Have you ever wanted to get into poetry but weren’t sure where to start? Here at Epic Reads, we totally get it: there are so many poets and writers to choose from! there’s the classic poetry we read in school like lord byron and keats and shakespeare’s sonnets, but it doesn’t end there. there is modern poetry that addresses ideas such as feminism, illness and immigration. then you also have what you might think of as books of poetry, but are really novels in verse, those beautifully written books that are so cleverly put together that you often need to read them two or three times just to catch every detail.
You are reading: Books written in prose
These books of poetry and novels in verse are filled with history, love, music and more. so pick up a book of poetry or a novel in verse today, because you’ll be surprised how much you enjoy it!
31 books of poetry & novels in verse
that will take your breath away
1. inheritance by elizabeth acevedo
They tell me to “fix” my hair.
And by fixing, they mean smoothing, they mean whitening;
but how do you fix this shipwreck
history of hair?
in her most famous spoken poem, author of the pure belpré-winning novel in verse, poet x elizabeth acevedo encompasses all the complexities of black hair and Afro-Latinidad: the history, the pain, the pride, and the powerful love of that heritage.
along with full color illustrations by artist andrea pippins in a format that will appeal to fans of mahogany l. black girl magic by browne or jason reynolds for everyone, this poem can now be read in a vibrant package, making it the ideal gift, treasure, or inspiration for readers of any age.
- buy heirloom now!
2. the most stunning girl in berlin by kip wilson
a riveting historical novel about hilde, an orphan experiencing berlin on the cusp of world war ii while discovering her own voice and sexuality, eventually finding a family when she lands a job at a gay cabaret, for prize -winning author kip wilson.
On her eighteenth birthday, Hilde leaves her orphanage in 1930s Berlin, and heads out into the world to discover her place in it. But finding a job is hard, at least until she stumbles into Café Lila, a vibrant cabaret full of expressive customers. Rosa, one of the club’s waitresses and performers, immediately takes Hilde under her wing. As the café denizens slowly embrace Hilde, and she embraces them in turn, she discovers her voice and her own blossoming feelings for Rosa.
but berlin is in crisis. Between the elections, the protests in the streets, the worsening of anti-Semitism and anti-gay sentiment, and the beginning of the seeds of unrest in the lilac café itself, Hilde will have to decide what is best for his future. . . and what it means to love a place on the cusp of war.
- buy the most stunning girl in berlin now!
3. clap your hands when you land by elizabeth acevedo
In a novel in verse brimming with grief and love, New York Times bestselling National Book Award-winning author Elizabeth Acevedo writes of the devastation of loss, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the bonds bittersweet that shape our lives.
Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. but this time, the day she was supposed to land her plane, she walks to the airport to see a crowd of people crying…
in new york city, yahaira rios is called to the director’s office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash.
Separated by distance and secrets from daddy, the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered. And then, when it seems like they’ve lost everything from their father, they learn about each other.
- buy claps when you land now!
4. if i tell you the truth by jasmin kaur
Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Rupi Kaur, this harrowing story told in prose, poetry and illustrations weaves together the life stories of a mother and her daughter.
kiran runs away from her home in punjab to start over in canada after a sexual assault leaves her pregnant. But overstaying her visa and living without documents brings her own dangers for both her and her daughter, sahaara.
Sahaara would do anything to protect her mother. When she discovers the truth about Kiran’s past, she feels compelled to seek justice, even if it means challenging a powerful and dangerous man.
If I told you the truth that I have dug into the hardened depths of this shrapnel-strewn earth with these sore and bloody hands, would you believe me? would you still love me?
- buy if i tell you the truth now!
5. dean atta’s black flamingo
A fierce coming-of-age novel in verse about the identity and power of drag, from acclaimed poet and performer Dean Atta. perfect for fans of elizabeth acevedo, jason reynolds and kacen callender.
Michael is a mixed-race gay teenager growing up in London. His whole life, he has explored what it means to be Greek Cypriot and Jamaican, but he never felt Greek or Black enough.
As he grows older, Michael’s coming out is just the beginning of learning who he is and where he fits. when he discovers the transvestite society, he finally finds where he belongs, and black flamenco is born.
>
Told with sheer honesty, insight and lyricism, this debut explores the layers of identity that make us who we are and allow us to shine.
- buy the black flamingo now!
