Join Diverse Verse as we celebrate Poetry Month 2022!
Diverse Verse plans to celebrate poetry month 2022 with a week-long poetry-writing challenge inspired by Woodson, Grimes, Engle and others, and a book giveaway!
Author Rajani LaRocca discusses the craft of writing verse novels
Interview by Suma Subramniam (of Rajani La Rocca, author of Red, White and Whole)
Verse Novels in the Classroom
Novels in verse present a wonderful opportunity for teachers to introduce a variety of literary forms and techniques to their students, while also encouraging reading for pleasure. The narrative form of verse novels is engaging, and the shorter word count can support readers who may be reluctant to tackle a longer work.
Review | ME (MOTH) by Amber McBride
When you lose everything, what lingers? Poetry, ancestors, new love, and friendship are all woven into this beautiful debut verse-novel by Amber McBride that snagged the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award along with being a Morris Award and National Book Award Finalist.
In the Spirit of a Dream: Writing Biographies in Free Verse as Artivism
When asked to join illustrator, Alina Chau, on her unique biography collection, IN THE SPIRIT OF A DREAM: 13 Stories of American Immigrants of Color*, I was immensely honored.
Haiku: Meant to be seen, not counted out
This week or month, in an American city or town, a classroom full of students will relegate their experience of haiku to syllable-counting…
Review | THE ONE THING YOU’D SAVE by Linda Sue Park
Review by Chrystal D Giles of Linda Sue Park’s THE ONE THING YOU’D SAVE
Sense-making through poetry
From May 5, 2020 to June 26, 2020, I wrote poems against news articles. Every day, I wrote at least one poem. I religiously sat under an old Elderberry tree in our backyard, reading news about what was happening in America, and in the world. Then I spent hours writing one poem from the articles I read. I wrote about murders, freedom marches, pandemic where doctors and patients discussed death over Zoom, data leaks, a corrupt political administration attacking transgender rights, and many more.
Poetry as Resistance
During difficult times, especially during periods of social or political upheaval, we often ask: What is the role of the artist?
Review | RUNAWAY: THE DARING ESCAPE OF ONA JUDGE by Ray Anthony Shepard
I remember the first time I heard Ray Anthony Shepard read aloud his draft of what became his picture book, Runaway.