The Poet X

Have you ever read a book and literally read every single word? And focus on every single word? Maybe you have, but I haven’t. I read really fast, I mean, fast, and so I go through words like... Pop Rocks. You don’t just eat one Pop Rocks piece at a time, you pour the package into your mouth and get the experience that way. I take in full sentences like that, not word over word, but full sentences at a glance. It’s really hard to explain. I understand everything I read, with amazing clarity but I’ve never focused in, really looked at the words used in every single sentence in a book until The Poet X. Of course I’ve analyzed literature and poetry for school work, and I read words out loud of course, but if I think about words on the page, The Poet X, made me think about the economy of words, and the precision with which to use them. The whole book is poetry, told in narrative, about Xiomara, a Dominican girl growing up in a strict home, trying to find her voice. She uses this book as her journal so readers gain insight to her as she writes her feelings down about her family, religion, growing up, boys, and poetry. Acevedo has a powerful way of expressing the thoughts and feelings of a girl growing up in a stifling home. Of a girl growing up in a body she has no control over. She’s got so many powerful poems in this book. My favorite is “Unhide-able” because Xiomara is trying to come to terms with her body in a house that wants her to cover up her body, in a neighbor that wants to catcall her body, in a generation that wants to speak out about her body and the jealousy that comes along with it. She writes: “I am I unhide-able. Taller than even my father, with what Mami has always said / was “a little too much body for such a young girl.” / I am the baby fat that settles into D cups and swinging hips / so that the boys who called me a whale in middle school / now ask me to send them pictures of myself in a thong. The other girls call me conceited. Ho. Thot. Fast. / When your body takes up more room then your voice / you are always the target of well-aimed rumors, / which is why I let my knuckles talk for me. / Which is why I learned to shrug when I name was replaced by insults. I’ve forced my skin just as thick as I am” (7). So many women go through this same thing. So many teenagers and women alike just have to take this kind of criticism and this kind of rumor gossip mill stuff and Xio captures it perfectly here in this one poem. Xio learns to shrug the gossip off, like many of us do, but at 16 --- what kind of message is she internalizing? At the climax of the book, Xio writes, “The world is almost peaceful / when you stop trying / to understand it” (223). It’s so powerful, right? Acevedo has such a gift for language. If you’ve never heard any of her actual spoken word, please do yourself a favor and go now. She’s so amazing. The story Acevedo weaves through her poetry is one about self acceptance more than anything but it takes a huge family detonation to come about. That hit home for me. I think it does for a lot of people. It’s so relatable and honest. It’s hard to find out what we’re meant to be when we aren’t allowed to be ourselves, right? I think Acevedo captures that so well in this book. Do yourselves a favor. Get this book. Binge it. You’ll thank me.

Words can not describe how The Poet X made me feel. It took the breath right out of me. My heart was beating like a drum. I felt heaviness in my chest, but also felt like I was flying. Even now that I’ve finished reading, I’m left with an emotional weight in my heart. How did this amazing, beautiful author manage to capture such power and raw emotion with so few words? How have I never found the beauty of a story told through verse before? This book was everything! It was beauty. It was power. It was a sensational Own Voices story, and it was incredibly poignant, moving and thought provoking! Xiomora was fierce! She was strong, and she fought. She fought through her questioning her faith, she fought for her independence, she fought for her freedom of expression, and she fought for herself! She was brave and intelligent, and she was beautiful! Though I never really grew up embracing, or being taught, my Mexican culture, I know my mother and her sisters and brother did. You could say I didn’t have much I could relate to with Xiomora, except for the expression of herself through her poetry, but, I did feel like I could still relate to her home, and neighborhood life, slightly in knowing that my mom’s family was raised Catholic and knowing what kind of neighborhood she grew up in (and had to walk home from school through) where my grandfather and the neighborhood gang members had a mutual respect and understanding with each other. I also remember being taken to church (and completing communion) as a child because it was what grandma had wanted. And, though there was still very little I could personally relate to with the story (I could very much relate to writing poetry to express my feelings, as it was an outlet for me during a bout of depression in high school), or see as a reflection of my own life, I realized how important it was that there are readers out there who could. This story was so powerful, and it really showed how important it is to have Own Voices representation. The Poet X was a coming of age story. It was a story of self-discovery, self-love, and the importance of family, friendship, and standing up for those you love. It highlighted issues of rape culture, body acceptance, abuse, forced religion, and homophobia. It was powerful, beautiful, and poetic.

