YA Verse Books I Want to Read!

Hello again! I am back again with part two of my little discussion posts about YA verse novels! My last post was about YA verse novels I have loved and this post is going to be all about YA verse books I want to read! You can find part one, on verse novels I have loved, here. Here is part two!Turtle Under Ice by Juleah del Rosario

“Rowena feels like her family is a frayed string of lights that someone needs to fix with electrical tape. After her mother died a few years ago, she and her sister, Ariana, drifted into their own corners of the world, each figuring out in their own separate ways how to exist in a world in which their mother is no longer alive.

But then Ariana disappears under the cover of night in the middle of a snowstorm, leaving no trace or tracks. When Row wakes up to a world of snow and her sister’s empty bedroom, she is left to piece together the mystery behind where Ariana went and why, realising along the way that she might be part of the reason Ariana is gone.”

I hadn’t heard of this until recently and suddenly I started seeing it everywhere. I have downloaded the audio book of this on my library app and I am hoping to get round to listening to it very soon. It is told in dual perspective and verse, two things I am absolutely loving at the minute, so I cannot wait to get reading this soon. I’ve seen that is it full of friendship and sisterly love which is perfect for me at the minute.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

“Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people…

In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal’s office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash.

Separated by distance—and Papi’s secrets—the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered.”

I am actually reading this book at the minute. I have been hearing amazing things about this verse novel recently and just Elizabeth Acevedo’s books in general. So, I cannot wait to read more of this and let you know what I think. I am really intrigued by the concept of this book so I’m excited to finish this soon.

Toffee by Sarah Crossan

“Allison has run away from home, and with nowhere to live, finds herself hiding out in the shed of what she thinks is an abandoned house. But the house isn’t empty. An elderly woman named Marla, with dementia, lives there – and she mistakes Allison for an old friend from her past called Toffee.

Allison is used to hiding who she really is, and trying to be what other people want her to be. And so, Toffee is who she becomes. After all, it means she has a place to stay. There are worse places she could be.

But as their bond grows, and Allison discovers how much Marla needs a real friend, she begins to ask herself – where is home? What is a family? And most importantly, who am I, really?”

This is a verse novel I’ve been meaning to read for such a long time now. Sarah Crossan is so well known for her verse novels and is the go-to author for people when I ask for verse novel recommendations. I am actually yet to read a solo Sarah Crossan novel, I’ve read books she has written with other authors though. Toffee is the one I want to start on because I’ve heard a lot of things about it and want to see what I think. This is another I’ve downloaded off my library app so, fingers crosses I read it soon!

People Kill People by Ellen Hopkins

“A gun is sold in the classifieds after killing a spouse, bought by a teenager for needed protection. But which was it? Each has the incentive to pick up a gun, to fire it. Was it Rand or Cami, married teenagers with a young son? Was it Silas or Ashlyn, members of a white supremacist youth organisation? Daniel, who fears retaliation because of his race, who possessively clings to Grace, the love of his life? Or Noelle, who lost everything after a devastating accident, and has sunk quietly into depression?

One tense week brings all six people into close contact in a town wrought with political and personal tensions. Someone will fire. And someone will die. But who?”

I love verse novels that tackle issues other books seem to hide away from. This verse novel does just does it seems. Discussing gun violence and white supremacy, this book doesn’t shy away from controversial topics. I feel like this is a verse novel I could fly through in a matter of hours and I want to do just that. I think this is going to be my next bookish present to myself and I can’t wait to see what I think!What are some verse books you want to read? Let me know in the comments below. Be sure to look check out part one of this series, YA verse books I love, here!