Verse Novel

Hidden

Frost, Helen. Hidden. New York:  Francis Foster Books. 2011.

ISBN  9780374382216 

SUMMARY:  This verse novel begins when Wren is accidentally kidnapped by Darra’s father when he steals her Wren’s mother’s car.  She is trapped at Darra’s house until Darra helps her to escape.  Darra’s father is arrested, and Darra feels her life is ruined.

The girls end up at the same summer camp six years later when they are fourteen.  They immediately recognize each other and the rest of the novel is about how they come to terms with what happened six years ago. The book is told from each girl’s point of view and alternates between them.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:  This verse novel is a great example of how students can solve their own problems in difficult situations without fighting and violence. The story focuses on friendship and forgiveness.  The book is told alternatively through Wren and Darra’s points of view.  The poems are free verse and I felt that the situation the girls found themselves in, is completely original.

The book contains a table of contents and a Diving Deeper section, where the author discusses the book and her poetic technique. The book divided into three parts.  The first part is written by Wren and the poems in that section are numbered. “The placement of the words on the page is something like a musical notation. The numbered sections indicate the passage of time”(Frost, p. 145).

The second section is told by Darra and the poems “are written in a form invented for this book.  The last words of the long lines, when read down the right side of the page, give further insight into her story”(Frost, p. 145).

There is also an Acknowledgements section.  There are no illustrations, but the cover is intriguing.  It shows two girls who are very different physically, with their long hair intertwined.

This is a great read for reluctant readers, it has a beginning that will catch readers’ attention, while showing a great example of how two girls deal with a difficult, emotional situation.  I would recommend this book for fifth grade through high school.  

POETRY EXCERPT:

I’ve Never Seen Her

Darra 

“How many girls my age named Wren can there be?  Plus I

Remember her picture, and she looks exactly

The same.  Older, of course, and different hair,

But it has to be here.  Now I really don’t want to stay!  Mom, could

We please get back in the car and go home?

Mom says, Grandma just wanted you to be

Happy! Is that asking too much of you?  How many ways can I tell

Her the same thing?  I turn away.  She goes, Darra!

And this girl Wren, hears my name, and gets

A look, like something just hit her.  I see it in slow motion.  She

Doesn’t want to look at me, but she can’t help it,

And I can’t help staring back.  Mom asks,

Do you know that girl?  I think:  Hello?  Remember?  She was

In our garage eavesdropping on everything…”

EXTENTION ACTIVITY:  After reading the book, I would use this free verse novel to illustrate the concept of two sides to an argument, or point of view.  I would get students to remember a disagreement they have had with someone, providing an example from my own experience.  Then, I would have them write about the situation, tell their side of the argument, and then have them try and write about the same situation from the other person’s point of view.  They would then write a conclusion about what they learned from the experience. 

RESOURCES:

Frost, Helen. Hidden. New York:  Francis Foster Books. 2011.

Images by Google Images.