80+ Novels in Verse for Grades 7 - 12

(Note: You may find this post interesting too: 60 Novels in Verse for Grades 3-8)

Late Middle School/High School: Grades 7 - 10 

1. Alexander, Kwame. (2014). The Crossover. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers.
2. Bingham, Kelly. (2013). Formerly Shark Girl. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
3. Bingham, Kelly. (2007). Shark Girl. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
4. Bodger, Holly. (2015). 5 to 1. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers. 
5. Brown, Skila. (2014). Caminar. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
6. Burg, Ann E. (2012). All the Broken Pieces. New York: Scholastic.
7. Cheng, Andrea. (2013). Etched in Clay, The Life of Dave, Enslaved Potter and Poet. New York: Lee and Low Books.
8. Clark, Kristin Elizabeth. (2013). Freakboy. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
9. Dean, Carolee. (2013). Forget Me Not. New York: Simon Pulse.
10. Engle, Margarita. (2014). Silver People: Voices from the Panama Canal. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers.
11. Engle, Margarita. (2013). The Lightning Dreamer: Cuba's Greatest Abolitionist. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers.
12. Engle, Margarita. (2011). Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck  New York: Henry Holt.
13. Engle, Margarita. (2010). The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom. New York: Square Fish.
14. Engle, Margarita. (2010). The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette's Journey to Cuba. New York: Henry Holt.
15. Engle, Margarita. (2009). Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba. New York: Henry Holt.
16. Frank, Lucy. (2014). Two Girls Staring at the Ceiling. New York: Schwartz & Wade.
17. Frost, Helen. (2014). Crossing Stones. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
18. Frost, Helen. (2014). Keesha's House. New York: Square Fish.
19. Frost, Helen. (2006).  The Braid. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
20. Grimes, Nikki. (2011). A Girl Named Mister. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
21. Grimes, Nikki. (2010). Dark Sons. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
22. Hemphill, Stephanie. (2012). Sisters of Glass. New York: Knopf.
23. Herrick, Steven. (2014). The Simple Gift. St Lucia, Qld: University of Queensland Press.
24. Kehoe, Stasia Ward. (2014). The Sound of Letting Go. New York: Viking.
25. Kehoe, Stasia Ward.  (2011). Audition. New York: Viking.
26. Koertge, Ron. (2013). Coaltown Jesus. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
27. Koertge, Ron. (2006). Shakespeare Bats Cleanup. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
28. Myers, Walter Dean. (2009). Amiri and Odette: A Love Story. Illustrated by Javaka Steptoe. New York: Scholastic Press.
29. Nelson, Marilyn. (2014). How I Discovered Poetry. New York: Dial.
30. Neri, G. (2007). Chess Rumble. New York: Lee & Low Books.
31. Philips, Linda Vigen. (2014). Crazy. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.
32. Porter, Pamela. (2013). I'll Be Watching. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books.
33. Porter, Pamela. (2007). The Crazy Man. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books.
34. Richards, Jame. (2011). Three Rivers Rising. New York: Ember. 
35. Testa, Maria. (2007). Something About America. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
36. Testa, Maria. (2005). Becoming Joe DiMaggio. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
37. Thompson, Holly. (2013). The Language Inside. New York: Delacorte Books for Young Readers. 
38. Venkatraman, Padma. (2014). A Time to Dance. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books.
39. Walwrath, Dana. (2014). Like Water on Stone. New York: Delacorte Press.
40. Weatherford, Carole Boston. (2008). Becoming Billie Holiday. Honesdale, PA: WordSong.
41. Weber, Lori. (2011). Yellow Mini. Markham, ON: Fitzhenry & Whiteside.
42. Wiviott, Meg. (2015). Paper Hearts. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.
43. Wolff, Virginia Euwer. (2011). This Full House. New York: Square Fish.
44. Wolff, Virginia Euwer. (2002). True Believer. New York: Square Fish.
45. Wolff, Virginia Euwer. (1993/2006). Make Lemonade. New York: Square Fish.
46. Wong, Joyce Lee. (2007). Seeing Emily. New York: Abrams.

