The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Bibliography:
Acevedo, Elizabeth. 2018. The Poet X. New York, NY: HarperTeen. ISBN: 9780062662804
Plot Summary:
The Poet X is a coming-of-age story written in verse poetry about a Latina teenage girl fighting her way through life as she navigates undesired attention, maturity, familial relationships, and finding her voice through poetry. Xiomara Batista is a natural poet who confines in her notebook where her poems are safe and secure from the world. Her devout mother requires Xiomara to live a vicarious religious lifestyle where young ladies do not ask questions or express secular ideas. Yet, Xiomara wants the freedom to explore new concepts of passion, love interests, and independence without feeling shamed by her old school Dominican parents. Xiomara has learned that questioning her faith, falling for a boy, and speaking her truth is best kept as a secret. Until her English teacher invites her to join the school's slam poetry club, which conflicts with her mandatory afterschool confirmation classes. As Xiomara's two worlds collide, the religious life her mother has required, and her newfound love for slam poetry, she realizes that her words and truth can't be restrained any longer.
Critical Analysis:
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo is an innovative storytelling experience as verse poetry reads off the page like a flowing narrative. Readers will not realize they are reading or listening to poetry as they discover this book. The rhythm of Acevedo's verses seamlessly progresses the plot on each page. Xiomara is a dynamic unforgettable character whose passion feels real and not from a fictitious perspective. The author's language brings Xiomara and all of the characters to life through unique voice, diction, and arrangement. For instance, the story effortlessly combines Spanish and English, and Acevedo provides enough context that non-Spanish speakers will not have any issues translating the work. Here's an example:
"'No te lo voy a decir otra vez.'
(But I know she will in fact tell me again. And again.)"
The author also incorporates distinctive figurative language such as similes and metaphors and different poetry styles like haikus. Here is another example:
Haiku: The Best Part About Thanksgiving Was When Mami:
"Returned my cell.
Until I remember I've
got no one to text."
Notice how Acevedo uses the title of chapters to incorporate into the story as well. She also conveys an emotional impact where readers will relate to Xiomara's natural feelings as she manages family issues, heartache, passion, and strength. The imagery laced within the story is vivid and creates visual reflections of the Harlem setting, Dominican culture, Catholicism beliefs, and teenage perspective.
Overall, this unique poetic narrative will appeal to young audiences progressing into adolescence or remind adult readers of their youthful years. Girls maturing into their teenage years will especially appreciate this story where young Latina women are accurately represented.
Review Excerpts:
Awards & Recognitions:
- 2018 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction & Poetry
- 2018 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adult Literature
- 2018 NAIBA Book of the Year for Young Adults
- 2018 National Book Award for Young People's Literature
- 2019 Carnegie Medal
- 2019 Michael L. Printz Award
- 2019 Pura Belpré Award for Author
- 2019 Walter Dean Myers Award
- Golden Kite Award for Young Adult Fiction
- Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Poetry
- Kirkus Prize Nominee for Young Readers' Literature
- Lambda Literary Award Nominee for LGBTQ Children's/Young Adult
- Lincoln Award Nominee
- Odyssey Award Nominee
- Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominee (2020)
From author Ibi Zoboi, "Acevedo has amplified the voices of girls en el barrio who are equal parts goddess, saint, warrior and hero."
From author Laurie Halse Anderson, "A story that will slam the power of poetry and love back into your heart."
From Kirkus Reviews, "Poignant and real, beautiful and intense, this story of a girl struggling to define herself is as powerful as Xiomara’s name: 'one who is ready for war.'"
From The New York Times, "The force and intensity behind her words practically pushes them off the page, resulting in a verse novel that is felt as much as it is heard. This is a book from the heart, and for the heart."
Connections:
- Host a virtual Zoom poetry slam. Invite patrons or students to join the meeting and share their written work. When it's safe to gather in groups again, host a poetry slam event at the library or school.
- Host a poetry workshop. Encourage patrons or students to join the workshop and practice writing in verse, rhyme, haikus, and other poetry inspired by The Poet X.
- Discussion: Listen to current rap and hip-hop artists with patrons or students. Ask the students to compare lyrics to poetry or express the meaning of the verses and their interpretations.
- Acevedo, Elizabeth. Beastgirl & Other Origin Myths. ISBN: 9781936919451
- Acevedo, Elizabeth. Clap When You Land. ISBN: 9780062882769
- Acevedo, Elizabeth. With the Fire on High. ISBN: 9780062662859
- Acevedo, Elizabeth. Write Yourself A Lantern: A Journal Inspired By The Poet X. ISBN: 9780062982278
- Atta, Dean. The Black Flamingo. ISBN: 9781444948585
- Charles, Tami. Muted. ISBN: 9781338673524
- Reynolds, Jason. Long Way Down. ISBN: 9781481438254
- Zoboi, Ibi and Yusef Salaam. Punching the Air. ISBN: 9780062996480
Extra Content: To Kick Those Boredom Blues
Elizabeth Acevedo performs one of the poems from The Poet X!