Words With Wings and Magic Things

Burgess, Matthew. Words with Wings and Magic Things. 2025. 128p. ISBN 9781774880289.

Words With Wings and Magic Things is a vibrant collection of poetry that invites the reader to explore the extraordinary within the ordinary. Through imaginative verses and whimsical illustrations, the book transforms everyday moments into fantastical adventures, featuring creatures like dragon piñatas and hungry yetis, alongside relatable experiences like feeling blue or dreaming of ice cream. This collection aims to uplift and inspire, showing how language can unlock a world of wonder and possibility.

Words With Wings and Magic Things is structured around seven thematic sections, each accessed through die-cut portals, enhancing the reader's journey through different emotional landscapes and imaginative realms. These portals, labeled with words like "Wonder," "Wild," and "Whispers," guide readers through a diverse array of poems, each designed to awaken their sense of curiosity and playfulness. The collection celebrates the power of words to transform reality and encourages young readers to embrace their own creativity and imagination.

All the Blues in the Sky

Watson, Renée. All the Blues in the Sky. 2025. 208p. ISBN 9781547605897.

The day Sage turned thirteen was a day meant for celebration with her best friend. Instead, it becomes a day of profound loss when her friend unexpectedly dies, hit by a car while crossing the street. This tragedy leaves Sage feeling adrift and alone, struggling to cope with the absence of the one person who shared her secrets and dreams. Seeking support, she joins a counseling group with other girls experiencing similar grief, where she learns that loss manifests in many forms and that the healing process is far from straightforward.

Through her journey in the group and her own internal struggles, Sage navigates the complex emotions of grief: sadness, loneliness, anxiety, guilt, and pain, all intertwined with the enduring presence of love. Even amidst her sorrow, new and positive experiences begin to enter her life, offering glimmers of hope and the possibility of healing. 

 Told in a blend of accessible verse and prose, All the Blues in the Sky explores the multifaceted nature of grief and Sage's path toward self-forgiveness and growth, offering a comforting and relatable perspective for anyone who has experienced loss.

Remember Us

Woodson, Jacqueline. Remember Us. 2023. 192p. ISBN 9780399545467.

Old buildings in Sage's neighborhood are going up in flames the summer following her 6th grade. Sage loves basketball, and she would rather shoot hoops with the guys than spend time with the girls she has known her whole life. Except, it seems like relationships between boys and girls are now changing, and Sage feels at a disadvantage. And with so many fires happening, Sage is worried her home is next. When Freddy moves into the neighborhood, Sage is thrilled to finally have a friend that gets her.

As they spend time on the court and hanging out, they observe their neighborhood and how quickly it seems to be changing. Sage is better than most of the boys on the court, but a bully steals her ball and makes her question herself, Sage does not tell Freddy. Is she an athlete, someone who excels at basketball, or is she a girl, someone who wears makeup and fusses with her hair. Sage questions her identity, wondering where she fits in this expanding universe.

When a fire destroys a nearby home and kills one of her friends, Sage and Freddy are there for each other. As summer comes to a close, and as Sage prepares to move to a new home away from the neighborhood and its fires, she must come to terms that the future is never static, and the only constant is change. 

Focused on daily life and memories, Remember Us nevertheless explores universal truths about identity and remembering, effectively conveying the many transitions Sage finds herself in. Fans of growing up novels will appreciate this short poetic read.

Hans Christian Andersen Lives Next Door

Fagan, Cary. Hans Christian Andersen Lives Next Door. 2023. 160p. ISBN 9781774880159.

Andie (with an e, thank you very much) very much feels like an outcast in her own skin. Her parents are weird, and ever since they moved to the countryside, they've been in search of a project to do. Now they're raising crickets to sell to pet stores (crickets make great lizard food). The school bully, Myrtle Klinghoffer, loves to pick on her but always does it in a way that makes Andie feel like she's not even there, since Myrtle never addresses herself directly to her. And the other kids don't really talk to her.

