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The Poet X
Elizabeth Acevedo
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Winner of the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, the Michael L. Printz Award, and the Pura Belpré Award! Fans of Jacqueline Woodson, Meg Medina, and Jason Reynolds will fall hard for this astonishing New York Times-bestselling novel-in-verse by an award-winning slam poet, about an Afro-Latina heroine who tells her story with blazing words and powerful truth.
Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking. But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her frustration and passion onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like prayers—especially after she catches feelings for a boy in her bio class named Aman, who her family can never know about. With Mami’s determination to force her daughter to obey the laws of the church, Xiomara understands that her thoughts are best kept to herself.
So when she is invited to join her school’s slam poetry club, she doesn’t know how she could ever attend without her mami finding out. But she still can’t stop thinking about performing her poems. Because in the face of a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to be silent.
“Crackles with energy and snaps with authenticity and voice.” —Justina Ireland, author of Dread Nation
“An incredibly potent debut.” —Jason Reynolds, author of the National Book Award Finalist Ghost
“Acevedo has amplified the voices of girls en el barrio who are equal parts goddess, saint, warrior, and hero.” —Ibi Zoboi, author of American Street
This young adult novel, a selection of the Schomburg Center's Black Liberation Reading List, is an excellent choice for accelerated tween readers in grades 6 to 8. Plus don't miss Elizabeth Acevedo's With the Fire on High and Clap When You Land!
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Posts about this title from Bookish AfroLatina's Library
Bookish AfroLatina's Library\ \ Gabby\ \ • Feb 20 2025
Banned Books Club - Book 3: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Banned Books Club - Book 3: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo Description: "A young girl in Harlem discovers slam poetry as a way to understand her mother’s religion and her own relationship to the world." (check out my website for the full description) The Poet X has been banned in school districts in the following states: Florida, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Iowa, North Carolina, New York, & Pennsylvania (2021-2024 school years) according to PenAmerica. Why It's Banned: Many of the people who oppose this book cite profanity, sexual references, and Xiomara's experience with questioning her Catholic faith as reasons for the ban. Some also disagree with the conversations around race. - North Carolina Lawsuit Challenges The Poet X Over Religious Viewpoint
Acevedo responded at an event for teen readers that, "There's a huge underestimation about what you need to be protected against, because somehow The Hunger Games is still in school, so kids can kill each other and that's OK, but if you write about a queer character, if you write about anything having to do with sexuality, that's not OK? What are we saying? What are we protecting kids from? It makes me really angry that they're trying to push y’all not to be critical thinkers and try to “protect” y’all when they're really just doing you a disservice.” I completely agree! As for the "anti-catholic" or "anti-christian" sentiment, it is completely natural for people to question their faith. Removing a book that describes this experience wont stop that from happening. Why I Recommend This Book The Poet X is an important book! It's a mirror for so many young people because Elizabeth Acevedo was inspired by her students to write it. As an adult, I felt Acevedo's love for my inner-child throughout the book. I felt seen and validated. Something I really love about all of Acevedo's books is that her characters always get to have a heart-to-heart with their parent(s) or guardians, which brings a feeling of support and catharsis. I recommend this book to everyone! #BannedBooks #YABooks #LatinxBooks #BlackBooks [ID in comments]
1 book
Bookish AfroLatina's Library\ \ Gabby\ \ • Feb 19 2025
\ \ A few folks have asked me for book recommendations by and about AfroLatine folks so here are some amazing authors I want to introduce y'all to:\ \ Romance Adriana Herrera (Dominican) \ \ She's one of my favorite authors of all time! Herrera writes both Contemporary and Historical Romances with nuanced, fun, and tender characters and plenty of heat. Some of her titles include:\ \
- American Christmas\ \
- The Toy Runners\ \
- American Sweethearts\ \
- A Caribbean Heiress in Paris\ \
- An Island Princess Starts a Scandal\ \
- A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke\ \
- One Week to Claim it All\ \
- Heat and Run\ \
- On the Hustle\ \ \ \ \ Check out her website for more titles: https://adrianaherreraromance.com/\\ \ A.H. Cunningham (Panamanian) \ \ I'm just starting to get into her books but I already know I need them all! The chemistry! The heat! Her titles include:\ \