The Poet X is an incredible debut that showcases Elizabeth Acevedo’s gift for blending poetry with storytelling. This novel-in-verse tells the story of Xiomara, a fierce young woman finding her voice amid cultural expectations and personal struggles. Acevedo’s writing is raw, rhythmic, and deeply emotional, you can feel every word hit with real weight. The book beautifully captures the complexity of identity, family, and self-expression in a way that’s both intimate and universal. What makes this book special is how it gives space to voices often unheard, making it a must-read for teens and adults alike who crave authentic stories that speak to the heart. If you love powerful poetry and stories about discovering your true self, The Poet X will resonate long after the last page.

4.5 stars I never knew I liked poetry. I’ve never been drawn to it. I have only ever read it in school, where it often left me bewildered. I would stretch my brain to search for the meaning behind the words of Dickinson, Whitman, and Frost. It was such a struggle. And not a very enjoyable one, at that. I would silently hope that the teacher would not call on me, knowing that I didn’t have many, or any, thoughts to contribute to the class discussion. But that no longer is the case. Now, I get it. With “The Poet X,” Elizabeth Acevedo has opened my eyes and mind. I see poetry in a different light. And it is a warm, luminous, enveloping light. “I only know that learning to believe in the power of my own words has been the most freeing experience of my life. It has brought me the most light. And isn’t that what a poem is? A lantern glowing in the dark.” “The Poet X” is a Young Adult novel-in-verse. Through free verse slam poetry, Acevedo tells the story of 15-year-old Xiomara Batista, as she comes of age in Harlem. Her parents are Dominican and her mother, especially, is devoutly religious. So desperate is her mother to force Xiomara to conform to the laws of the Church that she often employs emotional and physical abuse as punishment for Xiomara’s transgressions. There are many, many thoughts swirling in Xiomara’s head -- a multitude of emotions, questions, and frustrations. She feels ignored and unheard by her parents. She doubts Christianity, as she feels it is being forced down her throat by her mother. She fights her developing body and the unwanted, harassing attention it brings her from boys and men. She has newfound feelings for a boy in her class at school, even though she knows her parents will not approve. With having so much to say and no one who will listen, Xiomara turns to her writing journal. And she writes poem after poem after poem. She writes all that she cannot speak. She refuses to be silenced. One of my reasons for reading “The Poet X” is that I desired a challenge. I wanted to step outside the box, outside my comfort zone. And I don’t know if I am even qualified to write a review of this novel. This is my very first novel-in-verse, and I have read nothing else to which I can compare it. But I do know I loved it. Truly loved it. Acevedo’s writing is just so powerful. Her poetry is raw and razor sharp. Her words are fiery and blaze across the page. They cut like a knife, straight into your soul. The language is spare. Clear and concise. There is no excess. No filler. Every. Word. Counts. We feel Xiomara's rush of first love, and the headiness it brings her. We feel her anger towards her mother and her internal confusion about religion. We feel her rising indignation from being repeatedly sexually harassed at school and in her neighborhood. “When I’m told to have faith in the father the son in men . . . and men are the first ones to make me feel so small.” We feel it all. And it is a beautiful thing. Had it not been for the quick ending, “The Poet X” would have garnered a full five stars from me. But the story is too easily and tidily wrapped up. Particularly, the resolution of the story line regarding Xiomara’s relationship with her mother. It just doesn’t ring true, what with the speed of it all. If “The Poet X” calls to you, answer the call. If you feel any pull to read it, allow yourself to be pulled. Challenge yourself. Try something different. For -- “There is power in the word.”