High School Grade Grade 10 - Adult

1. Adoff, Jaime. (2009). The Death of Jayson Porter.  New York: Jump at the Sun.
2. Barlow, Toby. (2009). Sharp Teeth. New York: Harper.
3. Block, Francesca Lia. (2006). Psyche in a Dress. New York: Joanna Cotler Books.
4. Cameron, Emma. (2013). Out of This Place. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
5. Castillo, Ana. (2005). Watercolor Women/Opaque Men. Curbstone Books,
6. Crowe, Chris. (2014). Death Coming Up the Hill. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers.
7. Farish, Terry. (2012). The Good Braider. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall cavendish.
8. Fullerton, Alma. (2007). Walking on Glass. New York: HarperTeen.
9. Grimes, Nikki. (2011). A Girl Named Mister. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
10. Hemphill, Stephanie. (2013). Wicked Girls: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials. New York: Balzer & Bray.
11. Hemphill, Stephanie. (2013). Hideous Love: The Story of the Girl Who Wrote Frankenstein. New York: Balzer & Bray.
12. Hemphill, Stephanie. (2008). Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath. New York: Random House.
13. Herrera, Juan Felipe. (2011). Skate Fate. New York: HarperCollins.
14. Herrera, Juan Felipe. (1999). CrashBoomLove: A Novel in Verse. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press. 
15. Herrick, Steven. (2013). Love, Ghosts, & Facial Hairs. New York: Simon Pulse.
16. Herrick, Steven. (2007). The Wolf. Atlanta, GA: Front Street.
17. Hopkins, Ellen. (2014). Rumble. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. 
18. Hopkins, Ellen. (2014). Tilt. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. 
19. Hopkins. Ellen. (2008). Impulse. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. 
20. Hopkins. Ellen. (2006). Crank. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. 
21. Leavitt, Martine. (2014). My Book of Life By Angel. New York: Squarefish.
22. Levithan, David. (2004). The Realm of Possibility. New York: Borzoi Book.
23. Little, Melanie. (2009). The Apprentice's Masterpiece: A Story of Medieval Spain. New York: Annick Press.
24. Luján, Jorge. (2010). Brunhilda and the Ring. Illustrated by Linda Wolfsgruber. Translated by Hugh Hazelton. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books.
25. Mass, Wendy. (2008). Heaven Looks a Lot Like a Mall. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 
26. McCall, Guadalupe Garcia. (2013). Under the Mesquite. New York: Lee & Low Books.
27. McCormick,  Patricia. (2008). Sold. New York: Disney-Hyperion.
28. Myers, Walter Dean. (2007). Street Love. New York: Amistad.
29. Newman, Leslea.  (2012). October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
30. Ostlere, Cathy. (2012). Karma: First Edition. New York: Razorbill.
31. Rosenberg, Liz. (2002). 17: A Novel in Prose Poems. Cricket Books.
32. Schroeder, Lisa. (2010) Chasing Brooklyn. New York: Simon Pulse.
33. Schultz, Philip. (2014). The Wherewithal: A Novel in Verse. New York: W.W. Norton.
34. Sones, Soya. (2013). What My Mother Doesn't Know. New York: Simon & Schuster.
35. Tregay, Sarah. (2012). Love & Leftovers. New York: Katherine Tegen Books
36. Wild, Margaret. (2004). Jinx. New York: Simon Pulse.
37. Wolf, Allan. (2011). The Watch That Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
38. Wolf, Allan. (2007). Zane's Trace. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

60+ Novels In Verse for Grades 3 - 8

Intermediate Level: Grade 3 - 5

1. Bauer, Marion Dane. (2013). Little Dog, Lost. Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
2. Creech, Sharon. (2010). Hate that Cat. New York: HarperCollins.
3. Creech, Sharon. (2001). Love that Dog. New York: HarperCollins.
4. Elliot, Zetta. (2008). Bird. Illustrated by Shadra Strickland. New York: Lee & Low Books.
5. Engle, Margarita. (2014). Mountain Dog. Illustrated by Aleksey & Olga Ivanov. New York: Square Fish.
6. Grimes, Nikki. (2013). Words with Wings. Honesdale, PA: WordSong.
7. Havill, Juanita. (2011). Grow: A Novel in Verse. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree.
8. Kurtz, Jane. (2007). River Friendly, River Wild. Illustrated by Neil Brennan. New York: Aladdin.
9. Mutén, Burleigh. (2014). Miss Emily. Illustrated by Matt Phelan. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
10. Sonnichsen, A.L. ((2015). Red Butterfly. Illustrated by Amy June Bates. New York: Simon & Schuster.
11. Spinelli, Eileen. (2014). Another Day as Emily. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers.
12. Spinelli, Eileen. (2011). The Dancing Pancake. New York: Yearling.
13. Sternberg, Julie. (2011). Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie. Illustrated by Matthew Cordell. New York: Harry N. Abrams. (Part of a series... for younger audiences as well).
14. Weston, Robert Paul. (2014). Prince Puggly of Spud and the Kingdom of Spiff. New York: Razorbill.
15. Weston, Robert Paul. (2010). Zorgamazoo. New York: Razorbill.
16. Williams, Vera B. (2004). Amber Was Brave, Essie Was Smart. New York: Greenwillow.
17. Wissinger, Tamera Will. (2013). Gone Fishing. Illustrated by Matthew Cordell. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers.

