The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I only know that learning to believe in the power of my own words has been the most freeing experience of my life. It has brought me the most light. And isn't that what a poem is? A lantern glowing in the dark.” Growing up in Spanish Harlem isn’t easy for teenager and twin Xiomara. She is constantly at odds with her devout Catholic mother, her father is present but absent at the same time, and her twin brother is so different from her she feels like they aren’t twins in all the ways that should matter. Feeling frustrated and alone, Xiomara finds a voice in writing poems through encouragement from her English teacher. The Poet X was a stunningly real and raw look into the life of a teenage girl who feels no one understands her. Xiomara’s struggles cause a tempest in her life that many readers will be able to relate to. Elizabeth Acevedo’s writing is powerfully compelling, bringing to life the inner monologue of teens in beautiful poetry. It’s no won...
