The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Xiomara Batista is a teenage girl, a twin, and a Dominican living in Harlem. She’s also the daughter of strict parents and an extremely religious mother. But most important of all, Xiomara is a poet. She makes herself heard and understood through the words she writes in her notebook, but never says out loud--until everything changes. Xiomara meets Ms. Galiano, learns about the Spoken Word Poetry Club and poetry slams, and she becomes Aman’s lab partner. How will Xiomara find a way to be true to who she really is, and survive living under her mother’s restrictive rules? Told in beautifully written verse by Poetry Slam champion Elizabeth Acevedo, this debut novel must not be missed. I recommend this book to readers who like books in verse, urban fiction, relationships, family struggles, and authors Jason Reynolds, Jacqueline Woodson, and Meg Medina.

Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon

I loved everything everything about this book. It has been compared to TFIOS, and while its fans will most likely enjoy this story, it is also unique in its own right. Eighteen-year-old Madeline Whittier only knows the sterile, contained environment inside her home because she is allergic to the world due to a rare immune disease called SCID. The only two people that Madeline has regular contact with are her mother and her nurse, Carla. Until the day Olly moves in next door--and Madeline's entire world changes. The characters in this book are so likable and relatable; they will linger with readers long after the last page. I adored this book and recommend it to readers who like books about relationships, taking chances, fighting illness, and exploring independence. As mentioned, fans of TFIOS, E&P, and If I Stay will likely fall in love with this book.  

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

The writing in this book was so beautiful; I never wanted it to end and the storytelling talent of this author is beyond compare. Woodson shares the story of her youth in free verse that conveys so much emotion in its compact format. The story follows the author and her family from her birthplace in Columbus, Ohio, to Greenville, South Carolina, and eventually Brooklyn, New York, during the 1960s and 1970s. This brown girl never stopped dreaming, and it makes her story incredible, unforgettable, and amazing. I recommend this book to readers who like stories about family, personal identity, Civil Rights, and books in verse. If I could, I would give this book 10 out of 5 stars—it is one of my very favorites and I truly loved this book.