Free Verse by Sarah Dooley

  

Maud Hart Lovelace 2018-2019 Reading List

·         Genre:  Realistic

·         Grade Level: 5th - 7th

·         Reading Level: 4.7 (9 points)

·         Length: 352 pages

·         Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers (March 15, 2016)

·         My Rating: 4 out of 4

·         Readability: Takes time to develop...and then the story changes.

·         Division: Division 2

·        Summary:  Sasha is left alone after the deaths of her father and brother. With the help of a foster mom and newfound relatives, she learns to heal and express herself through poetry. The plot contains profanity.

This book started out slowly for me because it takes time to figure out what is going on! The author doesn't lay everything out for you but you discover things as you would when getting to know someone. Sash is the main character who experiences such sadness and grief in her life.  Her mother leaves the family when she is young, and then her father dies in a mining accident and then her brother and caregiver dies too.  She ends up in foster care. As you can imagine, Sasha has lots of anxiety and trauma which makes her a very difficult kid.  And then there is the running away and violent behavior that she displays in her actions. 

Suddenly the book changes and Sasha also has a change of residence. She becomes involved in a poetry club and discovers some release in her writing.  Her new cousin that she meets becomes a important piece in this part of the plot along with another dramatic problem. Poetry becomes an important part of her healing. 

This book started to take hold of me.  It is a different type of plot line and the book is even divided up into four parts.  A lot of sadness and trouble happens in this story.  Some is resolved and some isn't.  It is a lot like life....except I hope someone doesn't have to experience so much in a young life.  Unfortunately, it is probably familiar to some kids. 

I am not sure if this is going to be a story that will be for lots of kids but if they stick with it and don't mind a sad book, this will be a book for them.