Contemporary poetry has a "serious" reputation; only by close and sustained analysis, it is said, can a reader discern a poem's true meaning. But how many of us can spare the requisite hours for such an activity (even if it is April, National Poetry Month)? Fortunately, limited time and energy may no longer be a problem if you've discovered one of the livelier genres of the form - the novel in verse.
Narrative poetry, particularly for young adults, is flourishing. This distinctive way of telling a story has been fairly described as "a quick read, with depth". Sounds promising to busy readers!
Click here for a select list of verse novels. One, Out of the Dust, won the 1998 Newbery Award for its poignant depiction of the Great Depression. A more recent title, The Watch that Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic, has been described as a "masterpiece". While not every book listed deserves such high praise, each will provide reading (or listening) pleasure.
Mary Hoskinson-Dean
