7 Must Read Poetry Collections for Every YA Fan

Up until recent years, poetry was considered a dead genre by many—that is, until the 2014 release of Rupi Kaur’s New York Times bestselling poetry collection, Milk and Honey. Not only is Kaur’s debut written in such a way that no reader has to spend hours and hours grueling over complex imagery and metaphors, but it takes the time to tell a story—an excruciatingly moving and relatable one at that. Milk and Honey challenged literary elitism by proving that poetry can be accessible to most people, which has caused an undeniable spike in the popularity of the genre. Kaur has quickly gotten people of all ages reading and writing in verse again.

Now that Kaur’s success has sort of paved the way, if you will, more publishers are willing to take on poetry collections than ever before. My debut self-published poetry collection, the princess saves herself in this one, which tells the story of my life as a survivor of child abuse, happens to be one of those collections—it is among the handful of poetry collections that have been ranked as one of Barnes & Noble’s bestselling paperbacks in recent months, and I can predict there are many more poetry bestsellers to come. (As I write this, a fellow queer poet by the name of Courtney Peppernell has just joined the ranks with her self-published-turn-traditionally-published debut, Pillow Thoughts.)
I never thought any of this could be possible, as I grew up in an age where even the idea of poetry was met with visible disdain. And now for something I’ve been waiting years to say . . . *drumroll* Poetry is officially back!
Without further ado, here are some recommendations to keep the poetry machine going, traditionally published as well as self-published.

Love & Misadventure, by Lang Leav
If you’re looking for a way to transition from classic poetry to modern poetry, this is a collection you need to add to your shelves. Leav, a Chinese-Australian poetess who I have officially nicknamed The Modern-Day Emily Dickinson, fuses the rhyme schemes of the past with the beautifully simplistic language of the present in this collection about love, loss, and longing. And it’s beyond epic.

we carry the sky, by mckayla robbin
Though this self-published collection is little, it is extremely fierce. The South Carolina-based robbin holds nothing back when she writes on the woman experience—the pretty, the ugly, and everything that falls in between. As robbin so eloquently describes in her collection, women truly do carry a sky full of burdens and blessings on their backs. This one is perfect for fans of Kaur, as robbin shares a similar writing style and covers a myriad of feminist topics. And there’s some good news, a short film is in the works.

Wild Embers, by Nikita Gill
It seems that Gill, an Indian poetess living in London, is finally ready to bring us another book since her 2016 release of Your Soul is a River—a journey through space and self-love. On shelves in November, Wild Embers will be, as Gill describes, an explosive tale about trauma and the natural strength of women. Doesn’t that sound awesome?

Sad Birds Still Sing, by Faraway
Penned by a very mysterious Instagram famous poet, this delightful self-published collection touches on issues such as relationships, child abuse, and mental illness. This is a much more recent debut, yet I have still found myself going back to flip through it whenever I need an extra dose of hope and inspiration. It has made a permanent home on my bedside table.

love, and you, by gretchen gomez
This self-published poetry collection is about rising from the depths of an abusive relationship while touching on issues such as sexual assault, anxiety, depression, cancer, and healing. Another collection perfect for fans of Kaur who seek more feminist work of the same style penned by women of color. Gomez is an asexual Puerto Rican woman currently residing in the Bronx.