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A review by elle_e_d_light
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I read it in one sitting (instead of going to bed) and then picked up a physical copy of my own the same day.
It actually made me teary in parts. It's a very powerful book. It's incredibly tense in its portrayal of dysfunctional familial relationships and its coverage of topics like religious abuse and stress, and it's incredibly on point on portraying the complicated feelings of teen girls created from disgust of being sexualized (due to early development of curves) and the wanting to be physically wanted by someone—essentially the desire to feel control over one's own body, as well as control over how others gaze at one's body.
It was just a really beautiful book.
It actually made me teary in parts. It's a very powerful book. It's incredibly tense in its portrayal of dysfunctional familial relationships and its coverage of topics like religious abuse and stress, and it's incredibly on point on portraying the complicated feelings of teen girls created from disgust of being sexualized (due to early development of curves) and the wanting to be physically wanted by someone—essentially the desire to feel control over one's own body, as well as control over how others gaze at one's body.
It was just a really beautiful book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Child abuse
There's a lot of toxic family dynamics due to religion becoming a cause of control and punishment.