6. the truth project by dante medema
Seventeen-year-old Cordelia Koenig intended to quickly finish her senior project. While her classmates were stressed, Cordelia planned to use the same genealogical idea of tracing her roots that her older sister used years before. And teaming up with her lifelong crush, Kodiak Jones, is the icing on the cake. all she has to do is mail her dna sample, write about the results of her ancestors and get it just like that.
But when the results of Cordelia’s genetic search reveal that her father is not the person she thought he was, but a stranger living thousands of miles away, her entire world is shattered. she is now not sure of anything, not the mother she lied to, the man she calls daddy or the girl looking at her in the mirror.
If your life started with a lie, how can you be sure what is true?
- buy the truth project now!
7. what goes up by christine heppermann
How do you forgive yourself—and the people you love—when a shocking discovery leads to a huge mistake?
When Jorie wakes up in the loft bed of a college boy she doesn’t recognize, she immediately regrets it. what happened the night before? What brought her to this place? Was it her father’s infidelity? Her mother’s seemingly weak acceptance of her? her recent breakup with ian, the boy who loved her art and supported her in the most difficult moments of her life?
as jorie attempts to piece together the events that led to this point, the free verse poems take the reader through the current morning, as well as memories of her relationships with her parents, her friends, her boyfriend, and the night before .
- buy whatever comes up now!
8. three things i know to be true by betty culley
Life changes forever for Liv when her older brother, Jonah, accidentally shoots himself with his best friend Clay’s father’s gun. Now Jonah needs round-the-clock care just to stay alive, and Liv feels like she’s the only person who can see that her brother is still there inside his broken body.
with liv’s mother suing clay’s family, there are divisions in the community that liv knows not to cross. But Clay is also her friend, and she refuses to walk away from him, just like she refuses to give up on Jonah.
This powerful novel is an astonishing exploration of tragedy, pain, compassion, and forgiveness.
- I bought three things that I know to be true now!
9. elizabeth acevedo’s poet x
See Also: Top 10 novels about toxic friendships | Fiction | The Guardian
Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking.
but xiomara has a lot to say, and she pours all her frustration and passion into the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like sentences, especially after she has feelings for a boy in her biology class named aman. , who his family will never know.
with mommy’s determination to force her daughter to obey the laws of the church, xiomara understands that it is better to keep her thoughts to herself. So when she’s invited to join her school’s poetry slam club, she doesn’t know how she could attend without her mom finding out about her. but she still can’t stop thinking about interpreting the poems for her.
- buy poet x now!
10. punching the air by ibi zoboi and yusef salaam
From award-winning bestselling author Ibi Zoboi and prison reform activist Yusef Salaam of The Five Exonerated, comes a powerful novel in verse about a boy who is unjustly incarcerated. A must read for fans of Jason Reynolds, Walter Dean Myers, and Elizabeth Acevedo.
amal shahid has always been an artist and a poet. but even in a diverse art school, he is seen as disruptive and unmotivated by a biased system. then, one fateful night, an altercation in a gentrifying neighborhood turns into tragedy. “kids are just kids” turns out to be true only when those kids are white.
Suddenly, at just sixteen, Amal’s bright future is turned upside down: he’s convicted of a crime he didn’t commit and sent to prison. despair and rage nearly sink him until he turns to the shelter of his words, his art. this should never have been his story. but can you change it?
With riveting lyricism, award-winning author Ibi Zoboi and prison reform activist Yusef Salaam tell a moving and profoundly insightful story of how one child is able to maintain his humanity and fight for the truth, in a system designed to strip it of both.
- buy hitting the air now!
11. when you ask me where i go by jasmin kaur
Perfect for fans of Rupi Kaur and Elizabeth Acevedo, Jasmin Kaur’s stunning debut novel is a collection of poetry, illustrations, and prose.
scream so that one day in a hundred years another sister doesn’t have to wipe her tears wondering where in history she lost her voice
The book’s six sections explore what it means to be a young woman living in a world that doesn’t always listen to her and tells the story of Kiran as she flees a history of trauma and raises her daughter, Sahaara, while living undocumented. in north america.
Deepening into current cultural conversations including sexual assault, mental health, feminism, and immigration, this narrative of resilience, healing, empowerment, and love will empower readers to fight for what is right in their world.
- buy when you ask me where I’m going next!
12. junk boy by tony abbott
Junk. That’s what the kids at school call Bobby Lang, mostly because his rundown house looks like a junkyard, but also because they want to put him down. Trying desperately to live under the radar at school—and at the home he shares with his angry, neglectful father—Bobby develops a sort of proud loneliness. The only buffer between him and the uncaring world is his love of the long, wooded trail between school and home.
