A review by kozzumes
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

emotional 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

4.75

this is a beautiful book and i'd recommend it to anyone looking for a story that follows a girl finding their voice.

i love that this was written in verse and yet, it doesn't feel forced. instead, the poetics of it feel intentional and natural, especially later on. the flow gets more refined, the imagery more vivid and it reflects the way that xiomara finds and then cleans up her voice and makes it powerful for her. her poetry, her voice are strong and they paint such tangible images and it's lovely.

the only thing that keeps me from committing to a full five stars is the conflict resolution at the end.
the situation with twin and cody feels a little forgotten, and the situation between x and her mom is wrapped up a little too neat. i love that her mother ends up being supportive and it shows a beautiful moment between a mother and a daughter who have been at odds for years. however, there's very clearly been a lot of abuse and religious trauma places onto x by her mother and it's a little confusing for a few weeks of talking to their pastor completely solve all of it, especially when acevedo spends the whole time delving into x's internal conflicts regarding her mom and religion. it just feels a little too clean cut, but i still do love that x's mom finds a way to be supportive of her daughter.


ultimately, it's a beautiful book with beautiful storytelling. acevedo is a ridiculously talented author and poet, and i'm very excited to continue reading her work.
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