Poetry Month for Middle and High School Readers

 Poetry Month is a time to reintroduce the art of language to readers. In the middle and high school level, I am often met with groans and eye-rolls when the topic of poetry comes up, however, with these recommended books, I've been able to turn around the minds of even the most reluctant readers.  These writers are creating literary experiences for readers to celebrate ideas through language and those groans and eye-rolls turn into expressions of piqued curiosity and intrigue.

The poetry collection, Wearing My Mother’s Heart by Sophia Thakur is full of multigenerational voices of a grandmother, mother and daughter describing their experiences of being women through different lenses. This is recommended for middle grade readers and up. 

A non-fiction novel-in-verse, The Mysterious Virginia Hall World War II’s Most Dangerous Spy by Claudia Friddell is about an American woman who becomes a spy for the British during WWII. Her many aliases and missions are detailed with photographs and maps of her adventurous experiences. This is recommended for middle grade readers and up. 

Historical fiction novel-in-verse, One Step Forward by Marcie Flinchum Atkins, is about Matilda Young, a 15 year old girl who takes up the cause of suffrage in 1913 & becomes the youngest protestor to be arrested for it. Over the course of 7 years the reader goes with Matilda on her journey of activism. This is recommended for middle grade readers and up. 

Contemporary fiction novel-in-verse thriller, Blood Gone Cold by Katy Grant is about two quarreling sisters who are going through a home invasion at their family’s cabin in the woods. They must put their differences aside in order to survive. This book is a hi-Lo book in that it’s of high interest to young adults but is written at a lower, elementary reading level. 

Everything is Poison by Joy McCullough is a historical fiction story that takes place in Rome in the 1600s. 16 year old Carmela is finally old enough to work alongside her mother in the apothecary but soon learns that healing potions aren’t the only concoctions that are made there: poisons are also distributed to women who are in desperate need of them. This is a mixed-format book in that it is written in both novel-in-verse and prose and it is recommended for young adult readers and up. 

Away by Megan E. Freeman is the follow-up to her award-winning novel in verse, Alone. In Alone, there is an emergency evacuation of a town in Colorado while twelve year old, Maddie, gets left behind. For months without human contact, news or electricity, she, along with her dog, tries to survive and figure out what happened that sent her entire community far away. 

In Away, there are four teens who find one another while at the emergency evacuation camp and as they get to know one another, they uncover mysteries around the emergency. What information is being kept from the public and why?  This book is a mix of formats from verse to letters and scripts. It can be read as a stand alone story or as a sequel to Alone. Both books are recommeded for middle grade readers and up. 

 The contemporary, novel-in-verse, I Can't Even Think Straight by Dean Atta, tells the story of teenager, Kai, who is grappling with his identity. It's not easy because his best friends are giving him different kinds of advice:  does he stay closeted or share who he really is with his family and community?  Kai's journey gets even tougher when he falls for the new boy at school who returns his feelings.  Kai finds his way to deal with the consequences of his choices and faces his family and friends with renewed self-confidence. This book is recommeded for young adult readers and up. 

 The contemporary, novel-in-verse mystery, Wolfpack by Amelia Brunskill, captures the reader's attention immediately as one of the nine teenage girls living isolated from society in the woods disappears. Her fellow cult members, also teenage girls, are determined to uncover what happened to her. The story is told in alternating perspectives so the layers of what each person knows to be true are revealed, but only to the reader.  Will they find out if their missing friend left on purpose or did something or someone make them disappear? This book is recommended for young adult readers and up. 

Do you have any novels-in-verse that you'd recommend? Please share in the comments below and we can keep the conversation going.  

Flamer: "I want this book to be a lifeline."

Flamer, a semi-autobiographical graphic novel by Mike Curato, is an emotional story of Aiden, a Filipino American boy who is spending his last week of summer break at his favorite place, his scout camp.  The year is 1995 so the times reflect an era of homophobia, bullying, and lack of resources that could help a teenager who is questioning his identity. 