Life runs smoothly and desperately for Bobby until he meets Rachel. Rachel is an artist who sees it in a way no one ever has. maybe it’s because she has her own kind of crap of hers and a father who hates what rachel is: gay. Together, the two embark on journeys to clean up the messes that fill their lives, searching against all odds for hope and redemption.
Told in Bobby’s unique voice in captivating free verse, this novel will captivate readers from its opening lines, rousing them page after page, to its explosive conclusion.
- buy scrap now!
13. sold by patricia mccormick
Lakshmi is a thirteen-year-old girl who lives with her family in a small hut in the mountains of Nepal. Her family is desperately poor, but her life is full of simple pleasures, like raising her black-and-white speckled goat, and having her mother brush her hair by the light of an oil lamp. But when the harsh Himalayan monsoons wash away all that remains of the family’s crops, Lakshmi’s stepfather says she must leave home and take a job to support her family.
Lakshmi’s life becomes a nightmare from which she cannot escape. Still, she lives by her mother’s words: “simply to resist is to succeed.” then the day comes when she must make a decision. Will she risk everything for a chance to get her life back?
- buy sold now!
14. white rose by kip wilson
A beautiful and timely novel based on the incredible story of Sophie Scholl, a young German university student who defied the Nazi regime during World War II as part of the White Rose, a non-violent resistance group.
disillusioned by nazi germany’s propaganda, sophie scholl, her brother, and their companions formed the white rose, a group that wrote and distributed anonymous letters criticizing the nazi regime and calling their fellow german citizens to action. The following year, Sophie and her brother were arrested for treason and interrogated for information about their collaborators.
- buy white rose now!
15. solo from kwame alexander & mary rand hess
Blade never asked for a life of the rich and famous. In fact, he’d give anything not to be the son of Rutherford Morrison, a washed-up rock star and drug addict with delusions of a comeback. Or to no longer be part of a family known most for lost potential, failure, and tragedy. The one true light is his girlfriend, Chapel, but her parents have forbidden their relationship, assuming—like many—that Blade will become just like his father.
really, the only thing blade has in common with rutherford is the music that lives inside them. But not even the songs that flow through Blade’s soul are enough as he is confronted with two unimaginable realities: the threat of losing the chapel forever, and the revelation of a long-kept family secret, leaving him questioning everything he believed. that was true. All that’s left is a letter and a ticket to Ghana, both of which could give Blade the freedom and love he’s been searching for, or leave him feeling even more adrift.
- buy only now!
16. long way down by jason reynolds
a cannon. a leash.
one piece. a cookie.
a burner. a heater.
a helicopter. a cat.
a hammer. a tool to govern.
o, you can call it a weapon. that’s what fifteen-year-old will has stuffed into the back waistband of her jeans. look, his brother shawn of his just got killed. and the will knows the rules. Do not cry. no sneaks. revenge. that’s where will is headed now, with that gun tucked in the back waistband of his jeans, the gun that was his brother’s gun. he gets on the elevator, seventh floor, excited. he knows who he is after. or yes?
- shop much lower now!
17. blood water painting by joy mcullough
her mother died when she was twelve years old and, suddenly, artemisia gentileschi had to choose between a hard choice: a life as a nun in a convent or a life grinding pigment for her father’s paint.
she chose paint.
When I was seventeen, mugwort did more than grind pigment. She was one of the most talented painters in Rome, although no one knew her name. But Rome in 1610 was a city where men took what they wanted from women, and after the rape, Artemisia faced another terrible choice: a life of silence or a life of truth, no matter the cost.
- buy blood water paint now!
18. light filters by caroline kaufman
In light filters, caroline kaufman aka @poeticpoison does what she does best: reflecting our own experiences and making us feel less alone, a piece both exquisite and insightful. she writes about giving too much of yourself to someone else, not fitting in, endlessly googling “how to be happy,” and ultimately discovering who you are.
This hardcover collection features all-new material, plus some fan favorites from Caroline’s account. Filled with haunting original pieces of art, the light filters will thrill existing fans and newcomers alike.
- buy light filters now!
