The Poet X (2018) by Elizabeth Acevedo is a powerful, award-winning novel-in-verse that follows Xiomara Batista, a fierce, poetry-loving Dominican-American teen in Harlem. Struggling with her strict Catholic mother’s expectations, her burgeoning sexuality, and the constant harassment she faces as a curvy girl, Xiomara pours her anger and passion into a leather notebook, finding her voice through slam poetry.
Acevedo’s lyrical verses crackle with raw emotion, capturing Xiomara’s journey from silence to self-discovery—especially in her relationships with her twin brother (a quiet genius), her crush (a science-loving boy), and her slam poetry mentor. Themes of faith, feminism, and familial love intertwine as Xiomara battles to perform her truth onstage.
Winner of the National Book Award and Carnegie Medal, The Poet X is a celebration of spoken-word artistry and the transformative power of words.