Tag: Funny book

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Two Verse Novels That Win Over Boys (Even the Ones Who Think They Don’t Like Reading)

If you’ve spent any time trying to match boys with books, you’ve probably heard some version of this:

“I don’t like reading.”

What many kids really mean is, “I haven’t found the right book yet.”

Verse novels can be that book. The shorter pages, natural pacing, and emotional punch make them especially appealing to readers who might be intimidated by dense blocks of text. And contrary to the myth that poetry isn’t for boys, some of the very best verse novels feature unforgettable male protagonists whose stories are packed with humor, heart, and grit.

Here are two that I recommend again and again.

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

At first glance, Jack seems like the last kid who would ever enjoy poetry.

He insists poetry is boring. He doesn’t think he has anything worth saying. And writing? Forget it.

But thanks to the quiet encouragement of his teacher, Miss Stretchberry, Jack slowly discovers that poetry isn’t about sounding fancy—it’s about saying something true.

As the school year unfolds, readers watch Jack find his voice one poem at a time. What begins as reluctant class assignments gradually becomes a deeply personal way for him to process the loss of his beloved dog, Sky. By the end, it’s almost impossible not to cheer for him. 

One of my favorite things about Love That Dog is how approachable it feels. Kids who claim they “don’t get poetry” often don’t even realize they’re reading poems—they’re simply caught up in Jack’s story.

The novel also introduces readers to classic poems by writers like Walter Dean Myers, Robert Frost, and William Carlos Williams without ever feeling like a literature lesson. Instead, those poems become stepping stones that help Jack discover his own voice.

This is a wonderful choice for:

  • reluctant readers
  • dog lovers (bring tissues!)
  • budding writers
  • classrooms introducing poetry
  • boys who don’t yet think poetry is “for them”

House Arrest by K.A. Holt

If Love That Dog is quiet and tender, House Arrest grabs readers from page one.

Timothy is twelve years old and serving a year of house arrest after stealing a wallet.

Sounds straightforward.

It isn’t.

As Timothy records weekly journal entries for his probation officer, readers slowly learn why he made the choices he did. His family is struggling financially. His father is gone. His baby brother requires expensive medical equipment just to stay alive. Timothy isn’t a troublemaker looking for excitement—he’s a kid trying desperately to keep his family together.

The story asks difficult questions without offering easy answers. What happens when doing the right thing and following the law aren’t the same thing? How far would you go to protect someone you love? 

Despite tackling serious issues like poverty, responsibility, and family stress, the book never feels heavy. Timothy has a believable sense of humor, and the verse format keeps the pages flying by. Readers who might be intimidated by a 300-page novel often discover they’ve read fifty pages before they even notice.

This is one of those books that sticks with you long after you’ve finished it.

I especially recommend it for readers who enjoy realistic fiction with emotional depth.

Why These Books Matter

Both of these novels feature boys who aren’t superheroes.

They’re vulnerable.

They’re frustrated.

They make mistakes.

And they learn that strength isn’t about pretending everything is fine—it’s about finding the courage to keep going.

That’s exactly why these books resonate with so many readers, especially boys who don’t always see characters expressing big emotions in healthy ways.If you’re looking for books that can hook reluctant readers while quietly building empathy, resilience, and confidence, Love That Dog and House Arrest deserve a place at the top of your list.

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“Ask the Expert” Kidlit

📚💡 Need advice? These two “experts” have you covered.

One is a wise Jedi master made from folded paper.

The other runs a problem-solving business from the top of the jungle gym.

Somehow, both are surprisingly effective.

🟢 The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
When Dwight brings an Origami Yoda finger puppet to school, his classmates are skeptical. After all, the advice is coming from a crumpled piece of paper. But when Yoda starts accurately predicting outcomes and helping kids navigate everything from friendships to embarrassing middle school moments, everyone begins to wonder: Is Origami Yoda actually wise…or is there something more going on?

I loved how the book captures the feeling of desperately wanting answers in middle school and being willing to seek them from the most unlikely sources.

🛝 The Recess Genius: Open for Business by Janet Sumner Johnson, illustrated by Stacy Ebert
Regina Grey isn’t the fastest, strongest, or most popular kid at school. In fact, she’d usually rather disappear into a good book. But when she accidentally solves a classmate’s problem, word spreads fast. Soon she’s holding office hours atop the jungle gym, helping kids with everything from annoying siblings to itchy casts to gum stuck in hair.

I especially loved that Regina’s “genius” isn’t some extraordinary talent—it’s based on her creativity, her curiosity, and her observation skills.

✨ If you had a dilemma, would you ask Origami Yoda or the Recess Genius?

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Today’s book recommendation: SOMETHING ROTTEN: A FRESH LOOK AT ROADKILL by Heather L. Montgomery | Illustrated by Kevin O’Malley

– Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books

– Middle Grade Nonfiction

If you’re super squeamish, this might not be the book for you. But if you can handle descriptions of dead animals, it’s definitely worth a read. I found it fascinating and my boys could NOT get enough of it! We read it together before school, and each day they rushed to get ready so we would have more time to read. If that’s not a win, I don’t know what is! 🙂

📚 Here’s the official book promo:

*****
When Heather L. Montgomery sees a rattlesnake flattened on the side of the road, her first instinct is to pick it up and dissect it–she’s always wanted to see how a snake’s fangs retract when they close their mouths, and it’s not exactly safe to poke around in a live reptile’s mouth.

A wildlife researcher with a special penchant for the animals that litter the roadways, Heather isn’t satisfied with dissecting just one snake. Her fascination with roadkill sets her off on a journey from her own backyard and the roadways of the American South to scientists and kids in labs and homes across the globe. From biologists who use the corpses of Tasmanian devils to investigate cures for a contagious cancer, to a scientist who discovered a whole new species of bird from a single wing left behind, to a boy rebuilding animal bodies from the bones up, to a restaurant that serves up animal remnants, Heather discovers that death is just the beginning for these creatures.

Dig into this eye-opening and irreverent look at the dead and dying animals that we pass by without a second thought.
*****

Montgomery’s passionate curiosity is contagious, and I just love how she takes readers along with her on this bizarre, but interesting, learning journey. Her prose is full of good humor, and I found myself laughing out loud so many times reading this book.

SOMETHING ROTTEN has won a ton of awards, including a JLG Gold Standard, an ALA Notable Book, and the Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year, so be brave and give this book a try!

Happy reading!