 I was surprised to learn that Flamer has been challenged and even banned in school libraries across the country, despite winning a book award.  The audience for the book are young adults who are the same age as the main character.  Readers will be able to empathize with Aiden's apprehension for starting high school, his insecurities about his body image, and his surprising attraction to his friend. Although the book climaxes with a suicide scene, Aiden does not go through with it and it ends on a hopeful note.  The author's note states that these were actual instances that he experienced so I believe it will help others, either as a friend or family member of a person exhibiting Aiden's characteristics or for people thinking similar thoughts as Aiden. 

 

What I liked about this book was the honesty with which Aiden's voice permeates the entire story.  I have yet to read a book that explores a boy's insecurities about his body with as much care as Curato write's Aiden's feelings.  Many readers will be able to relate to Aiden and his reluctance to draw attention to his body as he constantly compares it to others in his camp.  

Another aspect of the book that stood out to me was the setting.  Aiden finds so much peace in being outside in nature that it becomes his happy place. I think that other readers may also find solace in going outdoors when they are feeling stressed or need room to think.  It also may encourage others to seek out ways to spend time outdoors with friends to increase endorphins and relieve them of social anxiety.  The camp also lends itself to a sense of community that readers may look to join in order to feel as a part of a group.

 

As a junior high teacher and librarian, I can attest that the moments of bullying and teasing are 100% authentic.  In Flamer, the reader experiences what Aiden does as he tries to navigate his place in an ever-increasing environment that tells him he needs to be an "alpha-male" while he doesn't have those inclinations. He also has racist remarks thrown at him for being Asian.  At one point, a well-intentioned friend, tries to tell Aiden to draw less attention to himself and Aiden questions how he can do that.  This is a very real dilemma that teens go through and Curato writes this delicate scene with such care, it's incredible. Readers can discuss what their experiences have been with racism towards Asian people and what they can do to stand up against that hate. 

Finally, the part that I really enjoyed was Aiden's relationship with his only friend who allows him to be his true self.  His pen pal, Violet, is a trusted ally whom Aiden confides his thoughts.  This is a beautiful model of how even having one person who is on one's side makes a big difference in a person's life. Allyship is a topic that young people can discuss throughout this story and into their own lives.  Aiden has some people who seem to be on his side but then change their mind once they realize that others call him out about being gay.  

Aiden's coming-of-age realization about his sexuality is something that others may be able to relate.  His religion has taught him that homosexuality was wrong so Aiden denied being gay when his classmates bullied him about it.  Only after his dreams started showing his true feelings was when he started to come around to possibly accepting this aspect about himself.  Some of his trusted scout leaders tried to help him through being himself but they ended up being outed and ultimately fired from the scout camp.  This is another reflection of the times and even some discrimination against the LGBTQ community in today's world.  Readers can discuss the factors that are at play and what they can do when they see this happening in their communities. 

Overall, Flamer is a book that embodies a number of adolescent emotions and should be available to young adult readers who want to read it.  It would also benefit educators, counselors, social workers, families and care givers to read it in order to broaden their understanding of a young person's needs during this critical time of their development.  It may very well save a life. 

Blackout: NYC modern-day romance

There are some authors whose books I will read no matter what.  Now imagine my delight when six of these writers collaborated on one book!  Blackout the anthology of short stories by the best writers of today: Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon, is a must-have in any high school library collection.  The setting is exactly the same for all of the writers' tales: in NYC a massive blackout takes over the city and from there the stories take form.  From exes competing for the same summer internship to new crushes developing at a home for the elderly, there is a range of love stories for everyone to get into. There are even LGBTQIA relationships that develop with such care that no reader will be unaffected by them.  This is the perfect example of Black joy for young adult readers on up. 

