The Poet X, written by Elizabeth Acevedo, tells the story of Xiomara Batista, a young girl growing up in Harlem. Xiomara feels unheard and unseen in her loud and chaotic world, but she discovers solace and strength in writing poetry. Through her poems, she explores her complex relationship with her strict Dominican parents, her evolving sense of self, and her budding romance with a boy named Aman.The Poet X is suitable for readers aged 13 and up. The novel offers opportunities for creative writing exercises, where students can write their own poems inspired by Xiomara's journey or explore themes of identity and belonging in their own lives.

In her debut novel, Acevedo tells the story of a teen from Harlem, who finds her voice in writing poetry, but who struggles against her mother’s expectations.

I love poetry. I am in awe with how much a poet can convey in so few words. And Acevedo does a truly marvelous job in this novel-in-verse.

Xiomara (sometimes referred to as Xio or simply X) is not the best student, but when it comes to her poetry her English teacher recognizes talent and encourages Xio to express herself. Being a teenager is hard. Xio’s path is further complicated by her early development of “curves” and by her twin brother’s genius status. (He has skipped a grade and attends a different school.) Then there is her mother, who at one time wanted to be a nun, but instead married Xio’s father. Mami insists that Xio attend church and be pious, but Xio isn’t feeling it.

She isn’t at all wild, but she is attracted to a boy in her biology lab. She would like to be able to be a normal teenager, with friends, including boys, but she cannot talk to her mother. So, she pours her feelings into her poetry, written in a leather-bound notebook her twin gave her. As she finds her voice, she also finds the courage to be herself. ( )

I read this book switching back and forth between audiobook and physical, and it was really wonderful both ways! It’s honest, engaging, and lively, and there was never a point where I wasn’t interested in X’s story. The explorations of thoughts on family, religious belief, teenage feelings, and finding your voice were all handled with such care and truthfulness that it was almost impossible to not become emotional involved. Acevedo is definitely an auto-read author for me now, both this and “With the Fire on High” were incredible books! ( )

Sooo good! My favorite poem was the one originally written in Spanish. ( )

I listened to the audiobook edition of this novel in verse, The Poet X, narrated by the author Elizabeth Acevedo herself.
A Dominican American teen, Xiomara, living in Spanish Harlem, writes of her life with her family: her twin brother, her father and her extremely religious Catholic mother. She write of her hopes and dreams, her internal battles with Catholicism, unwanted attention by males, her first love, her love of writing and poetry. Beautiful! ( )