42 Miles by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer

Jo Ellen lives 42 miles from her father's farm. She and her mother live in Cincinnati during the week. She lives with her father on the farm during the weekends. She has two very different lives, even two names, Joey on the farm and Ellen in the city. She feels like she has two personalities and doesn't know who she really is. She decides she is going to become her own person. She takes the best of both worlds and combines them to become JoEllen. This book is a novel in verse.

Who Killed Mr. Chippendale? a mystery in poems by Mel Glenn

This mystery novel in verse begins with Mr. Chippendale, an English teacher at Tower High School bumping into a student as he gets ready for his morning run. A few minutes later, Mr. Chippendale is shot as he runs around the track. The rest of the novel/poems are written by different students and teachers, explaining how they feel about Mr. Chippendale. Some students felt like he was a great teacher, some hated him. Angela Falcone, the guidance counselor, is a major character as she interacts with students, teachers, the police detective, and the principal. The book climaxes in a memorial service for Mr. Chippendale after which one of the students confesses to Ms. Falcone that he was the murderer. There is an epilogue poem at the end telling where the characters are 13 years later as a new English teacher enters the building.

Partly cloudy: Poems of Love and Longing by Gary Soto

"It's February, and love is in the air. Gary Soto has written a new book called Partly Cloudy: Poems of Love and Longing. The first half is titled Girls' Tears, Her Songs and the 2nd half is A Boy's Body, His Words. Let's hear one from the the girls'.

ROUGH HANDS

Lotion is a slippery, perfumed concoction,
Applied on a winter day

When an icy wind sings through the bare trees
But I prefer my hands rough

This way, when I hold yours,
You won't slip away.

From the Boy's:

RATIONALE

Already tall at thirteen, she walks
In platform shoes. I can't help

But think like a guy. We could use a center--

We're 0-3 at the start of the season,
And so ugly on the court

We could use a beauty.

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My follow-up questions will probably be rhetorical since I suspect most will not willingly discuss such matters. Does Soto ring true to you? Have you ever known anyone who was lovestruck? Soto also has poems describing love for pets, which is a love most of have experienced. If you haven't read much poetry, give this a chance. I think you'll be delightfully surprised."
(Happy Valentine's day and pass out candy if permitted.)
by Barbara Thach
(from Nancy Keane's booktalking course)

Behind the Wheel by Janet S. Wong

Poems about driving.  Includes poems about a first wreck, first ticket, taking your driving test.  Poem to read: Need to Read, p. 24.

I am Phoenix by Paul Fleischman

One of the poetry books by Paul Flesichman that are meant to be read by two people at the same time.  One person reads the lines on the left, the other person reads the lines on the right.  These are all poems about birds.  Suggested poem to read with teacher: The Actor, p. 11.  It's about a mockingbird.  Joyful Noise is another book by the same author.  The poems in that book are about insects.

The Basket Counts by Arnold Adoff

Free verse poems about basketball from both boys and girls viewpoint.  Possible poems to read: The Basket Counts: Three: p. 14.

You Hear Me? ed. by Betsy Franco

Poems and writings by teenage boys.  Some have language and sexual references, also drugs.  Written by teenagers 12-19.  Very honest and forthright.  Strong emotions.  Suggested poems to read to middle school - Does My Mother Look Like This? p. 48 and Dear God, p. 100.  These are two of the poems written by younger boys.