What stood out to me about these stories is that they continued in the form of snapshots throughout the whole book.  It reminded me of a film or play taking place at the same time with fadeaway shots dimming at the close of a chapter and then picking up at the start of another one as the next part of the story unfolds for the characters there.  One might think this would be hard to keep track of all of the storylines, but this is where the writers truly shine in their depth of developing each character and their motivations.  One suggestion I have is to help those who have never been to NYC understand the layout of the boroughs, is to include a map to help with the movement of the storylines. The cover is also beautifully designed, by Erin Fitzsimmons, and has a surprise underneath the book jacket! I cannot decide how to display it in my bookshelf...

 Other anthologies that Blackout reminded me of are Black Boy Joy and Ancestor Approved. These are more for middle grade readers while Blackout is more for high school aged readers. 

How to Become a Planet: removing the stigma of mental illness

How I Became a Planet is a middle grade, realistic fiction novel by Nicole Melleby.  The main character is Pluto, a 7th grader, who is on the verge of being sent away from her home on the Jersey Shore to live with her Dad in the city.  The only way she can stay is if she shows progress from her diagnosed anxiety and depression by:

• completing summer school
• reconnecting with her ex-BFF
• doing what her mom asks

Only when Pluto meets Fallon, another person with her own to-do list, does Pluto get the support she needs to come to terms with her new normal.  

This is a heavy topic, much like Sharon M. Draper's Out of My Mind, where the neurodiverse internal dialog takes center stage.  I would add this book to my school library collection and have it for my home library for my middle grade daughter because Melleby's portrayal of Pluto and Fallon's relationship is a positive one for young people to see.  Their romantic relationship organically grows out of their friendship with a supportive community to foster their identities.  I hope that more middle grade writers incorporate characters who have complex mental illness needs, as well as more characters who have non-cis-gendered identities.  

Here is an interview with Melleby to learn more about this book.  Melleby has also written many other middle grade books, see below:

Last Night at the Telegraph Club: a Young Adult historical fiction coming of age tale

Last Night at the Telegraph Club the 2021 National Book Award for Young People's Literature written by Malinda Lo is a story that has yet to be told in the arena of young adult literature. Lo deserves the award for her portrayal of Lily Hu, a 17 year-old Chinese-American daughter of immigrants who settled in Chinatown in San Francisco.  The year is 1954 and the Red Scare is is buzzing all around Lily and her community. She must be careful with whom she associates or else it could spell trouble for her family.  What ends up happening not only affects Lily's future, but also those around her.  

With the tone of a coming of age story, Lo reminds the reader of what it's like to be a teenager trying to figure out who you really are.  When Lily sees an advertisement for The Telegraph Club with a male impersonator or cross-dresser, something in her is awakened. She feels drawn to the club and finds a fellow classmate, Kath, who has an in there.  Once Kath introduces Lily to the club and the people inside, a whole new world opens up for Lily.  A world where others who feel like her can feel normal.  How can Lily return to the person her family expects her to be after she's discovered her feelings for women?  

The best part of this story is when Lo uses the flashbacks between Lily's storyline with ones about her parents and her aunt.  Their own circumstances and journeys to the U.S. to where they are in the 1950s sheds much light on their actions.  As I read the story I kept telling myself if Lily only knew her own family's struggles with their identity in the U.S., then she could open up to them about her own apprehension about where she stands.  

As a former history teacher, I also enjoyed the timelines that Lo includes that show the year, Lily and her family's major moments, and parts of world and American history that have affected Chinese Americans since they were first brought to the U.S. to build the trans-continental railroad.  As the daughter of an aerospace engineer, I enjoyed the development of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as Lily's other passion is studying space travel.  Thankfully her aunt is a human computer for the program and encourages Lily to pursue her interest in math, science, and engineering.  This part of history is interesting for readers to compare to Katherine Johnson and her pioneering work she did for NASA.

This story is an important one for people to read who may not be familiar with the experiences of Chinese Americans.  It's also a history of how the LGBTQ+ community has had to seek out safe spaces to be themselves.  It surprised me that in the ever-inclusive city of San Francisco, there was once a time that it was illegal for homosexuals to even congregate in public.  The end of the novel is full of more information that Lo explains served as her basis for all of the storylines in the book.  Readers who are interested have a number of resources to use to continue learning about more people who lived during this time and left their mark on the country. 

