A review by startjpw23
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

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. 
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