When a new neighbor moves next door, Andie swears she recognizes him. She has seen the man's picture on a book somewhere in her collection. Ah, yes, her uncle gave her a book of fairy tales from Hans Christian Andersen, and the picture looks very much like her neighbor, aside from being black and white and the old-fashioned clothes. When the initials H.C.A. go on the mailbox next door, Andie is convinced that Andersen just moved in.

Andie begin writing her own poems based on the classic fairy tales her neighbor wrote, and she soon finds herself sharing them with him. HCA patiently listens to her, and find that the poems are actually quite good. When he tells Andie he works at the ministry of agriculture, Andie reasons that he must want to stay incognito.

New kid Newton moves to the school, and Andie finds him fascinating. And he's willing to sit with Andie and listen to her poetry. Soon the two of them become fast friends. At the same time, however, Myrtle continues her bullying, and Andie decides to take revenge. Plus, there's the big secret of Hans Christian Andersen living next door ...

Based on the flawed assumption that Hans Christian Andersen, who died in 1875, moved in next door, Andie compounds her beliefs until everything comes crashing down around her, and she is forced to admit that their neighbor is not Hans Christian Andersen. But along the way, she learns a lot about friendship, about herself, and about the fact that her little town is not as boring and dull as she thought it was.

Swing

Alexander, Kwame. Swing. 2018. 448p. ISBN 9780310761914. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Seventeen-year-old Noah is in love with his best friend Sam, ever since she saved him from a pounding in third grade. But Sam likes Noah as a friend, and nothing more. His mind filled with poetry, Noah keeps trying to convince himself to speak to Sam and confess his love for her. His friend Walt, who calls himself Swing, keeps pushing for Noah to finally step up and take a chance that his love for Sam might be reciprocated. And Walt knows just how to get the girl: Noah needs to talk to his cousin, who bills himself a relationship guru. The cousin's advice? Listen to the Woohoo Woman podcast, and learn what women like!

The boys have tried out for the school's baseball team for three years in a row, and each time they haven't made the cut. Swing swears that he will play on the team, despite the fact that he is not really good. Noah doesn't really care, and wouldn't mind to stop trying for it. For his mother's birthday, Noah scours the thrift store and finds a keepall, a type of bag that can be used to keep papers. Inside are dozens of love letters, each a spark of inspiration for Noah, who begins writing anonymous poems to Sam.

As Noah navigates the choppy waters of unrequited love, he also learns about jazz, and discovers that to be cool does not mean following the crowd. Risking his friendship with Sam, Noah decides to take a swing, hoping for a home run ....

Written in the free verse style, Swing will not leave the reader indifferent. The characters are realistic, and their relationships are complicated and representative of a turbulent period in one's life. Fans of poetry will appreciate this story with a bittersweet ending.

Perfect Nine: The Epic of Gikuyu and Mumbi

Thiong'o, Ngugi wa. Perfect Nine: The Epic of Gikuyu and Mumbi. 2020. 240p. ISBN 9781620975251. 

The Gĩkũyũ people of Kenya come from nine beautiful daughters, and one crippled one. These first girls, dubbed the Perfect Nine, were strong, courageous, and energetic. The youngest could not walk, but was an expert archer. She was often left behind as her sisters adventured.

Looking for suitable suitors for their daughters, Gĩkũyũ and his wife Mũmbi consulted with God, and were rewarded with a large pool of men eager to marry the daughters. Through heroic quests, trials, and challenges, the men are slowly winnowed down until ten remain, and were married to the ten daughters. While the nine eldest traveled the world on their adventures, the youngest learned to walk and became strong in her own name. 

These two stories, those of the suitors and the nine eldest daughters, intertwine with that of the youngest daughter to create a riveting lyrical tale. A foundational myth used to explain their origins, the Perfect Nine embraces strong women and retells, through tales of adventure, how the Kenyan tribes came to be. Fans of epics will appreciate this story, filled with legends, heroes, and villains. 

The Raven's Tale

Winters, Cat. The Raven's Tale. 2019. 368p. ISBN 9781419733628.

Following the death of his mother, Edgar Poe became the ward of a rich family, the Allans. His foster father hoped to guide Edgar towards a productive and responsible role in society, but the teen's desire, no, the existential need to write poetry created a rift between them that could not be mended. Inspired by the  muse Lenore that proves to be real, Poe heads to university, but his father is witholding funds from him and refuses to pay the full tuition, leaving Poe in the throes of poverty and starvation.

