This summer, I read a few books written in verse and was surprised by how much I enjoyed them. I’ll admit that I’ve made honest attempts at reading verse novels before, but something about the formatting left me feeling hesitant.
The first book I picked up was Jazz Owls. I was eager to read it because it introduced me to a piece of history I didn’t know about. The experience was wonderful. There’s so much creativity in writing a story in verse. The words need rhyme and rhythm to give the book a lyrical feel, and I found that made the story even more engaging.
You may be wondering if you need to love poetry to enjoy these books. My answer is no. If you enjoy a good picture book that rhymes while telling a great story, a novel in verse may be just as enjoyable. In fact, I found these books easier to digest and finish. A 300-page book can feel almost like reading 150 pages because the lines aren’t filled with words from edge to edge. Sometimes, even the chapters are short.
Has your child ever picked up a chapter book in verse and put it right back down? The good news is that a novel in verse may not be as daunting as they think.
Today on the blog, I’m sharing a list of the books I’ve read over the past few months since picking up Jazz Owls. I hope you’ll find one you enjoy!
Top Picks for Novels in Verse
Jazz Owls by Margarita Engle
Set in Los Angeles during World War II, this verse novel follows a Mexican American family caught up in the Zoot Suit Riots. The sisters work in a cannery and dance to jazz, while their brothers face racism and are targeted for the way they dress. I was eager to learn about this history and enjoyed reading it with my seventh grader. I’d recommend it for ages 12 and up.
The Honey Jar by Joan Schoettler
Based on a true Armenian family story, this short verse novel follows eight-year-old Bedros as he flees Armenia with his three sisters, grandmother, and uncle. As he tries to protect his family, he faces a painful decision involving his youngest sister.
It’s a moving historical story for younger middle-grade readers. (I was gifted a copy of this book by Bushel and Peck Publishing. This book releases on Dec 8th, 2026 on Amazon)
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Inspired by the author’s childhood, this verse novel follows Hà as she flees Saigon after the fall of the city and adjusts to life in Alabama. It shows what it is like for children to rebuild their lives in a completely unfamiliar country.
Onyx & Beyond by Amber McBride
Twelve-year-old Onyx helps care for his mother, who has dementia, and must learn that asking for help doesn’t mean he has failed. This story takes place during the time Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, and the riots lead to fires in the DC area. His story explores family, grief, and the courage it takes to accept support.
It briefly mentions what girls feel when they get their period, and Onyx often talks about praying to his grandmother up in the sky. But nothing that bothered me much.
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
Jude leaves Syria and begins a new life in Cincinnati, where everything feels unfamiliar. As she navigates school, friendship, and change, she wonders whether she can belong to two homes at once. I haven’t read this one yet, but its story of migration and finding your place caught my attention.
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
In this memoir in verse, Jacqueline Woodson reflects on her childhood between South Carolina and New York. Through memories of family, place, and growing up, she shows how her early experiences shaped her voice as a writer.
Becoming Muhammad Ali by Kwame Alexander and James Patterson
Before he became Muhammad Ali, young Cassius Clay discovered boxing after his bicycle was stolen. His story is told in a lively mix of prose and verse. I actually enjoyed the poetic influence in this book.
There is boxing violence, and the story is set at a time when racism existed in the Jim Crow era, so feel free to talk about it with your kids if that is a sensitive topic.
Lion of the Sky by Ritu Hemnani
Raj, a Hindu, and Iqbal, a Muslim, are friends at a time when India is going through Partition that divides their world into two. As the boys face uncertainty and upheaval, their story brings a personal perspective to a major moment in history. (This book releases on May 4, 2027 on Amazon and is open for pre-order)
You will experience British rule in India, riots, and violence that comes with it, followed by the mass migration that occurred because of it.
This book was available as an audiobook on Everand subscription.
This Opening Sky by Kelly Hollman and Charlotte Watson Sherman
Set in Virginia in 1866, this verse novel alternates between Aurelia, a white girl, and Sary, a Black girl who has recently been freed right after the Civil War. After they both have suffered loss, the two twelve-year-olds cross paths and decide to travel together north in search of family and a new life. This book was gifted to me by Bushel and Peck Publishing, and has become a favorite recommended book on my middle grade chapter book lists.
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
Billie Jo tells the story of growing up during the Dust Bowl, when dust storms and hardship shape daily life. The death of her mother and Billie Jo’s grief are at the center of the story, so I’d save this powerful verse novel for an older reader or a mature young reader.
A word of caution to the parent screening books
To the parent screening books for your kids, make sure to have a list of things that you screen. The two most important things that I check for are
- I personally ask if the story fits my child right now (is it age-appropriate?)
- Next, I skim for moral and family values.
You can read more about how I screen books for my kids.
If your child loves a series, pair one of these with my best middle grade book series, or browse my middle grade books.
Final thoughts:
If your child is not up for a book in verse, try reading one with them. If your reader is younger, keep enjoying 20 must-read picture books for kids.
Which novel in verse will you try first? Tell me in the comments.
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