

Wonderful audiobook read by the author.
This book was packed full with so many emotions. I don't often read poetry or books in verse but this one just captured my attention from the start. I listened to the audio, which is read by the author and really makes the poetry come to life. This book really helps you understand the power of poetry & expressing love and despair and confusion. You can't help but empathize with Xiomara and her struggles with expectations, from her family & society
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I listened to this audiobook on my drive back to Texas today, and WOW! It was powerful. I highly recommend the audiobook because it is read by the author herself. There were times I was in tears. Growing up is hard, and this novel captures it so beautifully.
I could relate to being brought up in the Catholic church and feeling at odds with its teachings, as well as to having a strict mother and a brother whom you want to protect.
I loved this quick read, written in verse and narrated by the author. The main character is a Dominican teen who is used to getting looks from guys for her curves but not used to interacting with them in any physical way that doesn't involve fighting. Xiomara struggles with her faith, her relationship with her mom, her first romance, and finding her voice. I would recommend the audio over print to hear the rhythm and emotion in the author's voice.
#manicMonday #letterP @CBee @Librariana
📚 Poet X; Piranesi, Persuasion
✍️ Ann Patchett
🍿 Pride and Prejudice (2005)
🎤 Danielle Ponder 😍
🎶 Praying (Ke$ha)
#manicmonday
📖 The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
✍️ Patricia Polacco
🎬 Poltergeist, The Princess Bride, Pride & Prejudice, Pan's Labyrinth, Pirates of the Caribbean, Practical Magic
🎤 Panic at the Disco, Pentatonix, Phil Collins, Pink Floyd, Proyecto Uno, Prince Royce, Prince, Pink
🎶 Phantom of the Opera, Perdoname by La Factoria, Purple Rain by Prince, Propuesta Indecente by Romeo Santos, Please Forgive Me by Bryan Adams
#LetterP
@CBee
Second reading, same rating. Tomorrow, my bookclub is meeting to discuss this book. Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend because I'm sick :(
I'm quite impressed by how well the author managed to build a narrative from poems. Realistic coming-of-age story with some strong emotions.
Elizabeth Acevedo utilizes the interesting and scarcely used literary devices anaphora and enjambment to successfully carry the introspective plot. The Oxford Dictionary says that anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, and that Enjambment is the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of the line. Both of these techniques give this novel a powerful emotional punch.
This book was just great and had me getting teared up towards the end, I know it‘s fictional but this poor girl and her twin go through so much - no spoilers 🙊
4.5/5
Read for:
#TheDisneyReadingChallenge2022
#PopSugarReadingChallenge2020
Kinda cheating, but ... #LetterX is a prominent part of the title, so I'm going with it.
I've never read a modern novel in verse before, and it is definitely a genre I want to explore more.
This one had a way of drawing you in even if you couldn't exactly relate personally to the protagonist's situation.
#Alphabetgame
I cheated a little on this one. #LetterX #AlphabetGame @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Like everyone else, the only book I can think of for #LetterX is this one. Luckily, it's fantastic and deserving of all the love it will get today. #Alphabetgame @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
If you haven‘t listened to Elizabeth Acevedo read her own books, you haven‘t fully experienced this #letterX and also her second work With the Fire on High!
#AlphabetGame
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Everyone should experience this book. It is not an idle read. No. These words stomp across the page. They carry whispers of buried hopes. These words are alive with passion and full of dreams. Poet X breathes every word into life as she discovers how to fight for her own.
I lost this book midway 6 months back. Found it in the storeroom today randomly, and finished it in one sitting. So happy about it!!
The power of words. Being quiet outside doesn‘t mean you‘re quiet inside. Words bounce around a lot in Xiomara. While I don‘t understand her life, I can feel her desire to let loose. To find her freedoms. Through her journals; her lifeline. That‘s the power of words. Xiomara gets better in standing up from her fists to her words. This growth is amazingly written. She questions it all
Book being written this way helps tell story. Used book
The Poet X vs. The Founding was so, so hard to choose. I chose the Poet because it came as a surprise to me, while I knew I was going to love The Founding.
So here we are.
This was good, but for some reason, I didn't connect with the story as much as with her other two books. #BookSpinBingo #DoubleSpin @TheAromaofBooks
"my body was a problem"
I'm walking and listening with some tears in my eyes because I don't know any woman who hasn't felt this way. Maybe not specifically in the context of X, i.e. being sexualised by men at a young age when it is unwanted, but just in general. How young we get taught that our bodies are problems to always be fixed, tweaked, solved, worked on, etc. That's just fuckin' sad.
All of the stars 🌟 I loved this. Once I started, I was loathe to put it down (this why I sneak read most of this under my desk at work 🤫😆). While depicting the specific experience of Xiomara, Acevedo is able to capture feelings that may be near universal for teens - feeling lonely, unheard by the adults in your life, wanting to belong, wanting to be unnoticed, but also wanting to shine.
