Sir Gawain and the Green Knight a new verse translation by Simon Armitage*

 I loved reading this poem not only for the story but also for its poetic and stylistic devices. Each line contains a lot of alliteration-what word choice!! and after each stanza, is a "bob and wheel"-a very short line followed by a quatrain.

The Green Knight barges into King Arthur's castle during Christmas and asks for a man to behead him, with the promise to find him at the Green Chapel a year later to be beheaded also. Gawain volunteers. He beheads the Green Knight. The Green Knight still lives, holds his head in his hand, and the head reminds Gawain that he must keep his promise. A year later Sir Gawain rides off, knowing he will die. After riding for days, he discovers a castle where the host is merry and welcoming. The host allows him to lounge inside while he hunts all day with his men. A deal is struck. Sir Gawain must resist incredible temptation and yet remain courtesy. Then the New Year's Day approaches . . .Sir Gawain knows he must keep his vow to the Green Knight.

*Highly recommend for high school & older. See warning.

Warning: The host's wife tries to seduce Sir Gawain throughout the story. He allows her to kiss him. She dresses scantily one time, but he resists. Descriptions of the butchering of deer and boar are quite graphic. Other descriptions of violent fighting-the beheading

-Borrowed from the library. I loved this translation. My son read a different translation that was a lot more difficult!

Ringside, 1925 Views from the Scopes Trial by Jen Bryant

 A novel in verse

Through nine different fictional characters points of view, readers witness the Scope trial unfold. The small TN town, Dayton, hosts two of the nation's best speakers, Clarence Darrow and  W.J. Bryan, to debate about teaching evolution in schools. Although the jury decides that J.T. Scope is guilty of breaking the TN law, the author's fictional characters gravitate towards the theory of evolution and individuals who purport it . 

Christian characters who hold fast to a seven day creation without evolution are portrayed as idiots and ignorant.

The novel was very engaging and interesting. I was frustrated how it depicted Christians who believe in the Bible's seven day creation account and that the Bible is not a substandard to science. Reading this novel with teens would provide plenty of topics for discussion!

-Borrowed via ILL.

Beowulf a new verse translation by Seamus Heaney*

 Mr. Heaney has translated this old tale into one modern readers can read, understand, and enjoy. 

I loved the kennings, word choice, and the characters'  honorable traits.

*Highly recommend.

Consideration: graphic violence a few times

-We own this book.

To Stay Alive by Skila Brown

 A novel in verse about Mary Ann Graves who traveled west to CA with the infamous Donner Party. Readers are transported into the group's struggles with Mary Ann's narration. And yes, the poems relate how they ate members from their party to survive! This book will provoke a lot of discussion! 

A fascinating account!

I recommend it for high school and older.

-Borrowed via ILL.

Caminar by Skila Brown

 Carlos lives in Guatemala during the 1980s where the government army is attacking villages to prevent them from joining the rebels/guerillas. As the army creeps closer to his village, he believes he is old enough to defend his mother and village. His mother, however, tells him to hide in the jungle. He is obedient. He climbs a tree and clings there all night. The next morning he hears the rebels traversing the jungle. When he approaches them, he discovers that his village has been wiped out by the army. Guilt weighs his soul. Then a chance to redeem himself arises.

A novel in verse

I read this book in one sitting. I did not learn much about the actual civil war in Guatemala but more about how the country people must felt enduring this turmoil. I loved the variety of poems Ms. Brown incorporated.

-Borrowed via ILL

Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell

 Elaine of Ascolat, known as The Lady of Shallot, has grown up with Arthur and his fighting men. She sews their clothes and mends their wounds. The only other woman in the camp is Morgan, who teaches her how to gather plants, flowers, herbs to create healing salves. Two events disturb Elaine's normal rhythms-Arthur becomes lead warrior and decides to attack the Saxons (they have only defended their home, were not ever on the offense) and another woman, Gwynivere, joins the group. Will her father and brothers die in this attack? Although Gwynivere is pledged to marry Arthur, she and Lancelot seem to be pursuing each other. Elaine is heart-broken---she loves Lancelot.

Labeled as "YA"

A novel in verse, which I read in one afternoon   

An exciting tale & perspective during the time of Arthur and his loyal men   I love Elaine's tom-boy nature & her relationship with her father & brothers.

Considerations: girl-power perspective (but the author does NOT degrade men or minimize their gifts), men check out Elaine's figure (not graphic-she can tell they are looking at her developing/changing figure), she & another young man become a romantic couple at the end-very sweet-they share a kiss-they had been friends for years (I like the author's emphasis on the importance of developing a friendship first before romance.), violence -Saxons kidnap the girls & are cruel/violent 

-Borrowed from the library

The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner

 Finn kicked over a gravestone. He is failing seventh grade. Instead of having to pay for the headstone, the daughter of the deceased, requires Finn to hike the 46 Adirondack peaks with the deceased's dog. To pass seventh grade, he must compose poems about a hero.

As he hikes and writes poems to describe the hikes and his dad, a local hero who died, Finn discovers more about himself and his father.