Struggling to make ends meet and put food on his table, Poe goes from bad to worse as he gambles away the little money he has. Meanwhile, he continues to write feverishly, and Lenore haunts his days and nights. Is Poe condemned to settle for his foster father's desired path for him, or can he make a break and lead his own poetic life?

The Poet X

 Acevedo, Elizabeth. The Poet X. 2018. 368p. 210 mins. ISBN 978-0-06-266280-4. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Xiomara Batista shares a small bedroom with her frail twin brother in their stifling Harlem apartment. Her Dominican mother is domineering and had hopes of becoming a nun before getting married. She keeps Xiomara on a tight leash, especially since she became curvy. Her father works hard and defers to his wife, who's committed to seeing Xiomara confirmed. But at 15, Xiomara doesn't care about the church. She doesn't want to be confirmed. She yearns to have the same freedoms other in her school enjoy. 

Poetry really lights Xiomara's creative juices. She loves to write about her own thoughts, about how she feels, what she experiences as a girl who's drawing the gaze of older men as well as those of other students. When she sees an ad for a Slam Poetry club at school, she really wants to attend, except it takes place at the same time as confirmation classes.  

Ever since she was born, she's been protective of her twin brother, who is super smart but weak and unable or unwilling to defend himself. She often lets her fists do the talking. But now, both he and Xiomara have secrets. She has a crush on Aman, her lab partner, and he encourages her to keep writing poetry. Twin, as she refers to him, is gay and loves another boy. Neither loves are welcomed in the Baptista household.

The more she writes, however, the more Xiomara realizes she needs to spread her wings and take risks. As secrets accumulate, can poetry be the avenue that allows Xiomara to break free?

A story told in verses, Poet X explores issues of loneliness and oppression. The characters are realistic and their emotions are easily relatable. Fans of poetry will enjoy Xiomara's story and will cheer for her as she works through her relationship with her mother, with her brother, and with Aman.

Shout

Halse Anderson, Laurie. Shout. 2019. 296p. 228 mins. ISBN 9780670012107. Available as an eBook on Overdrive. 

Author of the best-selling book Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson returns with a poetic biography about her life and how the tragedy of her sexual assault and rape to a boy inspired the main character Melinda in Speak. Now more than 20 years old, Speak has affected an entire generation of girls to speak out about the abuse they suffered at the hands of friends, family members, trusted individuals, and people in position of authority. Unfortunately, society itself has not changed quickly enough to address the systematic issues that make girls vulnerable to abuse. 

Using free verses, Halse Anderson explains the experiences that shaped her as a writer, from the psychological impact the Second World War had on her father to the domestic violence and poverty that affected her family. She talks about the walls that she, her sister, and her parents built around themselves to avoid talking about the issues that undermined everything they were doing. Halse Anderson tells poignant family stories and how they influenced who she became. Along the way, she excoriates those in positions of power who ignore abuse, those who tolerate it, and those who encourage it. She describes how our society has failed, and continues to fail to support those victims of abuse, and how things have not changed fast enough to make our society one that is truly free and safe for everyone.

Fans of Speak, and everyone concerned with sexual assaults must absolutely read this very powerful cry for change, or even a revolution in our social mores!

Adultolescence

Hanna, Gabbie. Adultolescence. 2017. 248p. 80 mins. ISBN 9781501178320. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

In this short book, poet Gabbie Hanna retraces milestones in her life from her childhood to becoming an adult. Sometimes joyful, sometimes filled with sorrows, but always vibrant and entertaining, Hanna's take on the formative events that affected her. She discusses childhood dramas, first loves, betrayal, humiliation, loneliness, alienation and everyday encounters. Through it all she is funny and biting, with a style of humor everyone will get.

The illustrations themselves greatly contribute to her poetry and help convey even more emotions than the words themselves. Fans of poetry will appreciate Hanna's take on life, and will relate to many of the milestones that they also lived through.

Light Filters In

Kaufman, Caroline. Light Filters In. 2018. 211p. ISBN 978-0-06-284469-9. Available as an ebook on Overdrive.

