What I've just finished reading: The Language Inside, by Holly Thompson

Plot: Japan is the only home Emma knows so when she moves to the US, it's her work and friendships made as volunteer at a care center that help.

What I think: I can't get enough this year of books written in verse: this one is lyrical and moving, covering numerous themes with ease and grace.

Why you should read it: Because it's a stunning novel about identity in our multicultural world. And because it's written in verse.

Extra bit: Multiculturalism, breast cancer, tsunami, locked-in syndrome, genocide, poetry - covers all these themes and more without overwhelming.