- Alight\ \
- Joaquin\ \
- Turn in the Air\ \
- Toying With Temptation\ \
- Out of Office\ \
- Ms. V’s Hot Girl Summer\ \
- Ablaze\ \
- Plié\ \
- Penetration Testing\ \ \ \ \ For more, visit: https://www.ahcunninghamauthor.com/\\ \ Mia Sosa(Puerto Rican & Brazilian) \ \ My first introduction to Mia Sosa was The Worst Best Man which was messy in the best ways. I love the scenarios she puts her MCs in! Her works include:\ \
- The Starter Ex\ \
- When Javi Dumped Mari\ \
- Amor Actually\ \
- Sun of a Beach\ \
- The Wedding Crasher\ \
- The Worst Best Man\ \
- Pretending He’s Mine\ \
- Acting on Impulse\ \
- Crashing Into Her\ \ \ \ \ To find more Mia Sosa books, visit: https://miasosa.com/about-me/\\ \ Young Adult Fantasy Julian Randall(Black American & Dominican) \ \ He has a lot of range! I've read 3 out of his 5 books and each one has opened me up to processing my own identity and experiences. His books include:\ \
- The Chainbreakers\ \
- The Dead Don’t Need Reminding: In Search of Fugitives, Mississippi, and Black Nerd Sh*t\ \
- Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa\ \
- Pilar Ramirez and the Curse of San Zenon\ \
- Refuse\ \ \ Interested in his work? Check out: https://juliandavidrandall.com/ \ \ Maya Motayne(Dominican & Guyanese) \ \ Her series is gripping and fascinating. It surpassed my expectations! The titles in her series are:\ \
- Nocturna\ \
- Oculta\ \
- Lucero\ \ \ Find her at: https://www.mayamotaynebooks.com/\\ \ \ \ Young Adult Maika & Maritza Moulite(Haitian) \ \ Dear Haiti inspired me to learn more about the Haitian Revolution! I haven't read their second book yet but I'm very excited for The Summer I Ate The Rich. Their books include:\ \
- Dear Haiti, Love Alaine\ \
- One of the Good Ones\ \
- The Summer I Ate The Rich\ \ \ Learn more about the authors here: https://www.maikaandmaritza.com/books \ \ Jessica Parra (Guatemalan & Cuban) \ \ This beautiful soul sent me her work last year. I read and loved Rubi Ramos's Recipe For Success, so I expect I will probably enjoy The Quince Project as well!\ \ For more info, visit: https://www.jessicaparra.com/home Literary Fiction & YA Camille Gomera-Tavarez(Dominican) \ \ High Spirits knocked me off my feet! The stories were so real but also used elements of Magical Realism. Her books include:\ \
- High Spirits\ \
- The Girl, The Ring, and The Baseball Bat\ \ \ See more of her work at: https://cgtdesign.net/ \ \ \ \ Elizabeth Acevedo(Dominican) \ \ Another of my favorite authors! Acevedo's books give me a sense of belonging and warmth every time I read them. Her books include:\ \
- The Poet X\ \
- With The Fire On High\ \
- Family Lore\ \
- Inheritance: A Visual Poem\ \
- Clap When You Land\ \ \ For more about the author, visit: https://www.acevedowrites.com/ \ \ Ibi Zoboi(Haitian) \ \ Zoboi writes in many genres but I've only read her YA so far. Her voice is powerful and her characters have strength through their vulnerabilities. Her books include:\ \
- My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich\ \
- Punching the Air\ \
- Pride: A Pride and Prejudice Remix\ \
- Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler\ \
- (S)kin\ \
- Nigeria Jones\ \ \ Learn more about this author at: https://www.ibizoboi.net/ \ \ Do y'all know of some awesome AfroLatine authors? Leave a comment!](https://bookish-afrolatina.binderybooks.com/item/QyVGNRFfp6rsqwkILzSf/)
54 books
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Bookish AfroLatina's Library\ \ Gabby\ \ • Feb 19 2025
23 books
Posts about this book from across Bindery
Bien Leidos\ \ tomesandtextiles\ \ • Oct 10 2025
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Latinx Heritage Month Personal Curriculum: Day 26
Replying to @Cami the Author 💙 Day 26: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo #thepoetx #elizabethacevedo #readlatinxbooks #bienleidos #tomesandtextiles
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Children of Diaspora\ \ Rae the Reviewer\ \ • Jun 12 2025
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Welcome to Children of Diaspora!
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Wanderland Reads\ \ Sayer\ \ • Apr 7 2025
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📚✨ Join me as I kick off our ongoing series on Banned Books!
These are must-read titles that challenge censorship and spark meaningful conversations. These books often face banning for their themes of social justice, sexuality, and political dissent.
Let’s celebrate our freedom together! What’s your favorite banned book? Share your suggestions for our library!
#BannedBooks #FreedomToRead #LiteraryAwareness #representationmatters #wanderlandreads
65 books
Bookish AfroLatina's Library\ \ Gabby\ \ • Feb 20 2025
Banned Books Club - Book 3: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
1 book
Bookish AfroLatina's Library\ \ Gabby\ \ • Feb 19 2025
54 books
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Bookish AfroLatina's Library\ \ Gabby\ \ • Feb 19 2025
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