I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately for several committees including NYPL’s Best Books For Teens 2014 (coming later this month—stay tuned!) When I looked back over all the young adult books I read this year, I definitely noticed a recurring theme of poetry.

Some of these books are poem-format novels, in which the entire story is told as a series of poems. And some are novels that start off as regular prose, but then as the characters start reading and writing poetry, their poems are incorporated into the story. If you enjoy rhymes, free verse, or anything in between, here are some great new books that you can find on our YA fiction shelves!

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Twin brothers Josh and Jordan face tough challenges, both on the basketball court and at home.

Death Coming Up the Hill by Chris Crowe
Ashe doesn’t know which is worse—the possibility of being drafted to fight in Vietnam or the way his family is falling apart.

Silver People by Margarita Engle
The creation of the Panama Canal is explored through the voices of those whose lives were forever changed by it.

Two Girls Staring at the Ceiling by Lucy Frank
Francesca just got sick recently, but Shannon has been sick for years. Now they’re lying next to each other in the same hospital room.

Rumble by Ellen Hopkins
Matthew doesn’t have faith in people or God or anything else, especially not since his brother killed himself.

And we Stay by Jenny Hubbard
Writing poetry helps Emily deal with her emotions as she copes with her ex-boyfriend's suicide.

Crazy by Linda Vigen Phillips
Laura is an artist like her mother, but when she sees her mother’s mental illness she worries that she inherited more than just her talent.

Gabi: A Girl in Pieces by Isabel tero
Gabi writes in her diary about her friendships, her family, and being strong enough to find her own voice.

A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman
Veda is a dancer who loses part of her leg in a car accident. Will she ever be able to walk or dance again?