Welcome to April’s 12 Months of Reading! Each month in 2025, I will host a different reading challenge category. These categories are broad to fit a variety of reading preferences.
The April 2025 12 Months of Reading Challenge category is: A Book of Poetry or a Poetic Book.
Did you know April is National Poetry Month? I love celebrating poetry, hearing poetry read, reading poetry and—occasionally—writing poetry.
While I realize poetry isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, I encourage everyone to at least sample a little poetry this month. Poems are typically short, so a sample wouldn’t require a large commitment. You can find many poems on poets.org, which is also where you can find more information on celebrating National Poetry Month.
True to my commitment to broad categories, I worded this month’s with intentionality. While “a poetry book” may be fairly specific, “a poetic book” widens the reading field significantly.
Seriously … I’ve said it before; I’ll say it again:
The Category Is a Guide, Not a Rule
I am big on readers reading what they love. For that reason, my book club has no set book! And that is why when I set reading categories for 12 MOR and my other challenges, I make them as broad as possible.
If a reader prefers nonfiction to fiction, they should still be able to participate. If they prefer short form writing or poetry or anything else, again, they should be able to mold the category to their preferences.
I am also quite flexible on what fits each category. If a reader is uncertain of a category, they need only ask. At the end of the day, my top priority is encouraging readers to read more.
My Recommendations
Again, these four books are simply my suggestions to fit the category. Readers may choose any book they’d like that the category can mold to.
And Back Again by K. Gartman
This is the book I intend to read as we begin our April challenge, and this young poet is quite special. She is the daughter of a dear author friend of mine, and this is her second published book of poetry.
I read and enjoyed her first book, Coram Deo, a few years ago, so I look forward to enjoying this one as well. Here’s a link to my Goodreads review of her first poetry book: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3242679009.
To join me in reading And Back Again this month, get your copy here: https://bookshop.org/a/95576/9780997203387.
Grief Like a River by Mea Smith
Whenever I encounter someone who is grieving, I immediately think about giving them this book. I believe it is one of the best books on grief and the grieving process.
Mea has a way with poetry that is subtle and straightforward, approachable and relatable. Her words are music and her heart shines through with each beat and line. And, I’m not just saying all that because she’s my critique partner, co-author and overall writing partner-in-crime.
I highly recommend this book for anyone willing to open their hearts to poetry as well as to seasoned lovers of the genre.
Visit Mea’s website for an inside look at her poetry and illustrations, as well as buy links: https://storyswell.net/grief-like-a-river.
A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis
For whatever reason, my mind takes me to grief when I consider a nonfiction option for “a poetic book.” Yours may take you to an exploration of the migration of butterflies. Wherever you drift, this example will hopefully give you a nudge.
C.S. Lewis is one of the most beloved authors, perhaps best known for his Chronicles of Narnia series. He was also a later-in-life Christian, and an honest and frank writer about the Christian life.
He wrote this book from the heartbreak of the loss of his wife, Joy. As I said in my Goodreads review, this book “reveals grief, unedited.”
Here is a link for readers ready to add A Grief Observed to their shelves: https://bookshop.org/a/95576/9780060652388.
One Good Thing by Joy E. Rancatore
I humbly offer the final piece of my four-book collection as an example of “a poetic book.”
One Good Thing is an epistolary novel which is told through the journal entries of one character and the letters of another. The reason I consider this book to be poetic at its heart is poetry is personal, intimate. What’s more personal and intimate than journal entries and letters to a loved one?
Check out this page for more details on the book and to watch me read the first lines of each characters’ entries.
A personal copy can be purchased here: https://bookshop.org/a/95576/9781733138796. Reviews and further details may be found on the Goodreads page.
12 Months of Reading Challenge Reminders
My heart’s desire for 12 Months of Reading is that it encourages timid readers, stokes the embers of readers’ passions that have grown cold in the busyness of society, brings readers and authors together to share the joy of stories and spreads a splash of fun throughout the year.
For competitive readers who choose to read a book in each month’s category, they may download and print out a 12 Months of Reading Challenge Tracker PDF. Once they complete their twelfth book in December, they can scan or snap a picture of the filled-in PDF and email it to me for a prize: a stylish calendar with next year’s 12 Months of Reading categories.
To purchase a current version of the calendar (supplies are limited) and to participate in 12 Months of Reading, download free graphics and the PDF tracker, find links to each month’s book recommendation post and more in one spot, visit www.joyerancatore.com/12-months-of-reading.
Comment below with what you plan to read and then return to share a review. If the comment section is not working, feel free to email me. Let’s #ShareTheRead!
(If you use the bookshop.org links above to order, I receive a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting me and independent bookstores by using them for your online bookstore purchases!)
Remember to #ShareTheRead! Tap the graphic below to download each month’s graphic to share on your social media. How many reader friends can you bring to the party?
Tap the image above to download each month’s graphic. Share graphics on social media with #ShareTheRead and #12MonthsOfReading and tag @joyerancatore!
Tap the graphic above to join LAM Book Club for an extra way to #ShareTheRead with fellow readers! No set book. Meet virtually once a month. Share what you’re reading or ask for recommendations.