Ruptured by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz

Ruptured by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Being an only child isn't always great; Claire loves to read books and this summer she wants to do a lot of that but when her parents (who do not talk much to each other anymore) want to go to a vacation, Claire is all in. At a mother-daughter lunch Claire is astonished at a secret her mom has, but even worse---at that lunch her mom passes out & is hospitalized for a brain aneurysm. Will Claire be able to keep the secret and what will her mom be like after this??? A must read middle grade novel in verse based in part on the author's 2 brain aneurysms! Gripping and authentic!

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Dear Mothman by Robin Gow

Dear Mothman by Robin Gow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A tough novel in verse about a 6th grade trans child Nora but his close family and friends call him Noah at this request. Noah was best friends with Lewis and they were both trans; after Lewis dies in a car accident, Noah tries to deal with his grief by writing in a journal and leaving it at a favorite tree for Mothman, a cryptid Lewis & Noah believe in. How will Noah survive without his best friend, this is a must read for everyone!

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Wave by Diana Farid

Wave by Diana Farid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such a great book, everyone must read- they will love Ava (Persian American) and Phoenix's voices as OCD, cancer, surfing, families are discussed. The words are beautiful and the beauty of surfing and friendship made this reader so happy to have found this book!!!

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Detour Ahead by Pamela Ehrenberg & Tracey Lopez

Detour Ahead by Pamela Ehrenberg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this story of the friendship between Jewish Gilah who is neurodiverse & Guillermo who has just moved to Washington, D.C. who becomes friends with Gilah as they navigate life, family & friendship in Washington, D.C. in this awesome middle grade novel in verse. A must read!

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Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango

Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this debut novel in verse which do well with middle school and YA with the issues (PTSD, death, grief, anger, mental illness) Iveliz presents. Iveliz has a journal which the reader knows is from her heart and since her father's death, which she blames herself for, she is suffering, feels she can't talk to anyone (especially Mami) and even though she looked forward to a newer better year in 7th grade, she has run ins with friends and family and school. I rooted for Iveliz to share her burdens with others like her psychologist, friend Amir and her grandmother. A must read!

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Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist

Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Two seventh graders get into a fight in the cafeteria; they are expelled and have 2 weeks to think about their actions...will they be able to look into themselves and see they are not so different? I loved this middle grade novel in verse about 2 black children getting to trouble and the resulting decisions they make through contemplation, discussions with family & friends & school teachers. A must read!

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Singing with Elephants by Margarita Engle

Singing with Elephants by Margarita Engle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this middle grade novel in verse, a young Cuban Oriol, loves to write and tend to the animals in her parents' clinic. When an older woman moves in, Oriol confides in her- her wants, her fears, her words that do not come to her mouth or pen and paper. When something happens to a baby elephant, Orion tries to find her voice, along with her friends and family, to save this elephant. A must read; the relationship between family and friends (animals and humans) and elephant communication is a happy moment many times over in this sweet, happy story. A must read!!!

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In the Beautiful Country by Jane Kuo

In the Beautiful Country by Jane Kuo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great debut novel! The author uses her experiences coming to America to craft a story about Anna and her parents as they leave Taiwan for California. Her father thought he had a partner in a Dino's store selling ribs and burgers but his "friend" ditched him. Anna struggles in school where she is bullied and made fun of - never telling her parents because they are dealing with bullies too in their store- breaking windows, messing up their tables, spilling ketchup & salt on the floor. Referring to America as the beautiful country, Anna and her parents find it anything but! Struggling this family decides to leave but that will prove difficult trying to sell a store that does not make a profit. This is a must read about the perseverance of an immigrant family who experiences racism often but through a few friends, church and the will to succeed slowly but surely they craft a life---will they stay or will they leave? You must dear this book to find out! Highly recommended!!! And there is a sequel, I will definitely be reading it too!!!

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Garvey in the Dark by Nikki Grimes

Garvey in the Dark by Nikki Grimes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this middle grade novel in verse from Garvey's viewpoint as COVID 19 hits California, the schools close down, his mom is a teacher (teaching from home) & his dad installs WIFI so he is an essential worker leaving their home each day. Garvey's voice, his friends and family are all so important to this timeline as the pandemic begins. The reader is once again gifted with Nikki Grimes beautiful novel in verse seeing the world gripped, viewing the events that happened (George Floyd & Breanna Taylor killings) while lockdown happens, school is online, quarantine for his father, & how it affects Garvey, his friends & his sister. A must read, highly recommended.

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No Matter the Distance by Cindy Baldwin

No Matter the Distance by Cindy Baldwin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this fiction novel in verse based on the author's cystic fibrosis and her life in middle school. Penny Rooney is a 6th grader with a supportive best friend and family. I learned so much about cystic fibrosis both from Penny's perspective, her parents, and also the dolphin who meanders into her creek. Immediately Penny can relate to this dolphin which she names Rose while her father contacts a friend who is a biologist and brings her team to the creek. As time passes, Penny and Rose forge a bond/friendship and as Rose battles a lung infection & Penny battles CF, it becomes critical to get meds into Rose & help her out to the ocean. I just loved so much about this book! Penny is so strong but the pain of CF is a daily, weekly, life long disability that she and her family deal with; the words Cindy Baldwin uses in this novel in verse sing to me, and the beauty in her words open a new world of Penny's life with this special dolphin in her life.

