In the latest episode of the Hey YA Podcast from Book Riot, Vanessa and Erica get into a wide range of YA poetry, novels-in-verse, and other poetry-adjacent works in celebration of Poetry Month!
NOTE: The most recent episodes of the podcast are at the top of the playlist, so look for “YA Poetry and Novels-in-Verse”:
Books discussed in this episode:
Blood Water Paint and Enter the Body by Joy McCullough — Two great novels-in-verse by Joy McCullough! In Blood Water Paint, set in Renaissance Italy, Artemisia Gentileschi endures the subjugation of women that allows her father to take credit for her extraordinary paintings. In Enter The Body, the ghosts of Juliet, Ophelia, Cordelia, and other teenage girls who died tragically in Shakespeare’s plays, share their experiences and trauma and get the chance to retell the stories of their lives in their own terms. Get the eBook and/or Audiobook
“A captivating and impressive book about a timeless heroine” (School Library Journal on Blood Water Paint).
Poemhood: Our Black Revival, edited by Amber McBride, Erica Martin & Taylor Byas — Featuring contributions from an award-winning, bestselling group of Black voices, past and present, this powerful poetry anthology elicits vital conversations about race, belonging, history and faith to highlight Black joy and pain. Get the eBook
“A rich, thoughtful anthology exploring centuries of Black poetry” (Kirkus Reviews).
When We Make It by Elisabet Velasquez — Sarai uses verse to navigate the strain of family traumas and the systemic pressures of toxic masculinity and housing insecurity in a rapidly gentrifying Brooklyn, questioning the society around her, her Boricua identity, and the life she lives. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook
“Gripping and soulful, this dynamic debut novel-in-verse is a must for every collection” (School Library Journal).
COMING SOON! Bright Red Fruit by Safia Elhillo — An unflinching, honest novel in verse about a teenager’s journey into the slam poetry scene and the dangerous new relationship that could threaten all her dreams. From the award-winning poet and author of Home Is Not A Country. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook
“A stunning work that deeply explores poetry, the complexities of identity, and the longing for love” (Kirkus Reviews).
Home is Not a Country by Safia Elhilio — A novel in verse following the experiences of a misfit teen in a discriminatory suburban community who questions her mixed heritage before unexpected family revelations force her to fight for her own identity. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook
“Artfully profound and achingly beautiful, Elhillo’s verse aptly explores diasporic yearning for one’s home and a universal fascination with possibilities” (Publishers Weekly).
William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Mean Girls by Ian Doescher, illustrated by Kent Barton — Return to North Shore High in this totally fetching retelling of Tina Fey’s 2004 film Mean Girls, written in the style of the Bard of Avon. This comedy of manners follows Cady Heron’s journey from lowly homeschooled jungle freak to most popular girl at North Shore to social pariah.
“Neatly blending modern teen pop culture with several Shakespeare plays, this is seriously effective for the high-school classroom” (Booklist).
How the Boogeyman Became a Poet by Tony Keith Jr. — Poet, writer, and hip-hop educator Tony Keith Jr. makes his debut with a powerful YA memoir in verse, tracing his journey from being a closeted gay Black teen battling poverty, racism, and homophobia to becoming an openly gay first-generation college student who finds freedom in poetry.
“Keith offers a vulnerability [that] will especially speak to young people who are dealing with similar educational, familial, and interpersonal pressures” (Kirkus Reviews).
COMING SOON! Just Another Epic Love Poem by Parisa Akhbari — Over the past five years, Mitra Esfahani has known two constants: her best friend Bea Ortega and The Book—a dogeared moleskin she and Bea have been filling with the stanzas of an epic, never-ending poem since they were 13. Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook
“This is laugh-out-loud funny, poignant, realistic, and heartbreaking in the best way, and perfect for teens with literary aspirations who want to read about big feelings” (Booklist).
