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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
jooniethemoonie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
this book is so me!! I've never felt so SEEN by a book like this. I may but be Dominican, but Haitian is close enough! if you're an inspiring girl with Caribbean immigrant parents, this book is for you!! 🤩🩷
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Bullying, Misogyny, Cursing, Sexual harassment, and Homophobia
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
draven_deathcrush's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
tense
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
3.0
I had to read this for school. I wanted to read another book, but this wasn't that bad. It was good, and I could definitely relate to a couple things.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault
Minor: Sexual content
katkatniss's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Violence and Sexual harassment
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
rachelfayreads's review against another edition
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
maviemerveilleuse's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Child abuse
startjpw23's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a Young Adult book made up of poems. I read the physical book at the same time as I listened to the audiobook. The audiobook is narrated by the author Elizabeth Acevedo. All of the poems are told in the first person by the lead character Xiomara. Xiomara is the daughter of first generation Dominican immigrants. Xiomara has a twin brother. The family lives in Brooklyn. The poems tell Xiomara's experiences from just before the start of her sophomore year in high school through a month and a half or so after New Year's Day. Her mother is a strict Roman Catholic. This is the most important part or her being. It is the biggest factor that impacts her relationship with Xiomara. Xiomara is rebelling against the her mother's expections for her. Acevedo does a great job narrating the audiobook. This book packs an emotional punch. I loved it. I would rate it more than 5 stars if I could. I think it is a great entry point for someone new to poetry because the series of poems in the book tell one story. I recommend it for anyone who wants to read a books of poems that present a realistic view of a few important months in the life of a 15 year old child of immigrants. The only people I wouldn't recommend it to are those who don't enjoy Young Adult books and those who may find offense in the portrayal of Xiomara's mother's strict Catholicism (the church priest is quite reasonable though). Anyone who does read the book should listen to the audiobook as their first choice of a way to read the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Child abuse
startjpw23's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a Young Adult book made up of poems. The audiobook is narrated by the author Elizabeth Acevedo. All of the poems are told in the first person by the lead character Xiomara. Xiomara is the daughter of first generation Dominican immigrants. Xiomara has a twin brother. The family lives in Brooklyn. The poems tell Xiomara's experiences from just before the start of her sophomore year in high school through a month and a half or so after New Year's Day. Her mother is a strict Roman Catholic. This is the most important part or her being. It is the biggest factor that impacts her relationship with Xiomara. Xiomara is rebelling against the her mother's expections for her. I read the physical book while listening to the audiobook. Acevedo does a great job narrating the audiobook. This book packs an emotional punch. I loved it. I would rate it more than 5 stars if I could. I think it is a great entry point for someone new to poetry because the series of poems in the book tell one story. I recommend it for anyone who wants to read a books of poems that present a realistic view of a few important months in the life of a 15 year old child of immigrants. The only people I wouldn't recommend it to are those who don't enjoy Young Adult books and those who may find offense in the portrayal of Xiomara's mother's strict Catholicism (the church priest is quite reasonable though). Anyone who does read the book should listen to the audiobook as their first choice of a way to read the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Child abuse, and Sexism