The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo is a novel powerfully written in verse, following the story of Xiomara, a young Dominican American girl from Harlem struggling with cultural, religious, and emotional conflicts. Xiomara finds solace in expressing herself through poetry as she navigates her teenage years, dealing with family expectations, first love, and finding her own voice. The book is written in a diary-like format, with each poem resembling an entry from Xiomara's point of view, showcasing her journey of self-discovery and empowerment through her words.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings for The Poet X include sexual harassment, misogyny, child abuse, and homophobia.
Has Romance?
There is a medium level of romance present in The Poet X, primarily focused on Xiomara's feelings for her lab partner, Aman.
From The Publisher:
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
Golden Kite Award Honor Book
Pura Belpré Award
National Book Award
Michael L. Printz Award
Winner of the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, the Michael L. Printz Award, and the Pura Belpré Award!
Fans of Jacqueline Woodson, Meg Medina, and Jason Reynolds will fall hard for this astonishing New York Times-bestselling novel-in-verse by an award-winning slam poet, about an Afro-Latina heroine who tells her story with blazing words and powerful truth.
Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking.
But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her frustration and passion onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like prayers-especially after she catches feelings for a boy in her bio class named Aman, who her family can never know about.
With Mami's determination to force her daughter to obey the laws of the church, Xiomara understands that her thoughts are best kept to herself. So when she is invited to join her school's slam poetry club, she doesn't know how she could ever attend without her mami finding out. But she still can't stop thinking about performing her poems.
Because in the face of a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to be silent.
"Crackles with energy and snaps with authenticity and voice." -Justina Ireland, author of Dread Nation
"An incredibly potent debut." -Jason Reynolds, author of the National Book Award Finalist Ghost
"Acevedo has amplified the voices of girls en el barrio who are equal parts goddess, saint, warrior, and hero." -Ibi Zoboi, author of American Street
This young adult novel, a selection of the Schomburg Center's Black Liberation Reading List, is an excellent choice for accelerated tween readers in grades 6 to 8.
Plus don't miss Elizabeth Acevedo's With the Fire on High and Clap When You Land!
Ratings (24)
Incredible (10) | |
Loved It (10) | |
It Was OK (2) | |
Did Not Like (1) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (41):
Read It (24) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (11) | |
Not Interested (5) |
4 comment(s)
Listen to the audiobook. It was fast pased and powerfull, it feelt like a punch in the stomach when I heard about her mother. Not an easy listen but an important one.
****5.0****
This was an amazing-amazing audiobook. I just loved it.
No words.... :)
Happy Reading!!!
I had no idea I would like this style of writing and poetry so much. I've read/listened to a few poetry style books in the past and had a difficult time getting into them. I flew through this listen and will absolutely be looking into some of her other works.
I really enjoy books that have emotional elements to them and that encourage the readers to think about life, relationships, and expectations. Poet X does all of these things in a deeply compelling way.
What can you read after
The Poet X?
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