Middle School: Grade 5-8

1. Alexander, Kwame. (2014). The Crossover. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers.
2. Applegate, Katherine. (2008).  Home of the Brave. New York: Square Fish
3. Brown, Susan Taylor. (2006). Hugging the Rock. Berkeley, CA: Tricycle Press.
4. Bryant, Jen. (2010). Kaleidoscope Eyes. New York: Yearling.
5. Bryant, Jen. (2009). Ringside, 1925. New York: Yearling.
6. Bryant, Jen. (2009). Pieces of Georgia. New York: Yearling.
7. Bryant, Jen. (2005). The Trial. New York: Yearling.
8. Burg, Ann E. (2013). Serafina's Promise. New York: Scholastic.
9. Calhoun, Dia. (2012). After the River the Sun. Illustrated by Kate Slater. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
10. Calhoun, Dia. (2012). Eva of the Farm. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. 
11. Cheng, Andrea. (2013). Etched in Clay, The Life of Dave, Enslaved Potter and Poet. New York: Lee and Low Books.
12. Cheng, Andrea. (2009). Brushing Mom's Hair. Illustrated by Nicole Wong. Atlanta, GA: Front Street.
13. Crossan, Sarah. (2013). The Weight of Water.  London, UK: Bloomsbury.
14. Crowder, Melanie. (2015). Audacity. New York: Philomel.
15. Engle, Margarita. (2014). The Wild Book. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers.
16. Frost, Helen. (2015). Hidden. New York: Square Fish.
17. Frost, Helen. (2014). Salt: A Story of Friendship in a Time of War. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
18. Frost, Helen.  (2004). Spinning Through the Universe: A Novel in Poems from Room 214. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
19. Fullerton, Alma. (2008). Libertad. Markham ON: Fitzhenry & Whiteside.
20. Glenn, Mel. (1999). Who Killed Mr. Chippendale?: A Mystery in Poems.  New York: Puffin.
21. Glenn, Mel. (1997). Jump Ball: A Basketball Season in Poems.  New York: Dutton Books for Young Readers.
22. Grimes, Nikki. (2011). Planet Middle School. New York: Bloomsbury.
23. Grimes, Nikki. (2008). The Road to Paris. New York: Puffin.
24. Grimes, Nikki. (2003). Bronx Masquerade. New York: Speak.
25. Hesse, Karen. (2003). Witness. New York: Scholastic.
26. Hesse, Karen (1998). Out of the Dust. New York: Scholastic.
27. Howe, James. (2012). Addie on the Inside. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
28. Lai, Thanhha. (2011). Inside Out and Back Again.  New York: HarperCollins.
29. LeZotte, Ann Clare. (2008). T4: A Novel. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.
30. McKissack, Patricia. (2011). Never Forgotten. Illustrated by Leo Dillon an Diane Dillon. New York: Schwartz & Wade. 
31. Nagai, Mariko. (2014). Dust of Eden. Chicago, IL: Albert Whitman & Company
32. Neri, G. (2007). Chess Rumble. New York: Lee & Low Books.
33. Pinkney, Andrea Davis. (2014). The Red Pencil.  Illustrated by Shane Evans. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 
34. Rose, Caroline Starr. (2014). May B. New York: Yearling.
35. Rosen, Michael. (2012). Running with Trains: A Novel in Poetry and Two Voices. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong.
36. Rosenthal, Betsy W. (2013). Looking for Me...in this Great Big Family. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers.
37. Smith, Hope Anita. (2011).  The Way a Door Closes. Illustrated by Shane W. Evans. New York: Henry Holt.
38. Smith, Hope Anita. (2008).  Keeping the Night Watch.  Illustrated by E. B. Lewis. New York: Henry Holt.
39. Testa, Maria. (2007). Almost Forever. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
40. Timberlake, Amy. (2013). One Came Home. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers.
41. Woodson, Jacqueline. (2014). Brown Girl Dreaming. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books.
42. Woodson, Jacqueline. (2010).  Peace, Locomotion. New York: Speak.
43. Woodson, Jacqueline. (2010). Locomotion. New York: Speak.
44. Yeung, Russell Ching. (2009). Tofu Quilt. New York: Lee & Low Books. 

