Verse Novel Challenge

Soooo....I may have mentioned a few times about my new love affair with verse novels.  OK...I admit my friends and family are sick to death of hearing me gush about them.

Well, now I'll tell you who you can blame.  : ) 

You can blame Amy, at The Green Bathtub.  Amy is a writer and loves good books AND she now lives in the town I grew up in.  Finding her online was a cyber match made in heaven that I'll have to blog about another time.  I love her blog, and when she mentioned she was a part of a challenge to read five verse novels this year, I thought, "What's a verse novel?"  I was mildly interested, but wondered if I would actually like reading a whole novel written in poetry.

Uh...I liked it a lot.  Just ask my sink full of dirty dishes. 

I know many of you are thinking, "Yuck!"  Trust me, it isn't like reading Shakespeare or a whole book of poetry that you have to interpret in order to understand.  I read Heartbeat by Sharon Creech outloud to my daughters, and they were begging me for a sequel.  If second and third grade girls can "get" it, so can you.  : ) 

I've loved many of the ones I've read, liked most of them, and disliked only two, but even the ones I disliked, I had to respect for the writing and creativity. 

I found out recently that it isn't too late to join the Verse Novel Challenge hosted by Caroline Starr Rose for a chance to win an advanced copy of her new book, May B. 

Here's a list of the verse novels I've read so far in the order I read them.  I put an asterisk by my absolute favorites and a little note or disclaimer by the ones that need it.  I hope you'll add a verse novel to your reading list and let me know what you think: 

1.  Far From You by Lisa Schroeder

2.  Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse  *

3.  Heartbeat by Sharon Creech *

4.  Pieces of Georgia by Jen Bryant

5.  Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell

These next two were the ones I didn't like.  The first one was funny, but I didn't relate to the main character very much and it has a different world view than me.  The second one was creative and I respected the concept, but it was not an easy or entertaining read.  It was more like a collection of poems and was VERY depressing.

6.  One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies by Sonya Sones

7.  Split Image by Mel Glenn

These next two are HILARIOUS and fun to read, but definitely not G-rated.  They aren't R-rated either.  I guess I'd say PG-13.  They are meant for teens, are pretty steamy, and remind me of watching Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles back in my day- 

8.  What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones
9.  What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

One of the appealing things about verse novels are how quickly you can read one.  If you end up getting addicted and read five before the end of the year, you should enter Caroline's  challenge on her blog, Caroline By Line.

Have fun reading! 

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