Scan barcode
belkissmisa's review
1.0
All the themes discussed here are actually found in much much better written books. Don't waste your time on this misery
lay_kone's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
thepetitepunk's review
4.0
4.5 stars
My parents probably wanted a girl who would sit in the pews
wearing pretty florals and a soft smile.
They got combat boots and a mouth silent
until it’s sharp as an island machete.
The Poet X is an emotional coming-of-age story written in verse. Xiomara’s strict, religious mother has expectations for X that do not align with how she feels or what she experiences. To cope with the pressure of having a mother who condemns her actions and judges her body, Xiomara turns to poetry.
There’s a lot to unpack here: friends, family, relationships, religion, body/slut shaming, forgiveness. But Elizabeth Acevedo excellently conveys her characters in a way that you feel Xiomara’s pain and anger. Acevedo allows you to understand Xiomara when no one else does—which is certainly something we all need from time to time.
My parents probably wanted a girl who would sit in the pews
wearing pretty florals and a soft smile.
They got combat boots and a mouth silent
until it’s sharp as an island machete.
The Poet X is an emotional coming-of-age story written in verse. Xiomara’s strict, religious mother has expectations for X that do not align with how she feels or what she experiences. To cope with the pressure of having a mother who condemns her actions and judges her body, Xiomara turns to poetry.
There’s a lot to unpack here: friends, family, relationships, religion, body/slut shaming, forgiveness. But Elizabeth Acevedo excellently conveys her characters in a way that you feel Xiomara’s pain and anger. Acevedo allows you to understand Xiomara when no one else does—which is certainly something we all need from time to time.
kristensreading's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
seymone's review
4.0
A treat to listen to this book on audio. This novel took me back in time, to when I was an adolescent and I felt so misunderstood by everyone, especially my mother.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
stuckinafictionaluniverse's review against another edition
4.0
Imagine the most captivating scene of any fiction book, the climax that is fuelled by so much emotion that you can not put the book down. When the hero has to face their struggles, when the author's commitment and love for their characters shine through the page. You are rooting for them, because the book has reeled you in and every sentence is hitting you like a train. This whole novel reads like that scene, stretched out for 300 pages. Elizabeth Acevedo writes with a passion and intensity that many authors can only dream of. The themes of first love, identity struggles, friendship and family dynamics, religion... Acevedo tackles it all in this book in a completely convincing way. It felt like listening to a biography, the characters as real as if they were standing beside me.
I highly recommend the audiobook, which is narrated by the author herself. She made the story come to life and I think this is my new preferred way of reading books in verse. Can't wait to read more from her!
I highly recommend the audiobook, which is narrated by the author herself. She made the story come to life and I think this is my new preferred way of reading books in verse. Can't wait to read more from her!
miacrystal2's review
5.0
I loved all the representation in this book. I love her questions about Catholicism because they are similar to the questions I have about it. I loved how it was told in a poetic fashion. And I loved how it didn’t detail every scene, how X would talk about an event after the fact rather than in the moment.
emhunsber's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
emilyb_chicago's review
3.0
This was a fast paced book that would likely really resonate with teenaged readers. The poetic writing was lovely but just I didn't connect with it. The story itself was a pretty straightforward coming of age, which I'm glad we have but didn't really stand out to me.