Dear Sweet Pea: a middle grades coming-of-age story for Judy Blume fans

Dear Sweet Pea, a middle grades chapter book by #1 New York Times Bestselling author, Julie Murphy, is the perfect book to get into the mind of an insecure, doubtful adolescent, Patricia "Sweet Pea", who has opportunities to make amends.  This realistic fiction story shines in its empathetic characters who are enduring the messy dynamics of friendships and cliques of middle school.  

7th grader, Sweet Pea, doesn't know what to expect when her father comes out to her and her mother.  She's not too surprised when they decide to get a divorce but what surprises her and the rest of the town is that her father rented the house that is the same floor plan as hers, only two doors away on the same block.  The only house between her mom and dad's house belongs to the peculiar neighbor, Miss Flora Mae, who happens to write an advice column in the local newspaper.  Thankfully, Sweet Pea can count on her BFF, Oscar, to help her get through the awkwardness of the new set-up and since she certainly cannot count on her ex-BFF, Keira, who hasn't acknowledged her since elementary school, Oscar is all she has.

When Miss Flora Mae asks Sweet Pea to secretly send her the letters the townsfolk write for her column  while she is away on a trip, Sweet Pea notices a letter that is written in Keira's handwriting.  Is this Sweet Pea's chance to get back at Keira by giving her advice on behalf of Miss Flora Mae?  Who would know?  Could this be her chance to rekindle their friendship? This is when Sweet Pea's choices begin to spiral in the wrong direction.

This story is ripe for discussion with readers:

• Should Sweet Pea tell her parents about Miss Mae's request?  Look at examples of advice columns in newspapers and magazines, what kinds of help do people need?  Why do people seek out advice from a stranger?
• What is the most awkward party you've attended?
• If you could research any person, who would you pick?
• Why is Aretha Franklin such a role model? Why did Murphy start the novel out with a quote by Franklin, "Sometimes, what you're looking for is already there." Listen to songs by Aretha Franklin and find other lines that stand out to you.
• Body image is a big part of the story, in both the male and female perspective.  Oscar and Sweet Pea don't fit into the image of bodies portrayed as beautiful in the media and culture in the U.S.  Do you feel pressure to look a certain way?
• What topic in the story do you want to learn more about: friendship dynamics, having a gay parent, divorce, having a crush, what it means to be a good friend.

Although this is told from Sweet Pea's perspective it would be neat to learn more about the other characters in the story, like her quirky neighbor, Miss Flora Mae, her BFF Oscar, her ex-BFF Keira, and even her parents.  Her teacher, Mrs. Young tells her:

"You know, the best part about mistakes is there's nowhere to go but up. You can either learn from them or if you're really lucky, you might even be able to fix them."

This is a universal theme that even adults can consider and discuss with readers.  

When We Love Someone We Sing To Them, a universal theme of love

 

When We Love Someone We Sing To Them is an award winning,  bilingual picture book written by Ernesto Javier Martinez and illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez.  It's a tenderly written account of a boy who asks his father for advice on how to express his love for another boy.  His father shares ideas on what to say that go way back to Mexican deities and he supports his son in his identity.  This is a wonderful book to share with elementary aged readers and up.  The message is one of acceptance, universal respect and love.  This is a must-have for every school and classroom! We were fortunate to be gifted a copy from the GLSEN.

35 PRIDE Reads for elementary/middle grades

 

Our students want stories that encompass various people's perspectives.  PRIDE month offers the chance to spotlight LGBTQIA+ people through sharing books and stories.  From nonfiction picture books to fictional chapter books about families, friendship, and growing up, there is a push for including more of these books in our library collection.  I am thankful for the GLSEN organization for offering free books to our schools and classrooms.  Hopefully more will be published and shared, until then, check out what we have in our library below: