APRIL
National Poetry Month
Novels in Verse
House Arrest
FIC Hol 610L
Timothy is under house arrest for a whole year because he stole a wallet to pay for his infant brother's medication. He has to check in weekly with a probation officer and a therapist, keep a journal, and stay out of trouble. But since his father left, his mom has struggled to hold things together. Can Timothy stay out of trouble when the baby's life is in danger?
Starfish
FIC Phi HL630L
Ever since she wore a whale swimsuit and made a big splash at her fifth birthday party, Ellie's been bullied about her weight. To cope, she tries to live by her list of Fat Girl Rules, which are all about not standing out. Her safe place is her swimming pool where she feels weightless in a fat-obsessed world. As she starts middle school, can Ellie find a way to discard her rules and just be her fabulous self?
Booked
FIC Ale 660L
Nick Hall is an eighth-grader who loves soccer and absolutely hates books. Instead of paying attention in class, he daydreams about soccer, a girl he likes, and upcoming tournaments. He's also trying to figure out how to stand up to two bullying brothers and deal with his parents' unexpected separation. Then an injury and emergency surgery derail his soccer dreams. Can Nick find a new path?
Unsettled
FIC Far 610L
Thirteen-year-old Nurah had a happy life in Pakistan. She loved hanging out with her best friend, and her favorite activity was swimming. Everything changed when her father accepted a job in America and the family moved to Georgia. Learning to speak, dress, and act differently takes its toll on the family. Will Nurah decide to stand up and stand out as she is or try to fit in?
Shakespeare Bats Cleanup
FIC Coe NPL
Kevin Boland, last season’s MVP, contracts mono and has to miss the start of the season. His dad gives him a journal and Kevin finds himself scrawling a poem on one page. Soon, Kevin is writing about whether his baseball friends will give up on him and about his crush. When his health improves, he keeps writing, even about the recent death of his mother. Can he be both an athlete and a poet?
Planet Middle School
FIC Gri 680L
For twelve years, Joylin has been just fine. A game of basketball with the boys—especially her friend Jake—was all it took to put a smile on her face. Baggy jeans, T-shirt, and hair in a ponytail were easy choices. But now her best girl friend is flirting with her best guy friend. Jake is acting weird, and basketball isn't the same. Plus, there's this guy, Santiago. Is Joylin willing to change to attract his attention?