A review by claudiamacpherson
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

4.0

I was surprised how emotional this book made me. I related to Xiomara, both with her discomfort with how she is perceived by men around her, and with her difficult relationship with her mother.
The scene where her mother reads Xiomara's journal hit especially close to home because I had a similar experience around that age. Xiomara's feelings of anger and betrayal were so vivid that they brought those memories and feelings back sharply.
I also really liked the poetic rhythm of the story, and Acevedo's reading of the audiobook really added to the experience.

Happy ending meter (no specific spoilers, just vibes):
Happy, but also realistic.
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