Raw and powerful, Kaufman's poetry strikes at the heart of being a teenage girl, with the angst, rage, love, loneliness, and not knowing oneself. The ideas are expressed with limited words but deliver a punch to the gut in strength of sentiment. Honestly presented, Kaufman does not shy away from the wonders and the pains of growing up and shaping one's identity into something that her earlier self might not recognize. A teenager herself, Kaufman manages to strike the right balance between melodrama and moping on one hand and the sugar-coated version of teenagehood most adults hope their child will experience.

Fans of poetry will appreciate the powerful feelings elicited by this book and will be left with more questions than answer about life and one's sense of identify. 

White Rose

Wilson, Kip. White Rose. 2019. 368p. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-3580-4917-3. Available at FIC WIL on the library shelves.

Sophia Scholl is growing up in a 1930s Germany that has changed dramatically since Hitler gained power. The Nazis have reshaped society and are targeting large segments of the population for oppression: Jews, handicapped folks and those who are opposed to the regime. Sophia and her brothers and sisters are at first proud of their new uniforms and look up to Hitler, but requirements to conform and the burning of books have turned Sophia against the Nazis. When the war starts and her brothers and boyfriend are sent to the front, Sophia wants to fight back. An opportunity presents itself when her brother returns and begins to print pamphlets denouncing the Nazis and their actions. Sophia joins wholeheartedly, knowing that her participation in this conspiracy could lead to her death. Desperate to save Germany from Hitler, Sophia is willing to risk it all.

 The White Rose, a group of friends who attended university together, distributed anti-Nazi information in 1942 and 1943, before they were arrested and executed. Told in terse verses, Sophia’s life is presented in alternating sections of Before and The End. An economy of words helps the reader focus on Sophia’s actions and emotions. Effective research reconstructs Sophia’s world and clearly demonstrates her dedication to defeating Hitler. Her feelings are raw and capture the tension that Germans must have felt as their world changed for the worse. White Rose will appeal to fans of historical fiction as well as those who wonder how far they would be willing to go to stand up and defend their beliefs.

Every Last Word

Stone, Tamara Ireland. Every Last Word. 2015. 356p. ISBN 978-1-48470527-8. Available as an eBook from Overdrive.

Samantha McAllister suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and she often finds herself sinking in a pool of dark thoughts. When she drives, the last number on the odometer must be 3 before she can park. She focuses on the smallest worries and magnifies them. A junior in high school, Samantha has been part of a tight-knit group of girls called the Crazy Eights, even though there are only five of them left. The girls are toxic to their friends, mean to others, and exclusive, and Samantha knows she ranks 4th in the group. In the summer, when the group is split up, Samantha is most happy. She swims every day, and stands a good chance of earning a scholarship. She works tirelessly with her psychiatrist to develop coping mechanisms to her obsessions.

On the first day of her junior year, she is accosted by Caroline, who is a few lockers down from Samantha. Caroline is everything Samantha is not: makeup free, comfortable in her skin, and not caring about what others think of her. In the theatre, she notices a group of students leaving a custodian closet, and one of them mentions another meeting on Thursday. Intrigued and guided by Caroline, Samantha discovers the Poet’s Corner, a secret room built behind the custodian where a group of students who don’t fit in find shelter, contributing words and music. Samantha immediately knows she needs to spend more time here, but A.J., who holds the key to the Poet’s corner, was relentlessly humiliated by the Crazy Eights in 4th grade and has not forgotten. Samantha is turned away from the group but is convinced by Caroline to try again.

Over the next few months, Samantha successfully manages to become a member of the Poet’s Corner, and as he friendships grow with those kids, she feels herself becoming more distant with the Crazy Eights, a more than welcomed break and something that her psychiatrist has encouraged her to do for years. At the same time, Caroline has told Samantha to keep their relationship as friends a secret from her family and from her psychiatrist. As Sam’s relationship with A.J. evolves and grows into something more than friends, she discovers Caroline’s secret, a secret so powerful it could destroy everything Samantha has worked for.

