NovelInVerse

Top Heavy | Rhonda Dechambeau

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What an amazing novel in verse!

First off, I love novels in verse. I always find them to be so creative and moving and this book was no exception.

This is the debut book from the author and I was very impressed. The poems were all well crafted and really hit the mark, which is a tough thing to accomplish.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2025/06/21/review-top-heavy/

oddandbookish #book #booklover #bookstagram #bookworm #bibliophile #bookobsession #bookish #bookreviewer #booktok #library #junespecials #novelinverse #poetry #youngadult #ya #poems 1w

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thegirlwiththelibrarybag

The Ghosts of Rose Hill | R. M. Romero

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Glorious on audio.

Past meets present, tales of the old world meet the realities of the modern world - in this lush novel in verse that celebrates Latin America and the Jewish diasporas. 16 year old Ilana is banished to Prague for the summer by her parents, who hope that the time away will help her to focus on her studies and less on her music. ⬇️

thegirlwiththelibrarybag Initially unimpressed at having to stay with her Aunt and missing her friends and the summer she would have had - is soon transformed into something else entirely when she meets the ghost of boy with very blue eyes in a forgotten Jewish cemetery behind her Aunt's house and later when she meets a man with no shadow who plays the most beautiful violin music. Danger lurks, studies are neglected but oh! the personal growth! I really enjoyed this one. 1w

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tatumlanders

We Are All So Good at Smiling | Amber McBride

My favorite part of this book was the three perspectives on the death of Faerry and Whimsy‘s siblings. Not only was this a crucial turning point in the narrative, but an important statement in guilt, forgiveness, and atonement. I was left wondering if their parents felt the same guilt Faerry and Whimsy did, and if they were able to finally forgive themselves (or at least remember) when the younger children returned home.

tatumlanders

We Are All So Good at Smiling | Amber McBride

I was very impressed by the writing in this book, and the creativity the author brought to symbolizing the character‘s depression. However, I think it was a little too abstract for me to truly enjoy reading it. After finishing the book, I had to look up multiple summaries and analyses to make sense of it. I also just didn‘t connect with the characters at all, and I think I could have if there was more intentional character development.

Makyah I felt the same way honestly. I am glad I wasn‘t the only one thinking this. I loved the deeper meaning that that author was trying to convey but it was just done up in a way that was too indirect that I had a hard time connecting with the story and the characters. 1w

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tatumlanders

We Are All So Good at Smiling | Amber McBride

With recommending any book, it‘s important for us to know our students so that we suggest the right book for them. Personally, I don‘t think I would ever recommend this book to a student. This is not because it isn‘t a beautifully written book, but because it addresses topics that can be very triggering for students. For some students, this could be just the book they need to feel understood. For others, it could be just a little too real.

jessicaking Absolutely! So many emotions and struggles unfortunately rise during adolescence (we've all been there), and this book has the potential to cause harm for students that may not be in an appropriate mental state. However, on the other hand, this book could be exactly what a student needs, from the relatability of the characters to the content of the story itself. It's important to consider how a book can affect (or spark change in) its audience. 2d

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annagsears

We Are All So Good at Smiling | Amber McBride

This post contains spoilers

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This may be the literature nerd in me, but I was so excited to see Dante's “Inferno“ playing a prominent role throughout this piece. The narrative of the novel mirrors Dante's in several ways. For instance, they must traverse multiple environments where their wills are tested to escape “hell,“ which in Whimsy's case, is the forest. Furthermore, they have guides that assist them through this process, such as Beatrice for Dante, and Cole for Whimsy.

Makyah Wow I did not realize this story drew a lot of inspo from Dante‘s inferno. I think if I‘d read that book before this one I would‘ve understood and appreciated it more but I‘m glad you explained this connection in your post! 1w

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Paris_Reads

Fallout | Ellen Hopkins

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Paris_Reads

Fallout | Ellen Hopkins

4 likes

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