Fierce Words poetry list - Chicago Public Library

For Teens

Fierce Words - Poetry

If you’re looking from some great teen poetry anthologies or novels in verse, let teens from Chicago Public Library’s Teen Advisory Council and staff from Chicago Public Library’s Teen Literacy Committee give you some suggestions!

Quicklinks: Recommended Books | Poetry Anthologies | Novels in Verse

Recommended Books

Because I Am Furniture
By Thalia Chaltas
Recommended by Araceli, age 16
Transfixed into a world of violence and beatings, Anke stands like furniture, watching as her family repeatedly gets hurt by their drunken father. Yet Anke's father never lays a finger on her, and Anke can't help but feel that this is a lack of love and affection, rather than a blessing. But could it be that Anke is so detached from the damage that she can put a stop to the violence once and for all?

Glimpse
By Carol Lynch Williams
Recommended by Robin, Young Adult Specialist
Momma told the Chapman sisters, Hope and Lizzie, to always look out for each other, but something is terribly wrong with Lizzie, and Hope is unsure how to help. Lizzie is different, distant and, after trying to kill herself twice, gets institutionalized. Why won’t she speak in front of Momma when they visit? … This exquisite prose novel gives readers a dark, yet beautiful glimpse at the life of a girl whose family is made up of two very unique characters - a suicidal, institutionalized sister and a prostitute mother.

Impulse
By Ellen Hopkins
Recommended by Jessenia, age 18
Ellen Hopkins tells amazing stories that are a bit touchy with teens, but they can happen and Impulse is no exception. Vanessa likes to cut herself, Tony likes to overdose on pills, and Conner tried to shoot himself with a gun. All three have their own story to tell, but they all end up together at Aspen Springs Psychiatric Hospital. Will they stick together to get through their problems, or will they end it all? Read Impulse to find out!
Audiobook

One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies
By Sonya Sones
Recommended by Robin, Young Adult Specialist
What do you say to a father who hasn’t been a part of your life for over 15 years? Ruby moves from Boston to Hollywood after her mother dies, to begin a new life living with her long-absent father, Whip. Whip isn’t any ordinary dad, though; he’s a celebrity movie star with a house that feels more like a museum! Back in Boston, Lizzie, Ruby’s best friend, is charged with keeping the school slut away from Ruby’s boyfriend, Ray. Will she be successful and will Ray make it to LA for Thanksgiving? After losing people she loves, Ruby’s about to find love in new and unexpected places.

The Realm of Possibility
By David Levithan
Recommended by Katie, Teen Volume Project Assistant
In twenty stories, students from the same school discuss the realm of possibility—from body image to the pain of a breakup, The Realm of Possibility explores the serious, and sometimes not-so-serious, daily lives a teens. You’ll meet a boy whose girlfriend is in love with Holden Caulfield, discover what the goth kid in the back of the classroom thinks during class, the anniversary of two boys’ relationship, and more.

Red Hot Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Being Young and Latino in the United States
Edited By Lori Carlson
Recommended by Robin, Young Adult Specialist
This noteworthy collection of mostly bilingual poems celebrates the ethnicity, language and feelings of Latin Americans into themes of “Language, Identity;” “Neighborhoods;” “Amor;” “Family Moments, Memories” and “Victory.” Famous contributors include such names as Luis Rodriguez and Sandra Castillo, but more obscure, lesser known poets are also included.

Sold
By Patricia McCormick
Recommended by Tina, Librarian at Blackstone Branch
Lakshmi, a thirteen year old Nepalese girl, is betrayed by her stepfather and sold into prostitution. Join her on her agonizing journey of pain, betrayal, and eventual redemption.

Street Love
By Walter Dean Myers
Recommended by Katie, Teen Volume Project Assistant
Damien is a “good kid” growing up in Harlem. He’s from a two-parent household; he is attending Brown University next year; he has a loyal best friend and a great girlfriend. Junice comes from a very different life. She lives with her mentally unstable grandmother and her mother is in jail for drug trafficking. After a chance meeting Damien falls for Junice and things get complicated in this verse novel from the prolific Walter Dean Myers.

This Full House
By Virginia Euwen Wolff
Recommended by Robin, Young Adult Specialist
The final book of the Make Lemonade trilogy continues the message that we need to make the best of the one life we have to live, or, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade. When LaVaughn is accepted as one of forty five young women into the “Women in Medical Science” after-school program, she learns surprising things about her longtime friend, Jolly, and what it means to have character or like Dr. Moore. While LaVaughn still pines after Jody - her caring, artistic and gay friend - she’s beginning to think differently about a close friend with similar scientific interests.
Audiobook | eAudio

Time You Let Me In: 25 Poets Under 25
By Naomi Shihab Nye
Recommended by Tina, Librarian at Blackstone Branch
In this collection, poets contribute 4 pieces that talks about family, friends, life, peace serenity, confusion, frustration and questions about one’s place in this world.
eBook

What Have You Lost?
Edited by Naomi Shihab Nye
Recommended by Feng Dan, age 17
Have you ever stopped in the middle of eating or showering and asked yourself, “Did I lose something important today?” We live in a society where we can always get what we want. We often take things for granted, but What Have You Lost? reminds us of the importance of taking the time to appreciate the things we have and reflect on the things we lost. Follow the different poets as they journey through their losses. You will be surprised with the kind of connections you find.

Wicked Girls
By Stephanie Hemphill
Recommended by Jia Jia, age 17
If you’re not into werewolves or vampires, try Wicked Girls by award winning author Stephanie Hemphill to discover another dimension of supernaturalism: witches! In this historical fiction story, follow Ann, the queen bee, Mary, the servant, and Margaret, the jealous and love struck teen, to see how a childish game turned into the Salem Witch Trials in 1692.