Inspired from a true story, Every Last Word accurately portrays the actions of a girl lost in her own thoughts and often unable to climb out of her mind. Readers who enjoy unreliable narrators will appreciate Samantha’s story.

When My Sister Started Kissing

Frost, Helen. When My Sister Started Kissing. 2017. 193p. ISBN 978-0-374-30303-7. Available at FIC FRO on the library shelves.

When Claire and Abigail’s mother died, the family was heartbroken. Spending every summer at a cabin on the lake, the sisters saw comforting reminders of their mother everywhere. Now that it is summer again, they dread returning to the lake. Their father has remarried, and his new wife is pregnant with their half-brother. Worse, all signs of their mother, from her old easel to her favorite chair to the board games and her books have disappeared from the cabin.

For Claire, however, all of these changes are nothing compared to what is happening with her sister Abigail, who insists on being called Abi. This summer, Abi is boy crazy, and her secrets mean that Claire must cover for her. Unsure of herself, Claire can’t help but wonder why Abi would act this way. As the summer progresses, and as Abi’s affections seem to be divided between two different boys, Claire decides she can’t make excuses for her anymore. But as their family seems to be drifting apart, the lake imparts lessons that just because things are changing doesn’t mean that they will not remain meaningful.

Written in verse, this short book features three points of view, that of Claire, Abi, and of the lake itself observing the sisters. A coming of age novel, readers interested in family relationships will appreciate the dynamics that are at play between two sisters struggling with new feelings and emotions.

Every Exquisite Thing

Quick, Matthew. Every Exquisite Thing. 2016. 288p. 296 mins. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Seventeen-year-old Nanette O’Hare’s life is unremarkable. Along with her friend Shannon, Nanette is the star of the varsity soccer team at her high school, and has scored more goals than all of the other players put together. In school, she is an average student, with no ideas on what her future will look like. During her junior year, her English teacher gives her his own personal copy of an old out-of-print book called The Bugglegum Reaper. In this book, the main character, Wrigley, rebels against society and bullies and rages about quitting, though it’s never made clear what he wants to quit. Nanette takes to the book and it instantly becomes her own personal bible.

When her English teacher mentions that the author lives in the same South New Jersey town they do, Nanette endeavors to meet him. A recluse, the author never allowed another run of his book to be printed and has chosen to prevent his work from circulating. He and Nanette strike an unlikely friendship. A few months later he introduces her to Alex, a poetic high schooler who also loves The Bubblegum Reaper. Soon the two of them are not exactly dating, but they are experiencing thoughtful conversations and moments.

Nanette can see that Alex is troubled, however, and when he decides to defend a middle schooler named Oliver just like Wrigley did in The Bubblegum Reaper, the law catches up with him and he is sent to Reform School. Nanette cannot contact him there. Troubled by this and by other experiences, Nanette soon discovers that to be true to oneself can be very expensive emotionally. As she burns bridges and experiences a meltdown of her relationships, Nanette feels even more lost than before. Can she muster within herself the courage to discover what she really wants and force the world to accept her as she really is?

As You Like It

Shakespeare, William. As You Like It. 2014. 120p. 148 mins. Available at 822.34 on the library shelves and as an eBook on Overdrive.

The Duchy is in turmoil after the Frederick has overthrown his older brother and taken his place as Duke. He has removed all of the previous occupant’s friends, except for his daughter, Rosalind. Frederick’s niece is allowed to stay at court since she is best friend with Frederick’s own daughter, Celia. The two of them flee court, however, and find refuge in the Arden forest with Touchstone, the court foul.

Meanwhile, Orlando had fallen in love with Rosalind at first sight back at court, but is treated very poorly by his brother Oliver. He also decides to leave his estate (really his brother’s), and arrives in the Arden forest. Rosalind and Celia have disguised themselves, one as a boy named Ganymede, the other as a poor woman.

Orlando rejoins the overthrown Duke’s entourage in the forest, and he is soon writing poems to Rosalind on the forest’s trees. Rosalind as Ganymede joins Orlando and helps him “act out” his desires for Rosalind with him and counsels him on the proper way to do so. And as the shepherdess Phoebe falls in love with Ganymede, they all find themselves hopelessly lost in a love polygon.

