The Verse Novel in Young Adult Literature

(Hardback)

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Description

Throughout history, the verse novel has persisted as a modest but noteworthy literary subgenre, from classic works like Eugene Onegin to contemporary volumes by Vikram Seth, Dorothy Porter, and Derek Walcott. In particular, the verse novel has emerged as a popular form for young adult readers, such as the Newbery Medal winner Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. As this unique form continues to flourish, it merits closer examination. In The Verse Novel in Young Adult Literature, Brenna Friesner explores both the history and current use of the verse novel in teen fiction. Examining more than 220 titles written over the last few decades, Friesner discusses the verse novels evolution, analyzes key works, and considers how these novels can grapple with content that distinguishes them from traditional fiction. Though this study includes volumes written throughout history, its focus on contemporary novels further demonstrates the forms relevance for todays teens. By explaining its current popularity, this book acknowledges the verse novels potential to provide accessible, authentic stories for young adults to enjoy. The Verse Novel in Young Adult Literature will be of interest to librarians and teachers, as well as anyone wanting to learn more about this burgeoning aspect of young adult literature.

Reviews

A valuable tool for extending readers experiences, Friesners guide introduces a succinct, lyrical genre that employs the power of poetry. [T]he handbook encompasses an array of choices, settings, and characters. By citing appealing worksshe provides librarians and educators with titles to awaken readers to a fictional subgenre certain to intrigue the adventuresome. A chapter on poetry in the curriculum informs teachers, librarians, and homeschooling parents of booklists augmented beyond the standard canon.Meticulously outlined and indexed, this work belongs on the professional shelves of school and public libraries and in the curriculum advisories of education courses. * VOYA *
The Verse Novel in Young Adult Literature by Brenna Friesner is a unique professional resource that both teachers and librarians will find useful for readers advisory. . . .The resource includes interviews with a variety of authors regarding their experiences and insights into writing a verse novel. This is a great professional resource for both librarians and teachers alike. * American Reference Books Annual *
The book will best serve as a reader's advisory tool. It offers a look into this smaller sub-form of young adult literature and gives the reader a summary of suggested reading material by an author who is passionate about the genre. As a resource for learning about the background of the genre, it offers a succinct and all-encompassing view of the form and is very readable. It would serve relatively well as an addition to a public library's reference collection.... * s *

Author Bio

Brenna Friesner is childrens services librarian for the Cuyahoga County Public Library in Ohio.