Serafina's Promise by Ann E. Burg

Interest Level: 5-8 grade

Reading Level: 3.8 grade
Lexile: 590 HL
Genre: Realistic fiction/Novel in verse

Currently on pg. 11

I chose to read this book because it is one of the ORCA books. It is written in verse. I am not a fan of books written in verse. Since I tend to avoid these novels, I did a little research on why an author would write a novel in verse and why would someone choose to read them. The author Terry Farish said, "Many who work with English-language learners and others who struggle with reading seek novels that promote fluency and a sense of competence in readers. Verse novels accomplish just that." Teens, teachers, and librarians have suggested: 

“The length of the lines of the verses shaped the strands of a braid.”
“The lines made me race.”
“The verses are like tweets, a short form that our brains are adapting to.”
“The story is told in images, and it’s like you’re seeing frames in a movie.”
“The lines made me read slowly.”
And so, I read.

http://www.slj.com/2013/11/industry-news/why-verse-poetic-novels-are-a-natural-fit-for-historical-fiction-displacement-stories-and-struggling-readers/#_