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The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin by Kip Rose

The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin by Kip Wilson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just as I loved Kip Wilson's first book, White Rose, so also did I enjoy Hilde's journey from orphan to friend with Rosa and the family at the queer club where they waitress and sing to earn money as the Hitler regime closes in. This novel in verse was gripping and thoroughly researched (see Notes at the end) with Hilde becoming more and more strengthened by her circumstances and friendships with those at the club. Loved the cover, too. Highly recommended!

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The In-Between: A Memoir in Verse by Katie Van Heidrich

The In-Between: A Memoir in Verse by Katie Van Heidrich
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Based on the author's life, this novel in verse details Katie and her siblings constant, surprise moves from place to place by her mother (who has some issues) and how it affects Katie at home, school, and with her visits to her Dad (now remarried to an Asian woman). I was so saddened by Katie's voice- her embarrassment, confusion, longing, and many unanswered questions. But this book also provides hope and determination by Katie and will resonate with middle grade & YA readers! Highly recommended!

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The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander

The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An amazing novel in verse about a young Asante boy in 1860 who does not understand the many things his parents and grandparents will not explain---you are too young to understand. How will Kofi get answers, deal with his evil cousin, goofy best friend and long for the girl, Ama? I was gutted as I read every page of this must read book---a journey about a boy, a village, history, and the truth.

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A Million Quiet Revolutions by Robin Gow

A Million Quiet Revolutions by Robin Gow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very enjoyable novel in verse about trans teens, their friendship, their love and their journeys (re-enactments & exploring history). I liked the 2 main characters but also their families as they individually try to handle their lives with each other and their families, they begin to carve out MORE when they go to a re-enactment of the American Revolution. Teens will really enjoy this book and the way the author presents the story, the characters and queerness through the ages. Highly recommended.

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Nothing Burns As Bright As You by Ashley Woodfolk

Nothing Burns as Bright as You by Ashley Woodfolk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this latest novel in verse from Ashley Woodfolk and the author speaks about what happened to her in her teen years and how it took many many years for her to face this friend/romance. It was alternately happy/uncomfortable/angry as these two friends become something more but many times they were not on the same plane all the time. The verse was heartfelt. A must read!

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Golden Girl by Reem Faruqi

Golden Girl by Reem Faruqi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Aafiyah is a 7th grade Pakistani American girl who plays tennis, has a best friend, and loves Weird But True Facts. She has a good life, friends and family, until she does not. Aafiyah's grandfather needs to come to America to have his cancer treated. At the airport her father's passport is taken, he cannot leave the country, he is accused of embezzlement. Worse is the fact that Aafiyah knows she has a problem; if she sees things she likes (some of her best friends things, her teacher things, books she likes- sometimes she returns them, sometimes she doesn't) she pushes them in her bag. As her father's case seems to stall, Aafiyah thinks she can "help" with the result that she loses her best friend, loses her mother's trust, is taken off the tennis team and gives up her phone. Readers will be enthralled with Aafiyah's world, the novel in verse is authentic, direct and so important to read. The growth of her family, and of Aafiyah during the tough times make this a must read; highly recommended!

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Ben Y and the Ghost in the Machine (The Kids Under the Stairs, #2) by K. A. Holt

Ben Y and the Ghost in the Machine by K.A. Holt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved the kids under the stairs and this 2nd in the series brings back Ben Y, Ben B, Jordan and Javier as the divergent learners and friends who is led by the greatest teacher in the world, Ms J and the new after school club, Newspaper Typing Room which accomplishes 2 things- playing in the Sandbox and now because of the heinous principal---they have to write newspaper articles. While all of this is going on, Ben Y (Benita) misses her dead brother, Benicio, desperately--they were very close and used Sandbox (Benicio's invention) to talk, fight, argue, and remember. The bullying still continues and there is a new weird kid, Ace that Ben Y has mixed feelings about. This book is as strong as the first, using text messages and emojis, and her awesome novel in verse! A must read!

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Chlorine Sky by Mahogany L. Browne

Chlorine Sky by Mahogany L. Browne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this because it was awarded The Nerdy Book Club Poetry & Novel In Verse and I loved it. This novel in verse was about Sky, an African American girl in high school, Sky, who struggles as her best friend drops her, lies about her, and how she makes her way through---by playing basketball, hearing rumors, traversing a new boyfriend and making a new friend. Teens will relate to Sky and grow with her as they read this book!

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rez dogs by Joseph Bruchac

Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This middle grade novel in verse about a young girl who visits her grandparents (on their reservation) and must stay because the COVID 19 pandemic breaks out was mesmerizing. I loved the beauty of Malian's life with her grandparents and a dog, Malsum, who becomes her protector (as well as her grandparents) but also the horror of what Malian's grandparents and parents endured simply because they were Native Americans. The stories her grandparents tell her change Malian and will change the reader too! Highly recommended, a must read!

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Me (Moth) by Amber McBride

Me by Amber McBride
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This YA debut by Amber McBride took me totally by surprise; Moth is so alone after losing her family in a car accident, living with an aunt and going to school feeling lonely and invisible until one day in school, she meets Sani. McBride's descriptions of Sani from Moth's POV were just so beautiful and gripping. How they find each other and becomes friends is a must read for all and oh that ending!

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