15+ Soon-To Be-Published Books I Can't Wait to Read: Grades 4-12

Longer Works & Novels for 8-to-13 Year Olds

from El Deafo

Bell, Cece. (2014). El Deafo.  Color by David Lasky. New York: Amulet/Abrams.
Graphic memoir. 248 ages. Ages 9-12.

Ellis, Deborah. (2014). The Cat at the Wall. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books.
Set on Israel’s West Bank. 144 pages. Ages 10-13.

Flake, Sharon. (2014). Unstoppable Octobia May. New York: Scholastic.
Set in 1953. 288 pages. Ages 9-12.

Lewis,  J. Patrick. (2014). Harlem Hellfighters. Illustrated by Gary Kelley. Creative Editions Company.
Poetry. 32pp. 9+

Mann, Elizabeth. (2014). Little Man. New York: Mikaya Press.
Set in contemporary times in Brooklyn. 208 pages. Ages 10-14. (Was published in May.)

Nye, Naomi Shihab. (2014). The Turtle of Oman: A Novel. New York: Greenwillow.
Set in Muscat, Oman.  304 pages. Ages 8-12.

Pinkney, Andrea Davis. (2014). The Red Pencil. Illustrated by Shane W. Evans. New York:Novel in verse set in South Dafur in contemporary times.  Ages 9-12. 336 pages

Rubin, Susan Goldman. (2014). Stand There! She Shouted: The Invincible Photographer Julia Margaret Cameron. Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.
80 pages. Ages 8+

Woodson, Jacqueline. (2014). Brown Girl Dreaming. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books.
Novel in verse set in Ohio, South Carolina and Brooklyn, NY in 1960s and 1970s. 336 pages. Ages 9+

Late Middle School and High School 13+

Aguirre, Ann. (2104). Mortal Danger. New York: Feiwel & Friends.

Horror. 384 pages.

Heppermann, Christine. (2014). Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty. New York: Greenwillow Books.  

Poetry. 128 pages. 

Opening to Into the Grey.

Kiernan, Celine. (2014). Into the Grey. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. 

Original ghost story set in 1974. 304 pages. 

Myers, Walter Dean. (2014). On a Clear Day. New York: Crown Books.

Science fiction set in 2035. 256 pages. 

Prince, Liz. (2014). Tomboy: A Graphic Memoir. San Francisco, CA Zest Books.

Graphic memoir. 256 pages.

Quintero, Isabel. (2014). Gabi, A Girl in Pieces. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press.
This debut novel is set in contemporary times. 208 pages.

Wolitzer, Meg. (2014). Belzhar. New York: Dutton.

Realistic fiction, set in NJ and rural Vermont, contemporary times. 272 pages. 

Recent & Upcoming Poetry Books for Children and Teens

Glass, Linzi. (2006). The Year the Gypsies Came. NewYork:  Henry Holt. (South Africa during the 1960s).

Paintings by Rogé. from Haiti My Country: Poems by Haitian School Children. 

For K-4

Chatelain, Jeremy. (2014). May the Stars Drip Down. Illustrated by Nikki McCure. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.
Chatterjee, Debjani & Brian D'Arcy. (2014). Lets Play! Poems About Sports and Games from Around the World. Illustrated by Shirin Adl. London, UK: Frances Lincoln.
Chatterjee, Debjani & Brian D'Arcy. (2014). Let's Celebrate: Poems from Around the World. Illustrated by Shirin Adl. London, UK: Frances Lincoln.
Cleary, Brian P. (2014). If It Rains Pancakes: Haiku and Lantern Poems. Illustrated by Andy Rowland. Minneapolis, MN: Millbrook Press.

Cline-Ransome, Lesa. (2014). Benny Goodman and Teddy Wilson: Taking the Stage As the First Black-and-white Jazz Band in History. Illustrated by James E. Ransome. New York: Holiday House.

cummings, e.e. (2014). I Carry Your Heart with Me. Illustrated by Mati Rose McDonough. Petaluma, CA: Cameron + Company, Inc.
Davidson, Jordan. (2014). Rubber Boots: Poetry for Rainy and Not-So-Rainy Days. Tate Publishing.
Elliott, David. (2014). On the Wing. Illustrated by Becca Stadtlander. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
Elliott, David. (2014). In the Sea. Illustrated by Holly Meade. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
Florian, Doug. (2014). Poem Depot: Aisles of Smiles. New York: Penguin.
Frank, John. (2014). Lend a Hand: Poems about Giving. Illustrated by London Ladd. New York: Lee & Low Books.
Giovanni, Nikki. (2014). The Sun is So Quiet. Illustrated by Ashley Bryan. New York: Square Fish.
Gray, Rita.(Compiler). (2014). One Big Rain. Illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke. Watertown, MA Charlesbridge.
Holland, Loretta. (2014). Fall Leaves. Illustrated by Ella MacKay. New York: HMH Books.

