Novels in Verse: Storytelling via Poetry

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam
Amal Shahid is a talented artist and poet, let’s get that straight. But at sixteen years old, he’s being wrongly convicted of a crime he didn’t commit, and assumptions are being made about him due to the color of his skin. He must fight to keep his humanity and dignity, even when the system is designed to be against him.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
Two young women, one living in the Dominican Republic, the other in NYC, find out they share something unexpected: the same father. After he dies in a plane crash, they must come together to plan his funeral, despite their differences, and discover how to love someone who has made deeply problematic decisions.

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
Being a mixed-race gay teen isn’t the easiest, but that doesn’t stop Michael from spreading his wings as the drag artist The Black Flamingo. This book is all about being bold, being proud, and being ready to take on the world.

They Call Me Güero by David Bowles
He may have red hair, pale skin, and freckles, but seventh grader Güero is pure Mexican. Living on the border has led to a life where he is just as versed in both Spanish and English, just as comfortable in Mexico as in America. When times get tough, he turns to his favorite outlet: poetry.

If I Tell You the Truth by Jasmin Kaur
When Kiran becomes pregnant after being sexually assaulted by her fiancé’s brother, no one believes her, leading her to flee from India to Canada. However, she then faces yet another set of problems: living life as an undocumented immigrant. This story is told in both the voice of Kiran as well as her daughter Sahaara, eighteen years in the future.