YA Book Review, THE POET X By: Acevedo, Elizabeth

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Acevedo, Elizabeth. 2018. THE POET X. New York. HarperTeen. ISBN: 978-0-06-266280-4

PLOT SUMMARY

Xiomara Batista, a teenage girl who lives in Harlem, finds herself fighting to defend or scare off all the cat-calling from men because of her developed body. Compared to her studious and “genius” twin brother, who also secrets of his own, she channels her feelings through her writing and conceals it from her religious and strict mother. Upon her mother discovering her writing, she faces the unwillingness to accept her daughter committing sin by her written thoughts and burns her journal of poetry. Her father who has been present yet not, tries to intervene to no avail. It is up to Xiomara to find the help she needs to be able to sit with her mother and bring all what has been hidden to light in hopes of her mother understanding the power of her words spoken and not. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS 

The Printz award-winning, coming of age, novel in verse covers the themes of Latino culture, discovering sexuality, body image and emotional strength. Xiomara’s life as a first generation Latino, catholic daughter, brought her up to be obedient for most of her life until she became self- aware of her interests in boys, discovering her sexuality and becoming close with Arman who is her first in many things. Her mother who witnesses her display of affection in public punishes her at home and limits her from the privileges of having a cell phone, checking in as she arrives home, and not being allowed to be on her own. This shows the strong will of her mother as her father is present, but does not enforce discipline in the household. Her brother, also hiding a secret love, is respected and trusted above Xiomara as he is a male and reflects the family dynamic in a Latino household. Xiomara’s parents' relationship history is not one she looks up to and so she struggles with her own moral compass making decisions grounded by her religious beliefs and her own personal judgment. 

The language used throughout is authentic and representative of her Dominican culture and gives meaning and exposure to the Latino culture. Poetic terms are explained throughout as well, giving clarification and shedding light on Xiomara’s passion for the written word. The read is a slow one that peels back layers of Xiomara’s life carefully developing the female protagonist's life with each decision she makes. The ending is not immediately a happy one. There is strength and courage in Xiomara’s approach to speaking up to her mother and showing her true self, with the help of friends and family. The relationship with her mother shows adversity in both the mother and X’s efforts to accept one another for who they are, while at the same time encouraging one another to follow their interests. 

REVIEW/EXCERPTS

ALA Notable CHildren’s Books, 2019

Booklist, 11/01/17

Kirkus Reviews starred, 01/15/18

Michael L. Printz Award, 2019

Odyssey Honor, 2019

Pura Belpre Author Award, 2019

School Library Journal starred, 07/01/18

Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA), 02/01/18

Booklist (November 1, 2017 (Vol. 114, No.5)): “The story, though centered around the family drama, explores other poignant themes facing girls today, driving into human, sexuality, the psychological impacts of going through and early puberty, and how girls have to fend off advances from men– as well as the slut0shaming stigma that simultaneously can come from women.”

Kirkus Reviews starred (January 15, 2018): “The happy ending is not a neat one, making it both realistic and satisfying.”

School Library Journal (July 1, 2018): “ Encouraged by her English teacher to claim her voice, Xiomara’s performance of her verses will be “the most freeing experience of [her] life.”

CONNECTIONS

This read is a great one for the intended Young Adult audience for ages 14-18, as it reaches to many experiences young girls and women experience such as cat-calling and feeling of having to fight to protect your body against unsolicited comments from men and women. 

This read made me reflect a lot on my younger years, making me think of decisions I made as a young adult and how looking back I probably should have thought twice about things I did. 

The style of verse in the novel makes the book an easy one to read and it gives an interesting twist to a young adult novel. 

Other Novels in Verse:

Engle, Margarita. WITH A STAR IN MY HAND: RUBEN DARIO, POETRY HERO. ISBN: 978-1-53442-493-7

Elhillo, Safia. BRIGHT RED FRUIT. ISBN: 978-0-593-38120-5

Miller-Lachmann, Lyn. EYES OPEN. ISBN: 979-87-6561-011-4