Top Ten Tuesday is an original blog meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and is currently being hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is “ Books I Would Hand to Someone Who Claims to Not Like Reading.” I found it difficult to come up with a list of books I’d recommend someone who didn’t like reading because every person is different and that list would look different for each person. Instead, I am sharing ten poetry books and novels in verse for those unsure if the medium is for them. I highly recommend listening to the audiobooks of these if available. Covers linked to Goodreads.
1. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
2. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
3. The Moon Within by Aida Salazar
4. Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar
5. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
6. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
7. Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam
8. peluda by Melissa Lozada-Oliva
9. Citizen Illegal José Olivarez
10. Corazón by Yesika Salgado
Are you a fan of novels in verse? What is your favorite book of poetry? Let me know in the comments and be sure to leave me a link to your own TTT post, so I can visit!
A Kernel of Nonsense 
I’ve read a handful of lovely poetry collections but I have yet to pick up an actual novel in verse. Can’t wait to try some of Elizabeth Acevedo’s work!
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You must try Elizabeth Acevedo, she’s amazing!
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I struggle with poetry in terms of picking out selections so this is a good list to have!
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These are all great places to start!
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I’m not much about poetry or verse but I really liked alcevedo’s books. I also want to try Brown Girl Dreaming some day.
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Acevedo has so many great novels!
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I haven’t read many books written in verse, but I can see how the audiobook could make the book that much better. Because sometimes, I struggle with the meter and pacing.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/bookish-gift-guide-big-spender-edition/
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Yes, there is a certain cadence that if you are not familiar with poetry, can be hard to pick up on if you’re not listening to the audio version.
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I really ought to read The Poet X one of these days.
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-would-hand-to-someone-who-claims-to-not-like-reading/
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It’s a MUST!
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What a cool spin on the topic!
My post—https://fiftytwo.blog/2021/11/02/ttt-books-to-recommend-to-non-readers/
Happy TTT!
Lori
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Thanks so much!
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Great topic! I struggled a bit with the official topic — because how can we recommend books without knowing what the person likes? I haven’t read many books in verse (of these, I’ve only read Long Way Down — it blew me away!), but I’ve heard of many of these and I’m curious to explore. I’ve been wanting to read Clap When You Land, and I didn’t realize that Brown Girl Dreaming was also written in verse. I’m going to have to save this list for reference!
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I agree, if I was making such a list, I would need to know what kinds of shows and movies they watch, what their interests are, etc. Clap When You Land is such a powerful read.
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Elizabeth Acevedo is always good!
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She’s absolutely amazing!
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I’m reading Clap When You Land this month! Here is my post-https://paigesofbook.blogspot.com/2021/11/top-ten-tuesday-books-series-i-would.html.
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It’s incredible, enjoy!
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I am not a poetry reader, so it’s nice to have an idea where to start.
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All of these are marvelous.
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I like reading novels in verse, but the poetry has to be good otherwise what is the point? I want to read Citizen Illegal now that I know it is written in verse. I created a similar list last spring and have some of the same novels that you included. Please check it out. My novels in verse list here
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Will have to check it out!
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I’ve read ‘Brown Girl Dreaming,’ ‘Long Way Down,’ ‘Clap When You Land,’ and ‘The Poet X.’ ‘The Poet X’ is definitely my favorite! 🙂
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It’s such an incredible read!
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Great list! I need to try more novels in verse, because I so often enjoy them when I read them. Joy McCullough’s Blood Water Paint is one of my all-time favourites.
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I will need to pick that one up!
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I love this list! I was definitely in this boat but I picked up The Poet X earlier this year and now I’ve read 3 novels in verse and loved them all!
My TTT is here: https://susanlynknits.com/2021/11/02/top-ten-tuesday-books-for-people-who-claim-not-to-like-reading/
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Thank you so much! Yes, The Poet X is definitely that good. It sparked a love for poetry in me as well.
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I don’t enjoy poetry, but I do like novels-in-verse. Is that weird? I love Woodson, so I especially enjoyed BROWN GIRL DREAMING. LAND OF THE CRANES is a good one, very vivid, but so sad.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
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I got started with novels in verse which led me to poetry books, so not too unusual.
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Clap When You Land was a very good audiobook.
Happy reading!
My TTT: https://readwithstefani.com/ten-old-favorite-books-i-want-to-reread-to-determine-if-theyre-all-time-favorites/
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Thanks so much!
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I’m not really a big poetry person, so maybe I should try some of these, and see if I can find something I like. I agree, I also found it difficult to do a non-specific list of things to give to people who don’t like reading, since ideally, I’d want an idea of the kinds of things they were interested in first before I recommended anything.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2021/11/02/top-ten-tuesday-340/
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I would probably recommend starting with Elizabeth Acevedo. She’s amazing.
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I’ll keep that in mind!
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