I can always count on you to help me discover new (and new to me) reads. The only one on this list that I’ve read is Something Like Home. Lovely story!
I read Something Like Home as a judge for the CYBILS awards, and I feel like it kind of got lost in the pile of children's novels in verse at that time, but I've since come to appreciate it more -- it's very sweet.
I really loved All the Impossible Things by Lindsay Lackey for another middle grade foster story, but it's not told in verse. I absolutely LOVE verse novels so I'll have to check this one out.
I'm on a hardcore novel in verse kick this year, and when it also happens to be a middle grade book, I'm in heaven. Do you have any verse novels, for children or otherwise, you'd recommend?
Omg, you're wonderful, this is fantastic -- thank you!
I LOVED No Matter the Distance (in fact, I think I reviewed it at some point? Late last year? I have no idea, but I knew the moment I finished it that I wanted to share it).
Meanwhile I'll just be over here, casually ordering all your books...
Oh, thank you for sharing this list! I love novels in verse too, and you have some of my very favorites here, Other Words for Home and Inside Out and Back Again. Can’t wait to get some of these others from the library this week including your Nightmare House! A couple more I really enjoyed are Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca and Catching a Storyfish by Janice N Harrington.
Absolutely love Shirley Hughes. I also enjoy Sarah Garland's books for realistic depictions of family life (or at least the messy house version that is ours).
I look forward to reading Polly and the Wolf to my kids when they're the right age. I remember discovering them as an adult when I worked at the library.
We move Jingle Dancer!! And Dogger sounds so good mostly because I find it is annoyingly rare to read books that depict sibling love and kindness. There are plenty about not getting along, but fewer about the real love and bond and I need more of those in my life!! (Will it help my kids stop bickering? I’m not gonna hold my breath) 😂
You always have the best recommendations! Something Like Home looks wonderful: I just put it on hold at the library. Also I finally read Leave Me Alone! last night and it was every bit as wonderful and hilarious as you said: I have a couple friends I will for sure be passing that one along to. 😂
Every list you publish and the beautiful words you use to describe them makes my heart sing.
What an incredible compliment -- thank you so much 🩷
I can always count on you to help me discover new (and new to me) reads. The only one on this list that I’ve read is Something Like Home. Lovely story!
This makes me so happy!
I read Something Like Home as a judge for the CYBILS awards, and I feel like it kind of got lost in the pile of children's novels in verse at that time, but I've since come to appreciate it more -- it's very sweet.
Oooo - I'd love to borrow Mythbusters!
My books are your books, you know that 🫶
That's like the highest form of trust ever.
I know 😊 but I mean it, and that's why I said it.
What an awesome list. None of these were familiar to me, and I added every one to my library holds. Can’t wait to dig in!!
Yay! I love it when that happens.
I really loved All the Impossible Things by Lindsay Lackey for another middle grade foster story, but it's not told in verse. I absolutely LOVE verse novels so I'll have to check this one out.
I'm on a hardcore novel in verse kick this year, and when it also happens to be a middle grade book, I'm in heaven. Do you have any verse novels, for children or otherwise, you'd recommend?
They're amazing!!!! Ok, here we go:
All of Me, and The Magical Imperfect, by Chris Baron
Me, Moth, Amber McBride (this one's definitely YA)
No Matter the Distance, Cindy Baldwin
Emmy in the Key of Code, Aimee Lucido
Other Words for Home, Jasmine Warga
The Canyons Edge, Dusti Bowling
Starfish, Lisa Fipps
Alone, Megan Freeman
Full Cicada Moon, Marilyn Hilton
Forget Me Not, Ellie Terry
The Simple Art of Flying, Cory Leonardo (*Partial verse, and one of my all-time favorite middle grade voices)
When You Know What I Know, Sonja Solter
Unsettled, Reem Faruqi
Inside Out and Back Again, Thanhha Lai
Crossover, Kwame Alexander (the king of boy verse novels)
And my own latest novel, Nightmare House, is in partial verse!
Okay okay I'll stop there. Middle grade verse is the absolute best, I can't help myself!
Omg, you're wonderful, this is fantastic -- thank you!
I LOVED No Matter the Distance (in fact, I think I reviewed it at some point? Late last year? I have no idea, but I knew the moment I finished it that I wanted to share it).
Meanwhile I'll just be over here, casually ordering all your books...
Hahaha YOU'RE wonderful!! And yes I think now I remember you reviewing No Matter the Distance before! Cindy is amazing, as are all her books.
Eeeeeee oh man I hope you like them!!
Oh, thank you for sharing this list! I love novels in verse too, and you have some of my very favorites here, Other Words for Home and Inside Out and Back Again. Can’t wait to get some of these others from the library this week including your Nightmare House! A couple more I really enjoyed are Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca and Catching a Storyfish by Janice N Harrington.
Oh thank you so so much!! I hope you enjoy nightmare house 😀 and I love Raianis books!! I'll have to check out the other, I'm sure it's great!
Aah, Dogger. Also, adding Plague-Busters to my list immediately.
I can't vouch for it -- I've only paged through it -- but I really did go back to the store for it, it intrigues me so much.
Absolutely love Shirley Hughes. I also enjoy Sarah Garland's books for realistic depictions of family life (or at least the messy house version that is ours).
I look forward to reading Polly and the Wolf to my kids when they're the right age. I remember discovering them as an adult when I worked at the library.
I know of Sarah Garland but haven’t read any of her books — I always appreciate Hughes’ realism so I’ll have to check them out.
Sarah, welcome back! I have missed you and our library bookshelf is looking sad these days.
I read Something Like Home last month and just loved it. What a fantastic book.
Dogger is new to us and I'm requesting now.
“Dogger is new to us.” I cannot BELIEVE I’ve never told you about Dogger!
Any children book illustrations from the 70’s…. 🥲
Right?
We move Jingle Dancer!! And Dogger sounds so good mostly because I find it is annoyingly rare to read books that depict sibling love and kindness. There are plenty about not getting along, but fewer about the real love and bond and I need more of those in my life!! (Will it help my kids stop bickering? I’m not gonna hold my breath) 😂
Funny you should say that — I totally agree and I have a mini issue on siblings coming out in a few weeks.
Obviously I meant love, not move. **Edit** can’t wait!
You always have the best recommendations! Something Like Home looks wonderful: I just put it on hold at the library. Also I finally read Leave Me Alone! last night and it was every bit as wonderful and hilarious as you said: I have a couple friends I will for sure be passing that one along to. 😂
Thanks, Brittany!