5/5 Stars "She tells me words give people permission to be their fullest self." ~ Elizabeth Acevedo I won't lie, I am not a poetry person. I have read more poetry than I care to think about. It just wasn't really my thing. Except for the Pre-Raphaelite Poets. I like them a lot. They talk about love and everyone dies. Anyone who has read my writing knows that's sort of my brand. But other than that, I'm not someone who is going to pick up a book of poetry. Except I did, in this instance. And I'm really glad I did. The reason I picked up this book was because it won the National Book Award and also because everyone is raving about it. Additionally, I haven't read near enough books by Latinx authors and if you follow this blog, you'll know I'm trying to make an active effort to read more diversely. Anyway, it's a good thing I did pick up this sharp, smart, emotional not-as-little-as-I-was-expecting book of poetry because it was mind blowing, and it's now going to give me a reason to introduce you to another one of my automatic 5-star rules. A couple weeks ago, I talked about how if a book makes me cry, it gets an automatic 5-star review from me. I have a few of these rules, and THE POET X, a stunning book of poetry by Elizabeth Acevedo, brings me to another: If the book makes me want to create, it gets an automatic 5-star review. This book made me want to write. Just the titles of the poems if read by themselves could tell an emotional story. It was clear to me that the author, as well as her main character, were head over heels in love with the written word. The book felt like a winding, twisting experiment in verse. It was a kind of playful, unabashed exploration in writing I haven't felt since before I went to college, since before a "serious" pursuit of craft. When I put that book down, I sat in silence for a long while. Then I took a shower, and while I showered, all I could think about was how desperate I was to write. How much I wanted to redefine myself, to reconnect with the love I'd once felt. Until then, I hadn't even realized I'd lost some of my passion. But I had. And this book made me want to get it back, to pursue it with the same reckless abandon I had before. It made me want to fall back in love with the written word, and there is literally nothing more powerful than that. In a reading slump? Try this book. Writing slump? Give it a read. Haven't painted or drawn or written a new song in a bit? Pick it up. It is a quick read and well, well worth the effort.

I'd forgotten how much I love books told in verse. I used to read verse books back in the day but haven't picked up one in a while. The Poet X was so good. I highly recommend it. I love Acevedo's writing and how she portrays Xiomara. It is like I was transported into her head and I could feel everything she was feeling. It was so refreshing to get a new perspective while I was reading this book. I could relate to many of the things Xiomara goes through. I definitely understand the questioning of her religion. There were many things I can't relate to but getting to see the struggles of a young woman growing up in a very religious household and who has to deal with how she can explore who she is was very eye opening. I loved the poetry aspect of the story. I have never been big into poetry but this book was so beautiful. You can tell that Acevedo is a true master at it. I did wish we would have gotten to see some some of the poems that Xiomara actually wrote or performed at poetry club or the slam sessions. But none the less, it was an integral part of who she was and her character growth and I loved seeing that blossom. Overall, I loved this book and getting to know Xiomara and her family. It was so incredible and revitalizing to read. I am so glad I picked this book up. I am not always the biggest fan of contemporary reads, but this one is a must read. If you haven't picked this one up yet, you definitely should. I also wanted to mention that I did a combination of reading the physical book and listening the audio book. I think it is amazing that Acevedo narrates her own audio book. I thought it gave another layer to the story that you wouldn't have gotten otherwise. I will definitely be checking out her other books.

