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The Poet X
The Poet X
The Poet X
Audiobook3 hours

The Poet X

Written by Elizabeth Acevedo

Narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

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About this audiobook

Don't miss this acclaimed audiobook, read by the author—winner of an Odyssey Honor and an AudioFile Earphones Award winner!

The Poet X is also the 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, in the classroom or for homeschooling.

Plus don't miss Elizabeth Acevedo's With the Fire on High and Clap When You Land!

Editor's Note

Packs a punch…

First-generation Dominican American Xiomara Batista is trying to grapple with gender and race and religion and sexuality and parents who think of her as trouble. Written in verse, every vignette packs a punch, every image painted is so vivid.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperCollins
Release dateMar 6, 2018
ISBN9780062822482
Author

Elizabeth Acevedo

ELIZABETH ACEVEDO is the New York Times-bestselling 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 Carnegie medal, the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, and the Walter Award. She is also the author of With the Fire on High—which was named a best book of the year by the New York Public Library, NPR, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal—and Clap When You Land, which was a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor book and a Kirkus finalist. She holds a BA in Performing Arts from The George Washington University and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Maryland. Acevedo has been a fellow of Cave Canem, Cantomundo, and a participant in the Callaloo Writer’s Workshops. She is a National Poetry Slam Champion, and resides in Washington, DC with her loves.

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Reviews for The Poet X

Rating: 4.580060475998658 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

2,979 ratings185 reviews

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The whole book is written in poetry, so it is lyrical, rhythmic and beautiful. It is also narrated by the author, so I can experience how the author wants these poems to be read and the poems are powerfully​ delivered and easily empathized​ with, unraveling a story about a young girl figuring her way out through words. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

    2 people found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Elizabeth Acevedo has a smash hit on her hands here! The narrative maybe a familiar one to YA lovers, but Acevedo brings a flair all her own. These characters felt real and relatable. I got halfway through the audiobook, which Acevedo reads, and went and got a physical copy because I know for a fact, I’ll be reading this again and again and again!

    2 people found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    2018 is the year of brilliant debut novels. Xiomara's voice is compelling and fierce, with an undercurrent of vulnerability. Her relationship with her mother particularly resonated with me.

    2 people found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book. THIS BOOK.

    It was an experience. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author and I think the fact that she did it herself added so much. It was personal. It was raw. It was poignant.

    One of the best debuts I've ever read. It tackles so many issues and topics, like growing up with very religious parents and questionning said religion (catholicism in this case), it also discusses sexual harrassement and how that shapes a person and that resonnated with me immensely. It also talks about the importance of words, of music. It handles abusive parents. And it's all done in such a beautiful way.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Honestly the best book ever. Thank you for sharing your brilliance.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great narration! Great story. Truly enjoyed this characters journey of adolescence, as a Latina, New Yorker who is figuring life out. And trying to work through her many emotions.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Definitely one of my favourite authors, my third book by her and I recommend her stories to everybody. You will be lifted by her words.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The narrator !! Several accolades for doing this book justice. I was enraptured the whole time and couldn’t stop from finishing in a day. The book just read like a spoken word poem — powerful, full of heart wrenching moments and stories that I really related to and emphasized with.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Incrível, maravilhoso e impactante! Sério, leiam (ouçam) esse livro ?
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Perfection. This book is exactly what I needed. Amazingly lyrical.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really loved this,particularly love how it’s explored the need for self discovery through any means possible and in this case POETRY...
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Beautiful story. Beautiful well thought out words. Thank you for sharing your words with the world.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    First audiobook and absolutely ADORED it. Written with heart and passion and love.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    As the poet’s say it, “This book was slamming”. The author was amazing. I truly and absolutely enjoyed this book. If it wasn’t for my teacher, Dr. Johnson, I probably would have never read this genre. I am a believer, never judge a book by it’s cover.
    Chaplin 757 ❤️
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Lovedd the narration! I was able to connect to the main character even though I have very little in common with her. Even though I don't see much of myself in her. The little I see that resembles something akin to my experience of life is portrayed so potently: poetry being a saviour; reading and writing poetry saving us both.

    This novel is more character-driven than plot-driven which isn't something I'm used to enjoying this much. It does take a true artist to induce a paradigm shift, and Elizabeth Acevedo did that. She didn't suck aka She killed it! Enjoyed this!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    great u really enjoyed it and such a great audiobook
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Whimsical. Beautiful. Worthy. I enjoyed myself. Her second book read and I just love it!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book kept me interested from beginning to end. It was inspirational to see the main character’s struggle to truly be free.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Short and sweet. Audio book read by the author was amazimg
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    "There is power in the word"
    I read this book at the same time I listened to the audiobook read by the author. It was a surreal experience, to hear it and read it in the way she heard it in her head (and probably out loud) while she was writing it.
    I loved the format, it is the first novel-in-verse format that I read.
    The story is heartwarming and maybe a little too familiar.
    I loved the way she plays with the Spanish expressions we all Latinos know so well.
    I could hear and feel Xiomara's awakening in these words.
    Wonderful book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The writing style of this was really interesting and I loved how the story just flowed. This was enjoyable and at one point I even got emotional thinking about similar issues I had with my parents when I was Xiomara's age. This is a coming of age story worth reading and I'm glad that I read it. I'm even interested in reading more poetry because of this book. The author narrates the audio book and she did a fantastic job, I don't think anyone could have read her book better.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Absolutely love the narration. I don't if I would read the book differently myself but listening to this audiobook gave it flavor to this book. Definitely recommend it!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I love the way she is so raw with her feelings. It was hard reading through the mother’s abuse but so glad X found a way to reconcile. Though that burden shouldn’t have been hers.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Amazing. Classic. Something. Everyone should study. More powerful than the house on mango street and even little women. I loved it
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is the kind of book I hope to find every time I search for something new to read. It feels like having an honest conversation with someone who matters to you, and whom you matter to. I enjoyed it very much.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book was so deep I loved it. A must read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    So so so so so so so goooooood! Highly recommend!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Elizabeth Acevedo is an amazing writer! I’m a fan! Incredible!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I've never thought i could relate so much to a book. 10/10 it made me cry at the end and i felt Soo connected to the protagonist
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I will read anything she writes it’s always beautiful and I look forward to more of her work.