The latest “extra credit” episode of the always excellent Hey YA Podcast features three novels in verse —
- Me (Moth) by Amber McBride
- A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman
- Home Is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo
Host Erica Ezeifedi explains that as she has recently been getting into more poetry, she has also been exploring novels in verse — novel-length stories told using poetic forms. Hear about these great examples in this episode of the Hey YA Podcast:
Look for them at CA Library!
Me (Moth) by Amber McBride — Moth, who lost her family in an accident, and Sani, who is battling ongoing depression, take a road trip that has them chasing ghosts and searching for ancestors, which helps them move forward in surprising, powerful and unforgettable ways. “An excellent choice for lovers of poetry and for those who see the beauty in sadness” (Booklist).
A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman — Veda, a classical dance prodigy in India, lives and breathes dance — so when an accident leaves her a below-knee amputee, her dreams are shattered. For a girl who’s grown used to receiving applause for her dance prowess and flexibility, adjusting to a prosthetic leg is painful and humbling. “This exceptional novel, told entirely in verse, captures beautifully the emotions of a girl forced to deal with a number of challenges and how she overcomes them on her way to becoming a confident young woman” (School Library Journal).
Home Is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo — Nima doesn’t feel understood. By her mother, who grew up far away in a different land. By her suburban town, which makes her feel too much like an outsider to fit in and not enough like an outsider to feel like that she belongs somewhere else. At least she has her childhood friend Haitham, with whom she can let her guard down and be herself — until she doesn’t. “Artfully profound and achingly beautiful, Elhillo’s verse aptly explores diasporic yearning for one’s home and a universal fascination with possibilities” (Publishers Weekly). Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook (Sora login required)
