24 Poetry Books for Secondary English

I’m constantly on the hunt for novels-in-verse, anthologies, and other types of poetry books that teens will find addictive and accessible, especially now that so many marginalized voices are finally being represented more in print.

I recently asked some of my wisest teacher friends to recommend their favorite poetry books on Instagram, and here’s what they said!

Click on each teacher’s username to read her book review.

#1: For Everyone

Recommended by @secondarysara. Link to Amazon.

#2: One Last Word

Recommended by @nouvelle_ela. Link to Amazon.

#3: The Poet X

Recommended by @yacafepodcast. Link to Amazon.

#4: The Rose That Grew from Concrete

Recommended by @mrsorman. Link to Amazon.

#5: Brown Girl Dreaming

Recommended by @literarysherri. Link to Amazon.

#6: Long Way Down

Recommended by @room213tpt. Link to Amazon.

#7: House Arrest

Recommended by @hansonhallway. Link to Amazon.  

#8: Swing

Recommended by @elaeveryday. Link to Amazon.

#9: The Red Pencil

Recommended by @readingandwritinghaven. Link to Amazon.

#10: Inside Out and Back Again

Recommended by @erinbeers. Link to Amazon.

#11: A Maze Me

Recommended by @studyallknight. Link to Amazon.

#12: Moo

Recommended by @mrsspanglerinthemiddle. Link to Amazon.

#13: Paper Hearts

Recommended by @addiewilliams_tpt. Link to Amazon.

#14: Booked

Recommended by @buildingbooklove. Link to Amazon.

#15: Poisoned Apples

Recommended by @prestoplans. Link to Amazon.

(Photo credit: @love2dazzle)

#16: Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes

Recommended by @elaclassroom. Link to Amazon.

#17: Bilbo’s Last Song

Recommended by @theclassroomsparrow. Link to Amazon.

#18: Three Rivers Rising

Recommended by @theliterarymaven. Link to Amazon.

#19: Answering Back

Recommended by @stacey.lloyd. Link to Amazon.

#20: Love That Dog

Recommended by @2peasandadog. Link to Amazon.

#21: Home of the Brave

Recommended by @elabuffet. Link to Amazon.

#22: Growing

Recommended by @teachbetweenthelines. Link to Amazon.

#23: Paint Me Like I Am

Recommended by @thedaringenglishteacher. Link to Amazon.

#24: Rebound

Recommended by @readitwriteitlearnit. Link to Amazon.

PS - You might also like this blog post, 9 Poetry Books for English Classes.

Do you have a book suggestion for this list?

Tell us in the comments!