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pagesofplatypus's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
There's a reason why they're called poetry slams. It's been a while since a book has slammed me so hard with so many different emotions.
Written in verse, readers step right into Xiomara's mind and heart. Every emotion, her anger, her passion, her fear, her intrepidness, her hurt, her yearning for the feeling of being truly seen is felt profoundly.
Xio's relationship with her mother had me sobbing. It's as rough as the first draft of poem. Layered and complex as generational trauma, religious trauma, and everything else that makes mother-daughter relationships so damn complicated whirls in a hurricane throughout the story.
I like how as much is The Poet X is about Xiomara finding herself, it's also about how others shape us, how we think of ourselves, and what pieces of ourselves we're willing to sacrifice and bury. And, most importantly, The Poet X is about words. How they free us, give us power, and give us belonging.
Written in verse, readers step right into Xiomara's mind and heart. Every emotion, her anger, her passion, her fear, her intrepidness, her hurt, her yearning for the feeling of being truly seen is felt profoundly.
Xio's relationship with her mother had me sobbing. It's as rough as the first draft of poem. Layered and complex as generational trauma, religious trauma, and everything else that makes mother-daughter relationships so damn complicated whirls in a hurricane throughout the story.
I like how as much is The Poet X is about Xiomara finding herself, it's also about how others shape us, how we think of ourselves, and what pieces of ourselves we're willing to sacrifice and bury. And, most importantly, The Poet X is about words. How they free us, give us power, and give us belonging.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Sexual harassment
anne_reader's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Child abuse, Sexism, Drug use, Misogyny, Body shaming, Homophobia, and Physical abuse
gwenswoons's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Just finished this and wept (not for the first time while reading it). I have physical copies of both this and Family Lore (which is next-ish on my TBR, esp now ❤️), but I downloaded The Poet X on audio on a whim a week ago - read by the author herself, so gorgeously it stops the heart. I’ve been listening on the way to and from my quartet rehearsals this week, and kept often having to turn it back a minute to just hear the words one more time, sometimes two - every single line, word, moment is so precious and so unlike anything I have ever read. I cannot tell you how much you need to read this book. Every word is a miracle.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Homophobia
joynayakate's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry
micaelacccc's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
This hit so hard for me, it was so beautiful, such an important book that everyone should read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Body shaming, and Bullying
Minor: Pedophilia
jessiecat's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, and Physical abuse
quechl's review against another edition
3.75
A good book that wasnt to my taste.
this is a pretty well-written book. it develops a well-written story about a teenage girl struggling with family, religion, body dysphoria, and more. it was objectively good. it just wasnt for me, something i knew going into it (modern/contemporary books dont tend to be my cup of tea, but i was trying to branch out a bit), and i will admit, the final chapters really hooked me in, but it otherwise wasnt to my taste. the characters are well written, but frankly, i dont find very many of them likable. X is fine, and that's the only perspective you see, but the other characters (her mother in particular) are... something. well written, but REALLY not all that likable. Her mother genuinely made me so angry; and while that's definitely a sign of good storytelling, i don't think i was meant to be as genuinely upset at her as i was. i did not expect her to be as downright emotionally abusive as she was, intentionally or not. abuse is abuse, and the ending really upset me, especially how easy to forgive X was.
this is a pretty well-written book. it develops a well-written story about a teenage girl struggling with family, religion, body dysphoria, and more. it was objectively good. it just wasnt for me, something i knew going into it (modern/contemporary books dont tend to be my cup of tea, but i was trying to branch out a bit), and i will admit, the final chapters really hooked me in, but it otherwise wasnt to my taste. the characters are well written, but frankly, i dont find very many of them likable. X is fine, and that's the only perspective you see, but the other characters (her mother in particular) are... something. well written, but REALLY not all that likable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Body shaming and Dysphoria
Minor: Sexual content
rebeccafarren's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Religious bigotry
beldaran1224's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
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? Yes
4.75
I highly recommend the audiobook, as the narrator (also the author) does an exceptional job at giving voice to Xiomara. It a coming-of-age story that will move you over and over, and for adults, will remind us of what it means to be a teen just figuring things out. It isn't an easy story - Xiomara goes through a lot.
The only reason this isn't 5 stars is the ending isa bit too neatly wrapped up, with abusers doing about-faces and all wounds healing.
Content warnings:vivid portrayals of parental abuse; frequent portrayals of sexual harassment of minors (catcalls, groping, etc.); religious trauma with Catholicism as the religion depicted; heavy depictions of misogyny, particularly related to sex, bodies and menstruation. All of these are interrogated & narratively condemned.
The only reason this isn't 5 stars is the ending is
Content warnings:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Outing
kindredspirit7's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book is absolute perfection. The audiobook is impeccable. I don’t live in New York. I’m a white middle class young woman from the Appalachian mountains. But there was something so relatable in the way x related with Christianity and the way she experiences her first love. Her relationship with her mother. It all spoke to the 16 year old girl in me who was grappling with love and sex and who she was all while surrounded by a family that was pious and knowing she was different. The writing is beautiful. The story is heartwarming and heartbreaking. I laughed, I cried, I felt angry for X. If I could make it everyone read this book I would.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Cursing, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, and Body shaming