The Poet X

Winner of the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, the Michael L. Printz Award, and the Pura Belpr 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

Author: Elizabeth Acevedo
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Published: 03/06/2018
Pages: 368
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 8.20h x 5.70w x 1.30d
ISBN: 9780062662804
Audience: Young Adult

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.2
Point Value: 5
Interest Level: Upper Grade
Quiz #/Name: 195165 / Poet X


Award: Michael L. Printz Award - Winner
Award: Pura Belpre Award - Winner
Award: Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards - Winner
Award: Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards - Winner
Award: National Book Awards - Winner
Award: Golden Kite - Honor Book
Award: Kirkus Prize - Finalist


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 11/01/2017 pg. 66
Kirkus Reviews 01/15/2018 pg. 102
Publishers Weekly 01/22/2018
Voice of Youth Advocates 02/01/2018 - Recommended - Better Than Most
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 03/01/2018
Horn Book Magazine 03/01/2018 pg. 76
School Library Journal 03/01/2018 pg. 111
Shelf Awareness 11/26/2018
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2018 - Outstanding, Noteworthy In Style

About the Author
Acevedo, Elizabeth: -

Elizabeth Acevedo is the author of The Poet X--which won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, the Michael L. Printz Award, the Pura Belpré Award, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, and the Walter Award--as well as With the Fire on High and Clap When You Land. She is a National Poetry Slam champion and holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Maryland. Acevedo lives with her partner in Washington, DC. You can find out more about her at www.acevedowrites.com.