Families of all shapes and sizes—verse novels for young readers
by Ruth Ennis
Two years ago, I wrote my first article for Books Ireland Magazine in August 2022. In it I discussed what there is to love about verse novels, and reviewed twelve titles for ages 8 to 18. Anyone who knows me quickly learns that verse is my favourite form of storytelling. The real magic of this form is the care that goes into ensuring every single word selected in the story really counts; they are accessible books that strike readers at their very core. This month I’ve narrowed the field a small bit to introduce you to six verse novels for ages 9-12 years.
First on today’s list is The Stories Grandma Forgot (and How I Found Them) by Nadine Aisha Jassat and illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat (Orion).
Nyla is twelve years old and lives with her Mum and Grandma. Mum works long hours, so Nyla helps look after her Grandma who has dementia, or as Nyla describes it, goes “time travelling.” Nyla’s dad died eight years ago, but when Grandma insists that she saw him at the supermarket, combined with other mysterious elements surrounding his death, Nyla sets out to investigate her family’s secrets.
Exploring topics of mixed-race identity, complex family dynamics, grief and illness, this is a touching story that will stay with me for a long time
Exploring topics of mixed-race identity, complex family dynamics, grief and illness, this is a touching story that will stay with me for a long time. The cast of characters in this book are impressively well-rounded, you can’t help but be so fond of Nyla and her friends Ray and Jess, rooting for them all at every step.
It also reads as an ode to libraries, highlighting them as a crucial space of community and connection. There are some hugely emotional scenes throughout the book, filled with wonderfully lyrical writing that will stop you in your tracks. With many twists and turns in this story, I genuinely had no idea what would happen next, making for a wholeheartedly engaging read that was near impossible to put down.
The Tree That Sang to Me by Serena Molloy and illustrated by George Ermos (Hodder) is a dyslexia-friendly verse novel about Kai. Kai’s family has broken up since his older sister left home and communication between them and their Mam and Dad has broken down.
Kai feels a lot of guilt: he knows he should stand up for the kid in his class that gets bullied, and he believes the reason his sister left home is all his fault. He finds solace in a tree near his home, where he can climb up and away from his problems. It is here he meets a new friend who offers him guidance with his struggles.
The book focuses on family relationships, artfully navigating a close sibling bond and the hardships of it being compromised
Set in Dublin, this story introduces underrepresented circumstances for young people, primarily through the Solas Family Centre, a charity dedicated to providing equal opportunities to young people regardless of societal inequalities. The book focuses on family relationships, artfully navigating a close sibling bond and the hardships of it being compromised. Kai is a protagonist full of heart with big feelings that will resonate with young readers. The writing is clear and accessible, brightened with creative typography that brings the story to life.
Next is a book I’ve been eager to read for a long time and it did not disappoint. The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow and illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton (Otter-Barry) follows Nate in his final year of primary school. Nate’s home life is busy, he is usually looking after his two younger brothers while his mum is away in the evenings. Things go downhill when Nate gets put into a different classroom with his best friend, who starts to hang out with the local bully.
The Final Year is guaranteed to break your heart into a million pieces, but promises to put it back together with a hugely hopeful ending
The difficulties Nate faces come to a head when his youngest brother becomes life-threateningly ill. As the rage and despair (that Nate dubs “The Beast”) threatens to take over, he finds comfort in a new artist friend, and a teacher with a love of words.
This book has an incredibly striking voice: through it, we learn so much about Nate, it’s as if we’ve known him our whole lives. The connection he establishes with his teacher through books and writing is heartwarming. It’s a story brimming with empathy, not just for Nate, but his entire family. The Final Year is guaranteed to break your heart into a million pieces, but promises to put it back together with a hugely hopeful ending.
Something Like Home by Andrea Beatrix Arango (Welbeck Flame) follows Laura during a life-changing event. Laura is taken from her Mom and Dad and put into foster care with her aunt, and she believes it’s all her fault. She rejects everything about her new life and is convinced that everything here is temporary.
This truly feels like a timeless work that will stay in the minds of anyone who reads it
When she rescues a dying puppy, she makes it her mission to train him as a therapy dog so she can go visit her parents in rehab. Over time she meets a supportive book-loving teacher, a new friend, and her relationship with her aunt improves. Laura is presented with more and more reasons to feel secure, which feels like a betrayal to her parents.
I read this book in one day, it flowed so effortlessly I didn’t want to step away from it for a minute. Laura is a lovely, complicated character who is the definition of brave. Her perspective of the world is incredibly well established and challenged, it is a gift to watch her grow in the story. The verse is written beautifully; simple and elegant. It touches on some difficult subjects surrounding drug abuse and is best suited for slightly older readers. This truly feels like a timeless work that will stay in the minds of anyone who reads it.
Lastly is a debut verse novel, Fia and the Last Snow Deer by Eilish Fisher and illustrated by Dermot Flynn (Puffin). Set in prehistoric Ireland, Fia and her community are starving in a prolonged winter. She faces an ancient prophecy, to sacrifice her snow deer Solas to the mythical Deer Mother for the return of the sun. Desperate to save her deer from this fate, she embarks on a journey with her cousin Mish to convince the Deer Mother to protect them all.
The writing is sparse, evocative and at times very eery, with a conclusion that is undeniably moving
This is a stunningly produced book, with a clever design perfectly merging the writing and illustrations. Flynn’s artwork is lively and atmospheric, expertly managing a restrained colour palette. This story displays brilliantly immersive world building, young readers will feel themselves walking alongside Fia and Solas. The writing is sparse, evocative and at times very eery, with a conclusion that is undeniably moving. This book is a masterclass in verse novels and comes highly recommended.
Two common threads of these verse novels are the importance of family (in the various forms they appear and the strength of their bonds) and words (how finding the right ones and allowing space for them can make sense of the most complex of circumstances). I can think of no better form to tell these types of stories than in verse, and these books handle the form so well.
