17 A Novel in Prose Poems

by Liz Rosenberg

Book about Stephanie, a high school girl who struggles with depression, first love, family craziness, school comedies and still comes out on top. Some connections to the Persephone myth.

Genres: Young Adult, Poetry, Coming Of Age, Realistic Fiction, Mental Health

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Liz Rosenberg is an American poet, novelist, children's book author, and book reviewer. She is currently a professor of English at Binghamton University.

Reviews

[Holly McLean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liz Rosenberg's short novel 17 is interesting because of the way it is written in prose poems. The story was based around Stephanie and how she overcomes the issues of being a teenager, such as her desires and even her depression. I felt that the book didn't really have much of an interesting story to it, and the characters themselves failed to come to life for me. There were some issues that the main character was going through that I was partially able to relate to but there wasn't really anything that in depth that kept me hooked to the story. I felt it was a very basic story about a girl going through changes as a teenager but it wasn't very original and it's shortness didn't really give it a chance to develop into anything interesting. I feel the poetic elements to the story made it harder for me connect to the story because of its simplicity.

[Bryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not remember this particularly well, but when I was thinking of examples of good novels told in poetry it sprang to mind.

[avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

omg so good

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like this book, but have to give it a 4 because the extremely sparse writing style was so amazing that it invoked extremely real feelings in me that I did not like. So, despite this happening, I can't say that it was badly written because I think the reader is supposed to feel this way. A couple of pet peeves that the "wish I had been a book editor" in me has to mention:

1. they go to the "fine arts museum" in Boston. No such thing exists. It's the Museum of Fine Arts and everybody knows it.

2. they live outside of boston and the first flowers are out before the end of Februrary??? Absolutely no way!

3. the mother invents "girl scout stew" which isn't true. This recipe has been around for ages...my mother served it and it was called "brownie stew."

4. people on the commuter rail into Boston would NEVER EVER say "how 'bout those Yankees." They just wouldn't. Even if they liked the yankees!

[Myrna Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead! I found this book in my high school library about a year ago when they were giving away books. I read the back cover and the inside cover and thought this book unique with the prose poetic way the story is told and became interested having it. I put off reading it for so long and now finally finishing it-- the book has more meaning to me. I found Stephanie's downward spiral with the depression, anxiety and almost paranoia problems relatable to me early this year with relationships. Parts of Denny remind me a bit of a boy I know whom I once loved, and I reacted much like Stephanie. The book is different and the poetry nature of it makes me book more enjoyable to read and I'm glad in the end Stephanie may have a brighter beginning with Ben and move on from this seeing as she is only 17 like myself. Definitely recommend reading this summer and perhaps read it again when the plot becomes a blur to see if it has more meaning than before.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gothic story about Stephanie, a 17 year old girl, struggling with her mother's mental illness and her battle with depression and anorexia. For such a short book, there are a breadth of topics, namely one of sex and love when she meets Denny. Her first. But can the love/sex stay if all they had in common was poetry and even if Denny might be gay? Wonderfully written.

"All right," Clarissa says. But, it isn't clear what she's saying all right to. In a few minutes, she's breathing evenly again. Sometimes the girl feels like the only one awake in a sleeping kingdom.

[Taryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm usually all for angst-ridden stories about high school girls, including the pitfalls of first love and the inadequacies of parenting skills to soften the blows of adolescence... but this book was just plain depressing. The style was unique, but there seemed to be so little light emanating from the main character, and so little joy in the "happy" ending. I can appreciate a certain amount of realism, but I hope there are more redemptive books out there for the youth of today. (Do I sound old or what?!)

[Rosalee]

This book wasnt really a five star book. Its okay though. It is written in a poem type of way. It is about a girl who's family is a little crazy. Her mother has what people would consider ADD. Her dad and brother is the only normal ones. She thinks that her life is coming down until she meets this one boy who changes her life and they fall "in love". But she thinks something doesnt feel right feel the need to do something so she does. If you want to know what happens then read the book.
"

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written as a series of prose poems, Stephanie's story emerges in bits of sparse but surprisingly descriptive language. Her mother is mentally ill and Stephanie wanders through her life, struggling with her own depression and first love, as she waits for her mother to fall apart. Parts of this book were utterly amazing, but it was too short to let Stephanie deal with the many issues in her life in a satisfying way.

[Jenn Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Aunt Mia gave this beautiful book to me on my 17th birtday. Little did she know how prfound I would find this writing. As a young red haired child of a well meaning, but bi-polar mother, I could understand the plights of the main character and take refuge in the knowledge that I was indeed not alone.

[Gerry LaFemina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been called a YA novel in prose poems, but it's more a novel in short chapters. There lovely passages in this coming of age story of a 17 year old girl trying to find her first love with an in-the-closet boy and find peace in house overseen by a mentally ill mother. Well done, but not what I was expecting.

[Anthonella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have an attachment to this book. Fell in love with the format but I really liked the parts where Stephanie was with her family. I loved especially when she hung out with Justin, her younger brother. He is such an adorable character! Ben was great too. I will keep calling him Mephisto.

Update: I read this in 8th grade. Idk how good it is now but I will trust my 8th grade self! (march 31, 2026)

[Tannenbaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

terrific YA book-- also read Home Repair, her adult novel, which I liked as well. 17 great portrait of teenage first love, depression, confusion. Nice touch of humor, too. Surprised this one isn't better known

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coming-of-age novel in prose poems.

[Lauren]

I didn't enjoy this book at all. I thought it was pretty terrible. It was about a girl that has problems with everything and gets depressed for no reason. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not one for poety, but this was really cool. I really liked it. It had really good emotions and they were portrayed very well.

[Herman Kaplin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific book about adolescent angst, first love, how being in high school can feel a whole lot like being in Hades.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

very intriguing and inspirational.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely coming of age story of first love, loss, and renewal.