Book Review - Verse Novel

The Taking of Room 114: A Hostage Drama in Poems by Mel Glenn

Glenn, Mel. 1997. The Taking of Room 114: A Hostage Drama in Poems. New York: Lodestar Books

The verse novel is a type of poetry book with which I was not familiar. After reading Mel Glenn’s The Taking of Room 114: A Hostage Drama in Poems, I have great admiration for this type of writing. Being poetry, the story must be presented in compact sentences that carry great meaning, and this is exactly what Mr. Glenn accomplishes. The setting is the last day of school at a high school, and the book begins with the students standing in line for the yearbook. Through thoughts and dialogue (mostly one-sided, as almost each person is represented in his/her own poem), the reader is allowed to “see” the students instead of being told about them.

After the introductory section, the actual hostage story begins with a note being given to the assistant principal from Mr. Wiedermeyer, the senior history teacher. Mr. Wiedermeyer is a veteran teacher, but for some reason he will not open his door. The book consists of the remembrances of every hostage student, one poem each for the four years in high school plus that last day, with five poems total per person. Woven throughout the story are reactions from the local police, television crews, parents, and bystanders. Interestingly, there are no direct thoughts from Mr. Wiedermeyer himself, only reactions from the students as they enter his class and find him waving a gun.

Mr. Glenn’s portrayal of each student is satisfactory. The reader is allowed to view the maturation of the students as they progress from ninth grade (some are very nervous and still child-like) through their senior year. The emotions encountered as each student enters the history class range from complete fear to bravery to swaggering nonchalance. The situation is finally resolved, and Mr. Glenn wraps up the ending nicely.

The entire book is a study of human emotions that will resonate with those in high school and late middle school, and with the teachers who encounter unknown situations each day. I found The Taking of Room 114: A Hostage Drama in Poems to be a quick read, but with much substance. According to Lesesne and Beers “The suspense of the situation will attract the reader; the power of the poetry will enthrall them.” (Lesesne & Beers, 1997)

Lesesne, T., & Beers, K. (1997, September). Review. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 41(1), 82. Retrieved February 23, 2009, from Academic Search Complete database.