The whole story is told in a bit longer than sixty seconds which creates a panicky feel to the story. Reynolds also uses slang of this particular neighborhood that adds to the realness of the story despite it being written in verse. The urgency of the situation is also magnified by the fact that the main character is only fifteen years old, a strange age for someone to be preparing to shoot someone down. But his stream of thoughts is accurate for someone of his age and connects more with the readers.
This book is perfect for contemporary book lovers looking for their next obsession. It is definitely one that will leave you thinking, both because of the situation itself and because of the double meaning ending. Throughout the book, you are constantly forced to stop and think both because of the words used and the imagery provoked. I would recommend this book for older readers because of the situation and some of the language used.
Saving Red
by Sonya Sones
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: October 18, 2016
SAVING RED tells the story of fourteen-year-old Molly Rosenberg’s relationship with
Red, a homeless teenager Molly meets in Santa Monica, California. Though their
friendship begins with Molly desperately trying to complete her school’s
community service requirement, the two girls quickly grow to find comfort and
support in one another. Molly and Red balanced each other out very well, with
Red’s outgoing spirit and Molly’s more reserved nature. One of the most
exciting things about this novel was that it was written in verse, which gave
it a nice flow and created a feeling of clarity and honesty in Molly’s voice as
a main character. I would recommend Saving Red to anybody who is interested in
reading a novel in verse, but might be afraid to try – this book would be the
perfect place to start.
Author Kip Wilson has created a beautiful portrait of resistance in the face of grave danger with WHITE ROSE. Written in verse, this novel is a brilliant retelling of the boldness displayed by a young group of German students who put their lives on the line in order to fight for what they believed in. Told from the point of view of Sophie Scholl, the only known girl in the White Rose Nazi resistance group, the novel explores the concept of freedom and what the consequences of passivity are. 
