Take a sad song

Gr 8 Up--There is something for everyone across these six novels in verse. Songs for the Offseason is about a young man coping with a summer of unbearable loss. Take a Sad Song (yes, that's a Beatles reference) is an inspired-by-a-true-story tale of a young girl sentenced to boarding school. The other books feature young people atoning for the mistakes of their ancestors, fighting demons, surviving a home break-in, and navigating a hostile space colony. The structure lends itself well to the rapid pace of the stories, although, some of the books feel more like prose novels with creative line breaks than stories told in verse. The titles that grapple with complex emotions like loss, identity, and shame are the strongest. The fantasy, sci-fi, and suspense are weaker, but welcome additions to the stories in this format. VERDICT Songs for the Offseason and Take a Sad Song are highlights in this series, but all are worth a try.

A grieving teen finds sanctuary in a home for "wayward" girls. Set in 1970, this accessible work confronts the consequences of the Wayward Minor Act through poems that even reluctant readers will find riveting. Grieving the death of her father, Jane Flynn is out partying with friends on her fifteenth birthday when police officers show up, explaining that her mother has reported her missing. Bewildered Jane arrives at Spofford, "a maximum-security prison for children" in the Bronx, where she's bullied and beaten by another girl. Her mom appears before the judge, trying to bring Jane home, but her original worries about keeping her daughter safe are used to justify continued incarceration. Jane is transported to the New York State Training School for Girls, where she meets the Racket, a group of girls who form a secret chosen family within the devastating system. Beatles fan Jane adopts the moniker Jude and develops feelings for the equally broken Jo-Jo. She also meets Miss Coleman, the first adult since her father's death who listens to her. As Jane grows more comfortable with Miss Coleman, she risks exposing the Racket: With the Stonewall uprising a recent memory, can this adult be trusted? Gritz presents an excoriating critique of the systemic squashing of girls' voices and the silencing of their desires and curiosity. Jane is cued white, and there's diversity in race and sexuality in the supporting cast. A thoughtful must-read that explores grueling attempts to destroy girls' spirits. (author's note, playlist, sources)(Verse historical fiction. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.