So, first my critical thoughts and then my personal thoughts: The formatting of this book is gorgeous. The way the poems are structured on the page tell the story and convey the mood of a scene just as effectively as the words. The story is conveyed in a deftly succinct, but rich and moving way. The minimal approach to storytelling really makes the character come alive in your mind. I felt at home in Xio’s head, comfortable and able to understand her heart through the language And pacing Acevedo utilizes like a great chef utilizes familiar but perfectly balanced flavor profiles. If you enjoy great writing and a unique approach to storytelling, you will love this book. As for my personal experience with The Poet X? Poetry has always felt like nourishment to my soul, but I’ve never felt it pierce so deeply and so directly into my heart as this book and its narrative poetry managed to do. As a Latin blooded teenager, I felt all wrong in my own body compared to my white friends, and I related to Xio’s discomfort in a lot of ways. While she became tough, I became invisible. My story isn’t like hers, except that I too found comfort in words and writing. I found enough connection to move me to tears by the end of this beautiful, heartfelt story about finding your words. I love this book. It has become an instant favorite. Beautiful and moving and earnest doesn’t even begin to cover it. Anyone who has latinx roots, has ever been a teenage girl, has ever struggled to find our voice, or who has a compassionate, empathetic heart should read this book.

Slam poetry can be powerful but especially so when recited out loud. The raw energy of slam poetry wasn't lost in the book format; the text flowed beautifully, and I could almost hear it recited with passion in my head. I felt like I could really hear Xiomara's character and voice in the lines. It was easy to adore her as a character when I got such an intimate look into her inner world. As I liked Xiomara so much as a character I was happy to read about how she opened up and how her support network grew over the book. I liked her relationship with her Twin and best friend Caridad. The relationship of the siblings felt very realistic and I loved reading about it. Some of my absolute favourite bits were about Xiomara and Xavier. I also enjoyed that she had a supportive best friend in Caridad with no unnecessary tension for random suspense between them. The addition of a sweet and caring boyfriend, an understanding and supportive teacher and new friends from the poetry club added some truly wholesome poems to the mix. Lastly, I was grateful Xiomara's family took steps to work through their problems without past hurts and abuse getting brushed aside. I thought it was a very important point to make that the relationship Xiomara had with her mother (and father) would probably never be perfect even though they seeked out help to better their relationship. List of my favourite poems: Unhide-able, Names, God, More about Twin, Okay?, Church Mass, What Twin Be Knowing, What Twin Knows, Braiding, Fights, Gay, When I'm Done, Birthdays, The Next Move, Stronger.

Ouvi o audiobook em inglês desse livro pelo scribd enquanto acompanhava pelo e-book e totalmente me apaixonei. A escrita de Elizabeth Acevedo carrega força, e sua narração potencializa essa força. A história de Xiomara me lembrou as histórias da Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. As duas autoras escrevem sobre a dor, sobre o silenciamento, sobre o fortalecimento e sobre o amor de forma única e bela. The Poet X é um livro singular que retrata os percalços de uma garota descobrindo suas potencialidades mas que tem sua liberdade e descoberta privadas desde sempre. Dificilmente alguma mulher não se sentiu assim em algum momento da vida.

A surprising, exciting coming of age novel made out of poems that are meant to be delivered out loud. So... you imagine the delivery. A testimony of dignity and youth. Loved it.

Todo correcto, edición sencilla y humilde perfecta para el uso que se va dar:la lectura recomendada del cole

such a beautiful and empowering story. i just love reading Elizabeth Acevedos’ books in verse. so touching it made me cry multiple times because it’s written in an incredibly emotional way and illustrates social issues very well

The moment I started reading Elizabeth Acevedo's The Poet X, I knew that I won't be able to put it down before I finish reading it. I read the entire book in a few hours and here's what I feel about it. 📓 It is the story of Xiomara, a young girl who lives in Harlem and is a target of insults, especially in her school. Things are ugly even at her home because she lives with parents who fail to understand her and bind her with so many restrictions. Her writing becomes her medicine and she does that every day to ease her pain. However, this calls out for more trouble and she faces life-changing choices. 📓 🌟Why you should read this book🌟 -The narrative is amazing. It is written in the form of verse. It is not only engaging but it is also very unique. -There are myriad themes covered in this book. Religion, gender, sexuality and identity are the major ones. There are strong statements which might not go well with some people but when read practically, they all make sense. -The book has a sweet love story intertwined with the above mentioned strong themes which is very powerful and non-cheesy at the same time. -The narrative is very connecting and one can actually feel the raw emotions of the protagonist. None of it seems forced or over done. 📓 My rating: 5/5