“She cocks her head at me, and pats the seat next to her.
‘I‘m Isabelle, who woulda thought you was a poet? Dope.‘”
Wow! What a book! And I got lucky to get audio book read by Acevedo herself. That's even more intense! This is so strong, so deep, so important and meaningful. Amazing and breathtaking. For sure one of this months highlights.
Had to re-read this one for a class, and really enjoyed it! Plus, it‘s a great excuse to get my own copy lol
Another winner from Acevedo! The lady sure has talent! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
#bookspinbingo - got a 3rd bingo!
#pop22 - book by a Latinx author
I loved this story, it was moving and emotional. I have not read many books in verse, but I do enjoy that way of writing.
ELIZABETH ACEVEDO will discuss the recent removal of THE POET X from a New Kent Middle School in Virginia, as James River Writers explores the harmful effects of book banning and the not so subtle patterns emerging in the books that are being targeted.
https://jamesriverwriters.org/event/censorship-book-banning-an-important-and-tim...
"Late into the night I write and
the pages of my notebook swell
from all the words I‘ve pressed onto them.
It almost feels like
the more I bruise the page
the quicker something inside me heals."
It is incredible how this prose in verse can encompass such a fabulous avalanche of emotions, hit with giant waves of teenage frustration and passion and make the reader relive that unforgettable age that is adolescence.
This is one of the most important events James River Writers is holding this year. Banning books isn‘t about protecting children, it‘s about silencing voices that need to be heard. This is a chance to learn how to help protect the stories that need to be shared. The deadline to register is December 5th. #BannedBooks
https://jamesriverwriters.org/event/censorship-book-banning-an-important-and-tim...
Gorgeous day here in London ON today ( 15° C) finished this amazing book today driving to school. I cried at the end ? this is a small but powerful book and the audio is phenomenal
Making me think of On the Come Up and Clap When You Land. Loving this on audio
An audiobook that is short in length but packed with emotion. I usually avoid books #writteninverse but so enjoyed this one. Acevado writes such strong characters and I felt so much for Xiomora as she discovers her voice and explores the tumult of emotions she feels growing into herself and finding her way within her family, her first relationship; and her world.
#booked2021
This is an amazing book. I will be purchasing a physical copy.
The story. The writing. The emotion. Fantastic.
I only have one issue … why did I wait so long!?
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Excuse my language… Holy fuck what took me so long!!!!?
There's no denying that Acevedo is a powerful writer, invoking a strong sense of place, culture, and emotions with her beautiful prose. In this book a teenage girl finds her voice, learns to accept herself and her body, comes to terms with the differences between her and her family - it's a complete coming of age tale told in free verse that flows as easily as water from the tap. A quick read that shouldn't be missed.
Second book by Acevedo and it didn‘t disappoint. I love that‘s it‘s written in verse, especially because the main character, Xiomara, learns confidence and self-acceptance through writing in verse. It‘s very poignant for a teenage girl but I immediately passed the book on to my sister and mom to read as it touches all ages.
I don't usually read poetry but I found this verse novel amazing. It is a YA about Xiomara who is struggling to find her place in the world until she discovers slam poetry. She expresses her feelings and fears through her written words and as she gains confidence she shares her writing.
This is the second novel that I've read by Acevedo and I've loved both of them. Looking forward to reading more.
Don't be hating on me. I liked it: didn't love it. I was rooting for Xiomara as she came into her power by finding and learning to trust her voice through poetry. (I could have done without all the obsessing about a boy, but she *is* a teenager.) But that's the thing: I enjoyed it as a novel. As *verse* it read to my ear as chopped-up prose. I think it wants an actual voice to bring it to life. There must be an audiobook, surely? I'd choose that.
This story gave me so much inspiration that I placed myself in the shoes of the protagonist. Writing allowed me to express my voice, and Xiomara wanted her voice to be heard. I am grateful to have read the story about a young poet, who goes through this navigation called life. I am also even more proud to have this book in my Recommended Book Club.
I love books written in verse. This was a story that‘s told so beautifully. I loved the unflinching look into some hard themes like rape culture, body shaming, slut shaming, religion/religious abuse etc. I also adored Xiamara. The only thing negative I can say is a spoiler for the ending so I won‘t get into that. But I would happily read more from this author.
#Booked2021 - latinx author
I finished Midnight Library last night, I‘ll post a review later this evening. I try to write reviews before I dive into another book but my goal is to finish this one before work tonight. Since it‘s written in verse I don‘t think that will be too much of a challenge.
My favorite summer activity: reading a whole YA book in one day. This one was in one sitting! I don‘t read poetry often, but I loved this one.