Our favourite verse novels for children and young teens
by Sophie Green
Looking for some new books for your kids to enjoy? Take a look at our top picks for verse novels, perfect for primary school children! All of these impactful novels are available to borrow for free with your library card.
For younger readers
The Final Year, by Matt Goodfellow and Joe Todd-Stanton
Life can be tough in your last year of primary school. Tests to take, preparing for the change to high school. Nate is ready for it all, knowing his best friend PS is at his side - they've been inseparable since Nursery. But when they are put in two different classes and PS finds a new friend in Turner, the school bully, Nate's world turns upside-down. As he struggles to make sense of this and forge new friendships, he's dealt another blow when his youngest brother, Dylan is rushed into hospital. His new teacher, Mr Joshua, sees a spark inside of Nate that's lit by his love of reading and writing and shows him how to use this to process what's going on. But with so much working against him, and anger rising inside him, will this be enough?
The Way of Dog, by Zana Faillon Sean Buckingham
Scruffity is born into the harsh, grey world of a puppy farm, taken from his Mama. What he yearns for most is Family. Just as his chances of adoption grow dangerously thin, Scruffity is set free by a boy as unwanted and lonely as he is. Outside, Scruffity learns all about The Way of Dog - to dig, howl and, most of all, to love. But when tragedy strikes, Scruffity is suddenly all alone again. How does a dog find his way home when he never had one to begin with?
Zombirella, by Joseph Coelho and Freya Hartas
A yellow moon hangs in a satin sky the night Cinderella, barefoot and in hand-me-downs, slips at the top of the stairs and dies. But not for long. The Shadow of Death arrives to breathe life back into her bones and, for three nights only, Cinderella goes forth as Zombierella. With her skin as cold as ice and her faithful horse Lumpkin back by her side, can she seek revenge on her three cruel, fake sisters, once and for all? Crawl out of the grave and step into your mushroom carriage for this haunting and humourous adventure of the undead girl searching for her happily ever after.
Also check out Creeping Beauty and Frankenstiltskin in the same series.
The Lonely Book, by Meg Grehan
Annie loves helping out in her moms' bookshop. But she knows something is troubling her older sibling, and her moms seem worried too. Even the bookshop is upset. This is a loving story about gender identity, family, and the magic of books.
Love That Dog, by Sharon Creech
From the Smarties Prize-winning author of Walk Two Moons, this is a story about a little boy who has to write a poem, and then another, and then even more.
Other Words for Home, by Jasmine Warga
Jude never thought she’d be leaving her beloved older brother and father behind, all the way across the ocean in Syria. But when things in her hometown start becoming volatile, Jude and her mother are sent to live in Cincinnati with relatives. At first, everything in America seems too fast and too loud. The American movies that Jude has always loved haven’t quite prepared her for starting school in the US—and her new label of “Middle Eastern,” an identity she’s never known before.
But this life also brings unexpected surprises—there are new friends, a whole new family, and a school musical that Jude might just try out for. Maybe America, too, is a place where Jude can be seen as she really is.
For older readers
One, by Sarah Crossan
Grace and Tippi are twins - conjoined twins. And their lives are about to change. No longer able to afford homeschooling, they must venture into the world - a world of stares, sneers and cruelty. But can they find more than that at school? Can they find real friends? And what about love? Just as Tippi and Grace have begun to live like normal teenagers, Grace gets sick, so sick separation might be the only option left open to them. But separation could mean spending the rest of their lives in wheelchairs. Separation could mean death. And whatever happens, it means being torn apart.
Long Way Down, by Jason Reynolds and Chris Priestly
After Will's brother is shot in a gang crime, he knows the next steps. Don't cry. Don't snitch. Get revenge. So he gets in the lift with Shawn's gun, determined to follow The Rules. Only when the lift door opens, Buck walks in, Will's friend who died years ago. And Dani, who was shot years before that. As more people from his past arrive, Will has to ask himself if he really knows what he's doing. This haunting, lyrical, powerful verse novel will blow you away.
The Silver Chain, by Jion Sheibani
Azadeh is a budding violinist on a music scholarship at an expensive private school, dealing with all the usual trials of being sixteen: trying her best to fit in, keep up and have fun. Then as her mum's mental health spirals out of control, Azadeh's world starts to unravel. Her friendships fall away, and as much as she and her dad try to keep a lid on everything, their problems insist on taking over. Feeling alone, it's her violin that finally helps Azadeh to find her way back to her friends, herself and even her mum.
The Crossover, by Kwame Alexander
Twelve-year-old Josh and his twin Jordan have basketball in their blood. They're kings of the court, star players for their school team. Their father used to be a champion player and they each want nothing more than to follow in his footsteps. Both on and off the court, there is conflict and hardship which will test Josh's bond with his brother.
The Poet X, by Elizabeth Acevedo
Xiomara has always kept her words to herself. When it comes to standing her ground in her Harlem neighbourhood, she lets her fists and her fierceness do the talking. But X has secrets - her feelings for a boy in her bio class, and the notebook full of poems that she keeps under her bed. And a slam poetry club that will pull those secrets into the spotlight. Because in spite of a world that might not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to stay silent.
The Bones of Me, by Kel Duckhouse
Living on an East London council estate has its worries - and life for teenager Molly hasn't always been easy. But she has a dream, a dream to be a boxer just like her older brother Denny. When he agrees he'll help her train she couldn't be more excited. But then everything changes. Denny goes missing and the police are after him. Her mom and dad are working all hours to keep the bailiffs from their door and don't have time to worry about Denny. So as Molly secretly continues her training with her friend Kwaku, they decide to search for Denny and find out the truth about his disappearance.
Run, Rebel, by Manjeet Mann
When Amber runs, it's the only time she feels completely free - far away from her claustrophobic home life. Her father wants her to be a dutiful daughter, waiting for an arranged marriage like her sister Ruby. Running is a quiet rebellion. But Amber wants so much more - and she's ready to fight for it. It's time for a revolution.
Punching the Air, by Ibi Aanu Zoboi and Yusef Salaam
From award-winning, bestselling author Ibi Zoboi and prison reform activist Yusef Salaam comes a powerful YA novel in verse about a boy who is wrongfully incarcerated. Suddenly, at just 16 years old, Amal Shahid's bright future is upended: he is convicted of a crime he didn't commit and sent to prison. Despair and rage almost sink him until he turns to the refuge of his words, his art. This never should have been his story. But can he change it?
The Black Flamingo, by Dean Atta and Anshika Khullar
A boy comes to terms with his identity as a mixed-race gay teen - then at university he finds his wings as a drag artist, The Black Flamingo. A bold story about the power of embracing your uniqueness. Sometimes, we need to take charge, to stand up wearing pink feathers - to show ourselves to the world in bold colour. 'I masquerade in makeup and feathers and I am applauded'.
Take a look at our recommendation for children.