Ganymede decides to resolve this situation by untying all of the intrigues, and soon all main characters are married to their love. An announcement is made that Frederick has renounced the throne and is joining a religious order, and they all return to court.

A light and lively comedy, As You Like It is famous for one of Shakespeare’s most well known speeches, “all the world’s a stage,” and also features the sentence “too much of a good thing.”

Dear Future Boyfriend

O'keefe Aptowicz, Cristin. Dear Future Boyfriend. 2011. 120p. ISBN 9781935904717. Available as an eBook on Overdrive.

Focused on loneliness and the hope of one day attracting the person you’re really attracted to, this collection of urban poems explores the meanings of one-way relationships and the heartbreak that comes from being alone. Filled with social commentary on dating, love, and relationships, this short compendium of poems provides the weary soul with tools to deal with a condition that afflicts everyone at some point in their lives. Fans of poetry will appreciate O’Keefe Aptowicz’s take on love, breakups, and other teen stories.

Ask Me How I Got Here

Heppermann, Christine. Ask Me How I Got Here. 2016. 225p. ISBN 978-0-06-238795-0. Available at FIC HEP on the library shelves

Addie runs for her Catholic school’s cross-country team, and she is really good. In fact, Addie has always been running forward, with the future in sight. A running scholarship to a University. A beautiful life and a dedicated boyfriend. But all of this falls apart when she discovers that she is pregnant. Suddenly, her whole world changes and a hard decision must be made. Addie has an abortion, but the consequences of her decision affects the rest of her school year, including her desire to run. Can she reconnect with herself?

Told in verse, Addie walks the reader through her experience, from meeting her new boyfriend to the abortion itself. The end of her relationship with Nick, and the blooming of another relation with Juliana, who is also a survivor, opens the door to new experiences and to a rediscovery of self. Fans of poetry and tragedies will enjoy this fast read.

Falling Hard: 100 Love Poems by Teenagers

Franco, Besty, ed. Falling Hard: 100 Love Poems by Teenagers. 2008. 144p. ISBN 978-0-7636-3437-7. Available at 811 FAL on the library shelves.

Coming from all parts of the world and in varied personal, social, and educational situations, all of these poems have in common are the theme of love and the fact that they were written by teenagers. Love runs through the gauntlet of emotions, and includes angst, depression, and hope. Love can be about other people, objects, or ideas. And each teen, in their own way, share what love means to them.

A short yet very powerful read, this collection will have poems for everyone. Keep coming back to this short collection, you will always read something new.

Tips & Tricks for Analyzing Structure and Evaluating Ideas

Athans, Sandra K. and Robin W. Parente. Tips & Tricks for Analyzing Structure and Evaluating Ideas. 2015. 64p. ISBN 978-1-4777-7535-6. Available at 428.4 ATH on the library shelves.

With the Common Core Standards now in place in many states, the emphasis on reading has switched from focusing on literature to concentrate on informational texts. Students are now being asked to recognize varied reading structures such as headlines, chapter headings, and other clues offered by the text. They also must analyze the content and ideas in the text to derive both meaning and understanding of specific information.

This book provides the reader with specific techniques and advice on how to successfully read both informational and literature texts. Three scientific articles are examined, along with poems by Robert Frost and Edgar Allan Poe and demonstrate these techniques. From looking at the headings and the pictures included with a text to reflecting on your understanding of what you just read, the suggestions provided by the authors better prepare the reader for school and career readiness.

This is a great way for readers to refresh their reading techniques as well as acquire new ones and examine how reflecting on their own reading skills can help them become better readers.

Other books in this series include:

• Tips & Tricks for Comparing and Contrasting Text
• Tips & Tricks for Analyzing Ideas, Events, and Individuals
• Tips & Tricks for Evaluating an Argument and its Claims
• Tips & Tricks for Analyzing Structure and Evaluating Ideas
• Tips & Tricks for Analyzing Text and Citing Evidence
• Tips & Tricks for Determining Point of View and Purpose
• Tips & Tricks for Evaluating Multimedia Content
• Tips & Tricks for Summarizing Text