Delali Adjoa, author of the YA debut novel The Free Verse Society, celebrated her book being featured on the cover of Booklist magazine’s January issue. Published by Peachtree Teen, the novel is a tender hate-to-love romance about two teens who connect through their high school poetry club. Booklist, the official book review publication of the American Library Association, features actual book covers on each issue, making the selection a significant honor for debut authors seeking library and educator support.

Adjoa shared her excitement on Instagram: “The cover of THE FREE VERSE SOCIETY is on the cover of Booklist. I’m floored. I mean, HOW??? Thank you @peachtreeteen for working behind the scenes, for knocking on doors for me.” She acknowledged the work her publisher does behind the scenes and expressed gratitude to cover artists Kei Acedera and Lily Steele for the stunning artwork that caught Booklist’s attention.

The Free Verse Society follows Jae Aƒenyo, a teen mother who placed her baby for adoption and is seeking a fresh start in Delray, and Derek Patel, who is clinging to his old life after his father’s death. The two connect through their school’s poetry club despite initial friction. The novel addresses dark themes including teen pregnancy, addiction, grief, and family secrets, interspersed with free-verse poetry throughout. Adjoa received multiple rejections from publishers who found the manuscript too dark for post-pandemic years, despite praising it as gorgeous and deeply felt. The book has since received starred reviews from Kirkus and positive reviews from School Library Journal and Publishers Weekly.

The Free Verse Society releases March 10, 2026, from Peachtree Teen in hardcover and a deluxe paperback edition featuring sprayed edges. Adjoa writes fiction centered on identity, freedom, and family, drawing inspiration from the American South and its buried stories.

Preorder here.