A family member recently made it his goal to hike the 46 peaks in the Adirondacks. As a result, I was especially curious to read about the different peaks. Ms. Messner is a 46er, so she writes with authority about the hikes.

Discuss- alcoholism, death, lying, vandalism, 9/11, covid

-Borrowed from the library.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

 Award-winner-Newbery Honor, Michael L. Printz Honor, Coretta Scott King Award

Will's brother Shawn is dead. Shot. Will knows who the shooter is. He is following the three rules: 1. Don't cry. 2. No Snitching. 3. Get Revenge. 

Entering the elevator, Will has a loaded gun tucked in his waistband. Revenge. Over sixty seconds dead friends and family, who have been shot, enter the elevator and talk to him about the choice looming before him. Is revenge really worth it?

Told in free verse   I read this in one sitting and recommend this method. It is fast-pace. If you stop in the middle, it is almost like you lose momentum. 

*Highly recommend for its literary & artistic value but see warnings. This book will lead to great discussions about revenge, misconceptions, and breaking cycles.

-Warnings: swearing (including f-word), gun violence, graphic description of Shawn's death & how he looked right after the shooting, smoking, gangs, selling drugs, stealing

-Borrowed from the library.

Ski Soldier by Louise Borden*

 A World War II Biography

History contains many fascinating facets. I had not known about combat ski soldiers!

Ms. Borden focuses on Peter Seibert, a young man from Massachusetts, who loves to ski. His skiing ability allows him to serve with the 10th Mountain soldiers during WW II in the Apennine Mountains of Italy. He is badly injured. His injury does not prevent him from continuing to ski and from pursuing his dream of starting and running a ski resort, Vail!

Ms. Borden shares Peter's story via verse. The information is presented in an engaging matter. Actual photographs and maps are included. Poetic yet informative!

Perfect for reluctant older readers.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Enemies in the Orchard by Dana Vanderlugt*

 I loved this novel in verse! Ms. Vanderlugt flawlessly integrates history -both world and familial- with a compelling story. The plot and the characters were well-developed, the history was intriguing, and the writing was beautiful.

Thirteen-year-old Claire resents that she must stay home from school to help her parents in the family's apple orchard. Her brother Danny is overseas fighting the Nazis. Because of the worker shortage, the US requires German POW (and some Italian) to work in the states. As Claire interacts with one of the German POW on her farm, Karl, her opinion about the Germans shifts a bit. 

Told from alternating perspectives-Claire and Karl   When Karl shares, his poem title is in German, a creative and fun touch. I really cared about and liked both Claire and Karl.

A sad ending but hope shimmers through the devastating events.

*Highly recommend for 5th grade and older because of the heavier topic.

To discuss: The publisher is ZonderKidz, which is a Christian publisher. God is not mentioned as a source of help, hope, or salvation. God is included when the characters attend a funeral or are angry at God about the traumatic situation. He is not the One any of the characters turn to for hope or for rescue.     A German POW hits Claire in the face. 

-Borrowed from the library.

When Winter Robeson Came by Brenda Woods*

 A novel in free verse

Eden is thrilled that her cousin Winter Robeson from Mississippi is staying with her and her parents in LA for two weeks. Her mother has created an itinerary for the cousins; however, Winter has another agenda, to find his father who has been missing from his life for ten years. As the cousins investigate, they encounter interesting inviduals who quickly become their friends. Then for six days the Watts Riots occur, shutting down certain sections of LA. Despite the danger, the cousins rescue an elderly lady from the fray. A wonderful ending! I love the incoroporation of figurative language that utilizes musical terms.

Based on the author's memories of the Watts Riots in 1965.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowd from the library.

Alias Anna by Susan Hood with Greg Dawson interior and map art by Balbusso Twins*

 A True Story of Outwitting the Nazis

After Mr. Dawson's daughter Aimee wrote her grandmother a letter requesting her to tell her about life when she was thirteen for a school project, for the first time Mr. Dawson learned about his Jewish mother's extraordinary escape from the Nazi rule in Ukraine. Musically brillant, Zhanna and her sister Frina, assume alias names and play out the war years as pianist entertainers for Nazi miliary leaders and soldiers. The girls' grit is astounding. God is not mentioned (in the afterword it is mentioned the family was secular) but their miraculous survival only points to Him. While I read this novel, I listened to Chopin's Fantaisie-Impromptu, sheet music Zhanna kept with her during the years of "hiding" in plain sight.

 Told in verse interspersed with direct quotes from Zhanna. A lot of background information is available in the back, including lists of pieces the girls played, identification of poetry utilized, and field trip ideas.

*Highly recommend for junior high and older.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Canyon's Edge by Dusti Bowling

 Nora and her father plan to spend her birthday exploring the base of a canyon.  Both are grieving the loss of her mom, who died on her birthday a year ago when a gunman came into the restaurant where they were celebrating.  Her mother and another mother with young boys both died saving her life and others in restaurant.  Her father has developed a mistrust of people and as a result, begins to isolate them from society.  In the bottom of the canyon he feels safe.  A flashfood arrives unexpectantly.  The two are separated and left in the cruel desert to survive.  Will Nora lose another parent on her birthday?  As she fights off the natural elements, she also battles her demons from that fateful day.  