April Chu's illustration from Summoning the Phoenix: Poems and Prose About Chinese Musial Instruments.

Hopkins, Lee Bennett. (2014). Manger. Illustrated by Helen Cann. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.
Janeczko, Paul. (2014). Firefly July and Other Very Short Poems. Illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
Jiang, Emily. (2014). Summoning the Phoenix: Poems and Prose About Chinese Musical Instruments.  Illustrated by April Chu. New York: Shen's Books, an Imprint of Lee & Low Books.

Illustration by Wendell Minor from Sequoia.

Johnston, Tony. (2014). Sequoia. Illustrated by Wendell Minor. New York: Roaring Brook Press.

Luján,Jorge. (2014). Numeralia. Illustrated by Isol. Translated by Susan Ouriou. Tornoto, ON: Groundwood Books.

Muth, Jon J. (2014). Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons. New York: Scholastic.
Raschka, Chris & Vladimir Radunsky. (2014). Alphabetabum: An Alphabet Album. New York: NYR Children's Collection.

Rogé from Mingan My Village: Poems by Innu School Children.

Rogé. (2014). Mingan My Village: Poems by Innu School Children. Illustrated by Rogé. Markham, ON: Red Deer.
Rogé. (2014). Haiti My Country: Poems by Haitian School Children. Illustrated by Rogé. Markham, ON: Red Deer.
Sidman, Joyce. (2014). Winter Bees and other Poems of the Cold. Illustrated by Rick Allen. New York: HMH Books.
Spinelli, Eileen. (2014). Polar Bear, Arctic Hare: Poems of the Frozen North. Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong.
Winters, Kari-Lynn & Lori Sheritt-Fleming. (2014). Count Us In! Illustrated by Peggy Collins. Markham, ON: Fitzhenry & Whiteside.

For Grades 4+ 

Bouchard, David. (2014). Voices from the Wild. Paintings by Ron Parker.  Markham, ON: Fitzhenry & Whiteside.
Clarke, George Elliott. (2014). Lasso the Wind: Auriélia's Verses and Other Poems. Illustrated by Susan Tooke. Halifax, NS: Nimbus Publishing.
Engle, Margarita. (2014). Silver People: Voices from the Panama Canal. New York: HMH Books.
Engle, Margarita. (2014). Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck. New York: Square Books.
Koyczan, Shane. (2014). To This Day: For the Bullied and the Beautiful. Illustrated by 30 International Artists. Toronto, ON: Annick Press.




Lewis, J. Patrick. (2014). Harlem Hellfighters. Illustrated by Gary Kelley. Mankato, MN: Creative Editions.
Lewis, J. Patrick. (2014). Freedom Like Sunlight. Paintings by John Thompson. Mankato, MN: Creative Editions.
Lewis, J. Patrick. (2011). And the Soldiers Sang. Illustrated by Gary Kelley. Mankato, MN: Creative Editions.
Lewis, J. Patrick & George Ella Lyon. (2014). Voices from the March on Washington. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong.
Nelson, Marilyn. (2014). How I Discovered Poetry. Illustrated by Hadley Hooper. New York: Dial.
VanHecke, Susan. (2014). Under the Freedom Tree. Illustrated by London Ladd. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.
Woodson, Jacqueline. (2014). Brown Girl Dreaming. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books.

Novels in Verse

Alexander, Kwame. (2014). The Crossover. New York: HMH Books.
Brown, Skila. (2014). Caminar. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
Burg, Ann E. (2013). Serafina's Promise. New York: Scholastic.
Finneyfrock, Karen. (2013). The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door. New York: Viking Juvenile.
Kehoe, Stasia Ward. (2014). The Sound of Letting Go. New York: Viking Juvenile.

from Dust of Eden: A Novel.

Nagai, Mariko. (2014). Dust of Eden: A Novel. Park Ridge, IL: Albert Whitman & CO.
Sones, Sonya. (2014). To Be Perfectly Honest: A Novel Based on an Untrue Story. New York: Simon & Schuster. (High School/Adult)