Poetry
Author
Title
Adoff, Arnold
Roots and Blues: a celebration (2011)
Call #
YA 811.54 ADO
Lyrical text explores how Blues have been part of everyday life throughout history, from its origins in the sounds of the
earth, through slaves' voices singing of freedom, to today's greatest performers--and listeners.
Block, Francesca Lia
How to (un)cage a girl (2008)
Y.A. 811 BLO
The Surrender tree: poems of
Cuba’s struggle for freedom (2010)
YA 811 ENG
A collection of love poems for girls.
Engle, Margarita
Cuba has fought three wars for independence, and still she is not free. This history in verse creates a lyrical portrait of
Cuba.
Granditz, John
Blue Lipstick (2007)
Y.A. 811 GRA
A 15-year-old girl named Jessie voices typical—and not so typical—teenage concerns in this unique, hilarious
collection of poems. Her musings about trying out new makeup and hairstyles, playing volleyball and cello, and dealing
with her annoying younger brother are never boring or predictable. Who else do you know who designs her own
clothes and writes poetry to her cat?
Fleischman, Paul
Joyful noise: poems for two voices (1988)
Y.A. 811 FLE
A collection of poems describing the characteristics and activities of a variety of insects. Written to be read aloud by
two voices--sometimes alternating, sometimes simultaneous--here is a collection of irresistible poems that celebrate the
insect world, from the short life of the mayfly to the love song of the book louse. Funny, sad, loud, and quiet, each of
these poems resounds with a booming, boisterous, joyful noise.
Franco, Betsy
Falling Hard: teenagers on love (2008)
Y.A. 811 FAL
100 Love Poems by teenagers.
Giovanni, Nikki
The 100 Best African American
poems (but I cheated) (2010)
811.008 ONE
Contains one hundred poems from classic and contemporary African American poets, as selected by an award-winning
black poet and activist, including such writers as Robert Hayden, Mari Evans, Kevin Young, and Rita Dove.
Giovanni, Nikki
Paint me like I am (2003)
YA 811 PAI
Today my name is colorful. Yesterday my name was dead souls. Tomorrow my name will be lively spirits. My friends
think my name is fire. The police think my name is burden. My parents think my name is symphony. Secretly I know
my name is anything I want it to be. Paint Me Like I Am is a collection of poems by teens who have taken part in
writing programs run by a national nonprofit organization called WritersCorps.
Greenberg, Jan
Heart to heart: new poems inspired by 20th century art (2001)
Y.A. 811 HEA
A compilation of poems by Americans writing about American art in the twentieth century, including such writers as
Nancy Willard, Jane Yolen, and X.J. Kennedy.
Johnson, Dave
Movin: teen poets take voice(1999)
Y.A. 811.54 MOV
"From works in the New York Public Library TeenLink and Poetry-in-the-Branches projects."
Morrison, Jim
The lords and the new creatures (1987)
YA 811 MOR
Intense, erotic, and enigmatic, Jim Morrison's persona is as riveting now as the lead singer/composer "Lizard King"
was during The Doors' peak in the late sixties. His fast life and mysterious death remain controversial more than twenty
years later.
Nye, Naomi Shihab
A maze me (2005)
Y.A. 811 NYE
In the thoughtful, inspiring introduction to her latest collection of original poems, Nye encourages young readers to
write three lines in a notebook every day: "You will find out what you notice. Uncanny connections will be made
visible to you." The following poems draw from Nye's observations about nature, home, school, and neighborhood to
make connections to a girl's inner world.
Poetry
Nye, Naomi Shihab
Time you let me in: 25 poets under 25 (2010)
YA 811 TIM
“Moderation can wait––plenty of time for that later,” says acclaimed poet and anthologist Nye. She knows how to
reach teens, and this lively collection by young contemporary writers is rooted in the strong, emotional particulars of
family, friendship, childhood memories, school, dislocation, war, and more; interestingly, there is almost no talk of sex
or romance. – from Booklist’s review.
Rosenberg, Liz
Roots and Flowers: poets and poems on family (2001)
Y.A. 811 ROO
A wonderful anthology from 40 contemporary poets (some famous, some lesser known), all touching somehow on the
subject of family. As an added attraction, the poets have included a family snapshot and a brief note on their family and
its effect on their poetry. The selections are well chosen, and the personal details in the notes may help to draw some
readers more eagerly into the poems.
Schutz, Samantha
I don’t want to be crazy (2006)
Y.A. 811 SCH
This is a true story of growing up, breaking down, and coming to grips with a psychological disorder. When Samantha
Schutz first left home for college, she was excited by the possibilities -- freedom from parents, freedom from a
boyfriend who was reckless with her affections, freedom from the person she was supposed to be.
Sherman, Alexie
Tell the world: teen poems from writers corps (2008)
Y.A. 811 HAR
Through poetry we tell the world who we are, where we're from, what we love, what we think, how we feel, and why
we hope. Tell the World is a stunning collection of poems by teens who have taken part in workshops run by
WritersCorps, a national alliance of literary arts programs for youth.
Soto, Gary
Fearless Fernie: hanging out with Fernie and me (2002)
Y.A. 811 SOT
Gary Soto's original poems and Regan Dunnick's clever illustrations will spark recognition in all middle-schoolers
who've gone through the humiliation of sports try-outs and first dances; who've had to deal with body images and
swinging moods. Each of the poems in this book shows a scene from their sometimes difficult, sometimes comical lives
growing up together as best friends.
Smith, Charles R. Jr.
Short takes: fast break basketball poetry (2001)
Y.A. 811 SMI
In a basketball game, the mind flows. Later, memory serves up moments-short takes. Here are twelve poems delivered
in short, quick lines that press and twist and streak their way down court toward their goal with practiced, impressive
dexterity. The feeling is of the inner eye and ear, alert and awake, storing up memories.
Waniek, Marilyn Nelson
Carver: a life in poems (2001)
YA 811 NEL
Through 44 poems, told from the point of view of Carver and the people who knew him, Nelson celebrates his
character and accomplishments. She includes prose summaries of events and archival photographs.
Walter Dean Myers
Harlem (1997)
811 MYE
A visually striking, oversized picture book. Walter Dean Myers's songlike poem relates the story of a group of people
who settled in New York City, hoping to improve their lots in life, only to discover that racism could still keep them
from achieving success. Well-known Harlem landmarks, such as the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theater, are
mentioned, as are famous African Americans, like Langston Hughes and Joe Louis.
Try some of these other good poets:
Emily Dickinson, Allen Ginsberg, Alice Walker, Louise Gluck, Robert Creeley, and Sharon Olds
(recommended by our Teen Poetry instructor, Rachael Goetzke)