The beginning and the end are related in prose while the meat of the story is free verse.   The poems are cleverly constructed and offer a variety of forms.  

A lot of intense emotions being processed and described.    I could have read this book in one sitting because of the perpetual action.  

Labeled as "teen fiction" because of the topic.

Points to discuss/warnings: one swear word, PTS, death of parent by a gunman, shootings, grief processing, solution to grief/pain is to believe in yourself vs. depending on God-  Nora does pray, wonder if there is a god and if there is a reason for all of the pain and evil that has been in her life.  These questions are not  answered by the end of the book.  Instead, the reader has the impression that she is stronger and more resilient because she survived impossible odds.  The last chapter shows her making mends with her friend, which offers the reader hope. 

-Borrowed from the library.

On the Horizon by Lois Lowry illustrated by Kenard Pak*

 After watching her father's old home movies from her childhood, Ms. Lowry realized that as she played on the beach in Hawaii,  the ship sailing on the horizon was the Arizona, which was bombed during Pearl Harbor.  This realization prompted her to write this book.

Through verse form, she shares the tragic events of Pearl Harbor and of Hiroshima and then pieces of her life when she lived in Tokyo.  

Simple but powerful.  

Strategies: inferences, asking questions

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson*

 Zachariah Junior has always been his dad's "little man".  His pro-football father is his hero.  Then his dad begins to have untreatable headaches, begins to forget, begins to have bursts of anger, begins to have moods.  Doctors do not have answers.  Will his dad ever remember again and create songs with him?

Ms. Woodson reveals the agony families endure when a loved one suffers from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).  Her character development is superb.  I love and admire Zachariah and his mother.  His friends exemplify how friends should be during a traumatic time.  

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood *

 Based on a True Story

Novel in verse

Ken Sparks is escaping the Nazi bombings in London, England by taking the ship City of Benares to Canada.  Eighty-nine other children are fleeing to safety too.   The ship is luxurious.  After having rations for years, the children devour the rich food.  Sadly, a German torpedo hits their ship. Going back for his winter coat, Ken misses his assigned lifeboat. He is placed on Lifeboat 12.  Most of the book focuses on the thirteen days Ken, other children, and adults wait to be rescued on this lifeboat. 

Lots of figurative language.  In the back the author shares facts and photographs from the actual events.  I liked paging back to look at the photographs of the people who are part of the story.  

Amazing story!

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

It Rained Warm Bread by Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet and Hope Anita Smith illustrated by Lea Lyon

In this novel in verse, Ms. Smith relates Jewish Moishe Moskowitz's story of enduring persecution from the Polish and the Nazis over a nine year period.  Readers experience a look into a young boy's mind and the turmoil he confronted as he and his family were stripped of their dignity. 
Focusing on specks of hope kept him persevering.
I like how the Ms. Moskowitz-Sweet shares about her father's  life after he emigrated to America in the back.
Figurative language abounds in this book!!
Strategy: figurative language 
-Borrowed from the library.

A Slip of a Girl by Patricia Reilly Giff*

A novel in verse
The English lord is threatening to evict Anna and her family from their family home if they do not pay the rent.  Anna and her father are arrested for fighting back.  Anna manages to "slip" out of jail, pick up her mentally handicapped sister and travel to a grumpy aunt's house. 
Readers will be in awe of Anna's determination and courage as she fights for her home and family.
Based on the Drumlish Land Wars in 1881.
Irish words and places are defined/explained in the back.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Voices by David Elliott

The Final Hours of Joan of Arc
This novel in verse includes Joan of Arc's point of view as she is about to be burned to death.  She revisits her life before she heard the voices telling her to fight for France, and then she reveals her progression from farm girl to soldier.  Others offer their viewpoints.  Even inanimate objects have the opportunity to voice their opinion about the girl (the fire that is lapping at her feet, the crossbow that shot her, the road to Vaucouleurs etc).
Interspersed are actual quotations from her Trial of Condemnation and Trial of Nullification.
Mr. Elliott did a superb job of researching and then taking that information and presenting in poetry.  He even utilized poetry forms from that time period.
Amazing writing and admirable how Mr. Elliott was willing to tackle a challenging and creative project like this!
He also wrote Bull about Theseus and the Minotaur in this format.
Recommend for high school readers--warning-poems about:  virginity, lust  Also words like slut and being a woman of ill repute are used. 
-Borrowed from the library.

The Dancing Pancake by Eileen Spinelli illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff*

A novel in verse
Bindi is mad at her father for leaving them.  As she and her mom try to survive under these new circumstances, Bindi learns life lessons about kindness, forgiveness and unselfishness.
*Highly recommend.
Points to discuss: martial problems/separation; homelessness; crushes (Bindi has a crush on a boy for a short time)
-Borrowed from the library.