19. ronit & jamil de pamela l. laskin
ronit, an israeli girl, lives on one side of the fence. jamil, a palestinian boy, lives on the other side. separated by miles, but separated by generations of conflict, far more than the concrete blockade between them. Her parents, however, work in a wary but mutually beneficial business arrangement, a relationship that binds Ronit and Jamil together. and lightning strikes. the kind of lightning that transcends barrier fences, war, and hate.
Adolescent lovers desperately fall into the throes of forbidden love, one that would drive an irreparable rift between their families if discovered. But such a great love can only be kept secret for so long. Ronit and Jamil must face the fateful decision to save their lives or their loves, as it may not be possible to save them both.
- buy ronit & jamil now!
20. kwame alexander swing & mary rand hess
Walt is convinced junior year is their year, and he has a plan to help them woo the girls of their dreams and become amazing athletes. Never mind that he and Noah failed to make the high school baseball team yet again, and Noah’s love interest since third grade, Sam, has him firmly in the friend zone.
Noah soon finds himself navigating the worlds of jazz, batting cages, weird advice from Walt’s dairy queen’s clerk cousin, as well as Walt’s “embrace life” mentality. The status quo seems inevitable until Noah stumbles upon a stash of old love letters. Each page contains the words he always wanted to say to Sam, and he secretly begins to create works of art using the lines that speak to his heart. But when her private work of art goes public, Noah has a choice to make: continue her life on the sidelines and possibly lose the girl forever, or take a hit and finally talk?
- buy your swing now!
21. ellen hopkins boost
Vanessa is beautiful and smart, but her secrets keep her answering the call of the blade.
See Also: P.T. Deutermann – Book Series In Order
tony, after suffering a painful childhood, he can only find peace through pills.
and conner apparently has the perfect life. but dig a little deeper and find a boy who is in constant battle with his parents, his life, himself.
In an instant, each of these young men decided enough was enough. they grabbed the blade, the bottle, the gun and tried to finish it all off. now they have a second chance, and maybe, with the help of others, they can find their way to a better life, but only if they are strong and can fight the demons that brought them here in the first place.
- buy impulse now!
23. saving red by sonya sones
sony sones, award-winning author of What My Mother Doesn’t Know, delivers a gripping, funny, and inspiring novel in verse about what happens when the person you set out to save ends up saving you.
Just before winter break, fourteen-year-old Molly Rosenberg reluctantly volunteers to participate in Santa Monica’s annual homeless count, only to remove her school’s community service requirement.
But when she ends up meeting Red, a feisty drifter a few years her senior, Molly sets out to reunite her with her family in time for Christmas. this is extremely difficult, because red refuses to talk about her past.
there are things molly won’t talk about either. like the horrible thing that happened last winter. she may never be ready to talk about it. Not Red, not Christ, the heartwarming boy she meets while riding the Ferris wheel one afternoon.
When Molly realizes that the friends Red keeps mentioning are just voices inside Red’s head, she becomes even more concerned for their well-being. How will Molly keep her safe until she can find a way to bring Red home?
In the inspiring novel by sonya sones, two girls, with much more in common than they think, give each other a new perspective on the meaning of family, friendship, and forgiveness.
- buy red savings now!
24. ellen hopkins crank
In Crank, Ellen Hopkins chronicles the turbulent and often disturbing relationship between Kristina, a character based on her own daughter, and the “monster,” the highly addictive drug crystal meth, or “crank.”
Kristina is introduced to the drug while visiting her largely absent and unsuccessful father. While under the monster’s influence, Kristina discovers her sexy alter-ego, Bree: “There is no perfect daughter, / No gifted high school student, / No Kristina Georgia Snow. / there is only bree.”
bree will do all the things good girl kristina won’t, including attracting the attention of dangerous boys who can provide her with a constant stream of quirkiness.
- buy crank now!
25. scream by laurie halse anderson
Best-selling author Laurie Halse Anderson is known for the unflinching way she writes and advocates for survivors of sexual assault.
Now, inspired by her fans and infuriated by how little our culture has changed since her groundbreaking speech was first published twenty years ago, she has penned a poetic memoir that is as vulnerable as it is poignant, as timely as it is timeless. In free verse, Anderson shares reflections, rants, and calls to action woven into deeply personal stories from his life that he has never written about before. Poignant and moving, this important memoir is an indictment of our society’s failures and a love letter to all who have the courage to say #metoo and #timesup, whether out loud, online, or just on their phones. own hearts.
shout speaks truth to power in a loud, clear voice, and once you hear it, it’s impossible to ignore.
- buy scream now!
