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Read 12 Verse Novels in 2025

jess64au's profile picture jess64au Host

6 participants (22 books)

01 Jan 2025—31 Dec 2025

Overview

Read 12 Verse Novels in 2025
What is a verse novel? 
A verse novel is defined as a novel-length narrative told in poetry rather than verse, and depending on the story, will use different types of poetry and poetic forms to tell the story. The poetry within the verse novel will have a distinct voice as well. It is a distinct hybrid form which has its roots in epic poetry but is a newer development stretching back to the nineteenth century and has taken different forms throughout its history. Verse novels, as Sally Murphy points out, need to consider things like line length, but also whether the story and all its elements will work as a verse novel. I can see how this would be a good process, as some stories might work better as prose novels, whilst others have the most impact as verse novels, such as one I read recently called Sunshine on Vinegar Street by Karen Comer. From my reading, the rhythm of the verse novel is just as important as the narrative, because the verses and poetic forms used in combination with the words are what ensure the novels have impact where they need to.
https://www.ncacl.org.au/resources/bibliographies/australian-verse-novels-resource/ 

Challenge Books

All books added
Run, Rebel by Manjeet Mann

Run, Rebel

Manjeet Mann

496 pages • 2020 • 3 editions

fiction poetry young adult challenging emotional reflective medium-paced
Louder Than Hunger by John Schu

Louder Than Hunger

John Schu

526 pages • 2024 • 8 editions

user-added

fiction poetry young adult emotional hopeful sad fast-paced
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

The Crossover #1

The Crossover

Kwame Alexander

240 pages • 2014 • 16 editions

fiction poetry sports young adult emotional hopeful fast-paced
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

Other Words for Home

Jasmine Warga

368 pages • 2019 • 17 editions

fiction contemporary middle grade poetry emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Brown Girl Dreaming

Jacqueline Woodson

338 pages • 2014 • 25 editions

nonfiction memoir middle grade poetry race emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced
Singing with Elephants by Margarita Engle

Singing with Elephants

Margarita Engle

224 pages • 3 editions

fiction middle grade poetry emotional reflective medium-paced
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

The Poet X

Elizabeth Acevedo

368 pages • 2018 • 48 editions

fiction contemporary poetry young adult emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced
Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson

Red #1

Autobiography of Red

Anne Carson

149 pages • 1998 • 37 editions

fiction lgbtqia+ literary poetry reflective slow-paced
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

The Black Flamingo

Dean Atta

360 pages • 2019 • 23 editions

fiction lgbtqia+ poetry young adult emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Long Way Down

Jason Reynolds

322 pages • 2017 • 49 editions

fiction contemporary poetry young adult dark emotional reflective fast-paced