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ktina619's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars! Maybe 4? I picked this up randomly at work and was immediately hooked with the writing style and tone. I really valued the exploration of creative expression within a restricted environment/home life and how that can ultimately transform someone into a new person. The story did feel pretty rushed though, leaving it feeling unresolved or unrealized by the time it reached its ending.
izzy_from_ap_calc's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
readingwithreagan's review against another edition
5.0
BRILLIANT. Will be recommending this to students this year.
thebookrepository's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
evitaveda's review against another edition
4.5
“She tells me words give people permission to be their fullest self. And aren’t these the poems I’ve most needed to hear?”
I have never read a book like this before. The Poet X is Xiomara’s powerful story told through poetic verses, and so I will go the poetic route when reviewing this book:
A whole new reading experience
Words used sparingly
But still a gut punch
A young woman and her
Family
Church
Friends
Love
Notebook
Poems poems poems
Finding herself, choosing herself
Learning what matters
What she’s willing to fight for
And who will fight for her.
I absolutely recommend reading this one. I will be picking up more books by this author ASAP.
Some pieces that stuck with me:
“Every now and then, I dress my thoughts in the clothing of a poem.”
“I never told her he didn’t fight because my hands became fists for him. My hands learned how to bleed when other kids tried to make him into a wound.”
“And I think about all the things we could be if we were never told our bodies were not built for them.”
I have never read a book like this before. The Poet X is Xiomara’s powerful story told through poetic verses, and so I will go the poetic route when reviewing this book:
A whole new reading experience
Words used sparingly
But still a gut punch
A young woman and her
Family
Church
Friends
Love
Notebook
Poems poems poems
Finding herself, choosing herself
Learning what matters
What she’s willing to fight for
And who will fight for her.
I absolutely recommend reading this one. I will be picking up more books by this author ASAP.
Some pieces that stuck with me:
“Every now and then, I dress my thoughts in the clothing of a poem.”
“I never told her he didn’t fight because my hands became fists for him. My hands learned how to bleed when other kids tried to make him into a wound.”
“And I think about all the things we could be if we were never told our bodies were not built for them.”
sunday_evening's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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? No
5.0
A solid debut novel. The poetry flows nicely from scene to scene, and Acevedo’s figurative language and imagery is lovely. The romance is really sweet without taking away from Xiomara’s character and storyline. Also, I met Acevedo in February of this year at a poetry workshop and she’s just as incredible as she seems.
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
wanderinglynn's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.5
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, Acevedo expresses so much in so few words. Her poetry was brilliant with simple lines full of angst and hope and love and sadness and all the things that fuel a teenage girl. But I also felt that the story was a bit limited because it was only poetry, as if we're reading X's poetry journal, and so we don't get a balanced view. Everything is skewed from X's point of view at the time she writes the poem. So all the characters (Twin, Caridad, her mother, her father, Father Sean, Ms. Galinao, Aman) are all caricatures, and in some cases, stereotypes instead of fleshed out and developed characters. And none really have a voice because all are voiced through X's interpretation.
I can see why this was an award winner. It is a powerful read, even more so for it's target demographic.
I can see why this was an award winner. It is a powerful read, even more so for it's target demographic.
melissa_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
The story of Xiomara was beautifully told and hard-hitting.
It touched on what being a teenage girl feels like, the burn of male eyes, unwanted attention and words. Her mother's devotion to religion and Xiomara's questioning of her faith creates an interesting tension. I highly recommend this for everyone - Keep in mind for younger readers that there is a little swearing, a little sexual content and a reference to drug use.
One regret is that I knew spanish, I had to keep googling translations!
It touched on what being a teenage girl feels like, the burn of male eyes, unwanted attention and words. Her mother's devotion to religion and Xiomara's questioning of her faith creates an interesting tension. I highly recommend this for everyone - Keep in mind for younger readers that there is a little swearing, a little sexual content and a reference to drug use.
One regret is that I knew spanish, I had to keep googling translations!