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“Adjoa’s debut is as emotionally rich as it is narratively layered. Jae and Derek’s relationship is built with care and realism; their eventual trust is rooted in understanding, a love of creativity, and the shared experience of having non-white fathers who didn’t fully pass on their cultures to their children. . . . A touching, vulnerable romance navigating gut-wrenching conflict to deliver the ultimate relief of catharsis.”

—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“Sharply rendered poems by various characters are interspersed throughout the protagonists’ compelling and unique alternating narration, and Jae and Derek’s electric chemistry leaps off the page.”

—Publishers Weekly

The Free Verse Society

Written by Delali Adjoa
Published by Peachtree Teen

No one in Delray knows Jae Aƒenyo’s story—that she’s a teen mom who placed her baby for adoption—and she intends to keep it that way. After moving in with her uncle, Jae is looking for a fresh start. But an accidental run-in with the school’s delinquent, Derek Patel, is not exactly what she had in mind. She soon finds a haven in the poetry club—at least, until Derek joins.

Derek Patel is desperately clinging to his old life—where his dad was alive, his mom was healthy, and they lived in an oceanfront estate instead of a run-down pink bungalow. He’ll do anything to hide his problems from his friends, including breaking into his old house to keep up the charade that he still lives there. But the house now belongs to the school’s lit teacher, who offers him the chance to join the poetry club as a penance.

As the newest members of the club, Jae and Derek are tasked with planning the end-of-semester poetry reading. While Derek is hell-bent on keeping his broken family a secret, Jae is desperate to prove to her uncle that she’s more than a walking statistic—which means guarding her heart against Derek, who her uncle thinks is no good.

Primary ISBN: 9781682638408
Publication Date: March 2026
Available As: Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook, eBook
Young Adult, Age 14 or older

Community Represented: ,

Themes: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: United States (Florida)

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 1st Generation

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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