26. the opposite of innocent by sonya sones
Moving and chilling by turns, The Opposite of Innocent is award-winning author Sonya Sones’ most gripping verse novel yet. It is the story of a girl named Lily, who has been in love with a man named Luke, a friend of her parents, for as long as she can remember.
luke has been away for two endless years, but he’s finally back today. Lily was only twelve years old when he left. but now, at fourteen, she feels transformed. She can’t wait to see how Luke will react when he sees the new her. And when her mom tells her that Luke is staying with them for a while, in the room next to hers, her heart nearly stops.
Having Luke back is better than Lily could have ever dreamed of. Her lingering stares set Lily on fire. are you imagining them? but later, when they are alone, he kisses her. then he kisses her again. lily’s friends think that anyone her age who wants to be with a fourteen-year-old boy must be very wrong. maybe even dangerous. but luke would never do anything to hurt her… would he?
In this powerful story of a terrifying leap into young adulthood, readers will join Lily on her harrowing journey from hopelessness to hope.
- buy the opposite of innocent now!
27. when the world didn’t end by caroline kaufman
Instagram poet @poeticpoison returns with her follow up, When the World Didn’t End, a collection of short, powerful poems about love, forgiveness, self-discovery, and what it’s like living after a hard-fought battle with depression. When the World Didn’t End tackles so many things, including how to move forward while still reckoning with the pain of the past, how to embrace your imperfections, and unlearning the language of self-criticism.
It’s also an ode to hearts that continue to beat after they’re broken, and to the empty spaces left behind by depression.
- buy when the world doesn’t end now!
28. 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.
As the ground is ripped out from under her, Nima must grapple with the ghost of an unchosen life, the name her parents didn’t give her at birth: Yasmeen. but that other name, that other girl, could be more real than she nima knows. and more hungry. and the life anima has, the one she keeps wishing was someone else’s. . .she might have to fight for it with a fierceness she never knew she had.
- Buying a house is not a country now!
29. me (moth) by amber mcbride
A debut YA novel-in-verse that is both a coming-of-age and a ghost story.
moth has lost his family in an accident. Although she lives with her aunt, she feels lonely and uprooted.
until he meets sani, a boy who is also looking for his roots. if he knows more about where he comes from, he might be able to understand his current depression. And if the moth can help him feel grounded, maybe she too will discover the story he carries in his bones.
moth and sani go on a road trip chasing ghosts and searching for ancestors. the way each one advances is surprising, powerful, and unforgettable.
here is an exquisite and uplifting novel about identity, first love, and the ways our memories and roots lead us through the universe.
- buy me (moth) now!
30. weekends only by dean atta
From the Stonewall Award-winning author of The Black Flamingo comes a romantic coming-of-age novel in verse about the beautiful—and sometimes painful—fallout of pursuing the love we deserve. The ideal next read for fans of Kacen Callender, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Becky Albertalli.
Mack, fifteen, is a hopeless romantic, probably a danger having grown up on movie sets thanks to his father’s job. Mack has been in love with Karim for as long as he can remember and he can’t believe it when the beautiful and popular Karim seems to be interested in him too.
but when mack’s dad takes on a new management project in scotland, mack has to move and soon discovers how painful long distance relationships can be. it’s horrible to be so far away from the karim, and it’s made worse by the fact that the karim can be so hard to read.
then mack meets actor finlay on the set and the world turns upside down again. Fin seems fearless, and his confidence could be contagious.
Award winning author Dean Atta crafts a beautifully nuanced and revealing story in verse about the exquisite ups and downs of first love and self-discovery.
- shop only on weekends now!
31. the name betty culley gave me
A heartbreakingly beautiful novel in verse about adoption, family, friendship, and love in all its many forms, perfect for fans of Robin Benway and Jandy Nelson, from the acclaimed author of Three Things I Know Are True.
rynn was born with a hole in her heart, literally. Although she’s made up a long time ago, she still feels an emptiness there when she wonders about her birth family.
as her relationship with her adoptive mother breaks down, rynn finally decides she needs to know more about the rest of her family. her search for her begins with a name, the only thing she has from her birth mother, and she quickly learns that she has a younger sister who lives in a foster home in a nearby town. But if Rynn reconnects with her biological sister, she may separate her adoptive family from her forever.
This powerful story uncovers beautiful and heartbreaking truths and explores how challenging, yet healing, family can be.
- buy the name he gave me now!
What novels in verse take your breath away? tell us in the comments!