This Week in Poetry — Week of June 8, 2026

Galahad and the Grail by Malcolm Guite, Susanna Clarke, Stephen Crotts added 72 ratings this week — more than any other Poetry title and notable for a book published this year. Here's what else moved.

Most Read Poetry Books This Week

Galahad and the Grail by Malcolm Guite, Susanna Clarke, Stephen Crotts

Published: April 20, 2026

This first Volume of Merlin's Isle tells the story of Sir Galahad and the other knights of the quest as they set out from Camelot to achieve the Holy Grail. The book plumbs the depths of the human soul, carrying readers through the Wasteland and onto the numinous shores of Faerie.

Stats: 316 → 388 (+72) — New release debut, first full week of tracking shows strong initial pickup.

Diary of an Oxygen Thief by Anonymous

Published: May 10, 2006

Hurt people hurt people. This novel is an honest, hilarious, and heartrending account of what we do to each other and what we allow to have done to us.

Stats: 78,304 → 78,340 (+36) — Steady performer, has added around 30-40 ratings/week for the past month.

The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey

Published: November 5, 1998

The Gashlycrumb Tinies tells the tale of 26 children and their untimely deaths in rhyming dactylic couplets, accompanied by distinctive black and white illustrations. It is a sarcastic rebellion against a view of childhood that is sunny, idyllic, and instructive.

Stats: 84,351 → 84,363 (+12) — Slow but steady growth, typical of a classic title.

Rising in Poetry

Night Owl: Poems by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

Published: March 31, 2026

Night Owl explores love, nature, and the transformative powers of the night through a series of nocturnes that explore the magic, sensuality, and life that emerge as the rest of the world goes to bed.

Stats: 203 → 219 (7.9%, +16) — Growth accelerating, up from 186 last week to 219 this week.

Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer by Paige Classey

Published: April 28, 2026

Anna-Jane is thrilled to be back at Camp Chester, but when the outside world goes dark, she and her friends soon realize they are in for the adventure of their lives this summer — and maybe even beyond.

Stats: 108 → 120 (11%, +12) — New release debut, strong initial pickup.

A Forest Begins Anew by Louise M. Aamodt, Elly MacKay

Published: May 12, 2026

Told through lyrical rhyme and stunning 3D cut-paper illustrations, this is the captivating story of a forest's renewal as it goes from ashes to new growth in the aftermath of a sweeping forest fire.

Stats: 82 → 90 (9.8%, +8) — Steady growth since publication.

The Size of Your Joy: Poems by Elise Powers

Published: April 21, 2026

The Size of Your Joy is an intimate and empowering exploration of the complex and often contradictory experiences of womanhood, offering an unflinching look at how identity, resilience, and self-worth are shaped by the intersections of love, grief, and longing.

Stats: 95 → 101 (6.3%, +6) — Slow but steady growth, typical of a new release.

Poetry Pick of the Week

Night Owl: Poems by Aimee Nezhukumatathil is the standout pick this week, with a 7.9% growth rate and an increase of 16 ratings. This new release debut shows strong initial pickup, outpacing other Poetry releases this week.