Awards

• Commended for Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production 2019
• Winner of Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards (Fiction or Poetry) 2018
• Winner of Michael L. Printz Award (Young Adult) 2019
• Winner of National Book Awards (Young People's Lit.) 2018
• Winner of Pura Belpre Award (Author) 2019

Overview

"National Book Award and Golden Kite Award Honor Winner! 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"

Full Product Details

9781538500217

Table of Contents

Reviews

I devoured this magnificent work of art. Elizabeth Acevedo gets everything right, bringing the magic of the verse novel to stunning new heights. A glorious achievement. This is a story about what it means to be a writer and how to survive when it feels like the whole world's turned against you. Required reading for everybody alive today. -- Daniel Jose Older, author of the Shadowshaper Cypher series A powerful, heartwarming tale of a girl not afraid to reach out and figure out her place in the world. -- Booklist Poignant and real, beautiful and intense, this story of a girl struggling to define herself is as powerful as Xiomara's name: 'one who is ready for war.' -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) A complex and sometimes painful exploration of love in its many forms, with Xiomara's growing love for herself reigning supreme. -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) In nearly every poem, there is at least one universal truth about adolescence, family, gender, race, religion, or sexuality that will have readers either nodding in grateful acknowledgment or blinking away tears. -- Horn Book (starred review) The author's passion and pacing unite in her rhythmic reading of linked free-verse poems telling the story of Xiomara Barista. The author, a performance poet, and her heroine possess a gift for arranging words, sequencing sounds, and enriching both with emotions...The subject, tone, form, and expression of this audiobook are diverse and poignant. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award. -- AudioFile A story that will slam the power of poetry and love back into your heart. -- Laurie Halse Anderson, New York Times bestselling author

A powerful, heartwarming tale of a girl not afraid to reach out and figure out her place in the world. -- Booklist A complex and sometimes painful exploration of love in its many forms, with Xiomara's growing love for herself reigning supreme. -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) The author's passion and pacing unite in her rhythmic reading of linked free-verse poems telling the story of Xiomara Barista. The author, a performance poet, and her heroine possess a gift for arranging words, sequencing sounds, and enriching both with emotions...The subject, tone, form, and expression of this audiobook are diverse and poignant. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award. -- AudioFile A story that will slam the power of poetry and love back into your heart. -- Laurie Halse Anderson, New York Times bestselling author I devoured this magnificent work of art. Elizabeth Acevedo gets everything right, bringing the magic of the verse novel to stunning new heights. A glorious achievement. This is a story about what it means to be a writer and how to survive when it feels like the whole world's turned against you. Required reading for everybody alive today. -- Daniel Jose Older, author of the Shadowshaper Cypher series Poignant and real, beautiful and intense, this story of a girl struggling to define herself is as powerful as Xiomara's name: 'one who is ready for war.' -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) In nearly every poem, there is at least one universal truth about adolescence, family, gender, race, religion, or sexuality that will have readers either nodding in grateful acknowledgment or blinking away tears. -- Horn Book (starred review)

Author Information

Elizabeth Acevedo is the youngest child and only daughter of Dominican immigrants. She holds a BA in performing arts from George Washington University and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Maryland. With more than fourteen years of performance poetry experience, Acevedo is a National Poetry Slam champion, Cave Canem fellow, CantoMundo fellow, and participant in the Callaloo Creative Writing Workshop. She has two collections of poetry: her chapbook Beastgirl & Other Origin Myths and the 2016 Berkshire Prize-winning Medusa Reads La Negra's Palm. The Poet X is her debut novel. She lives with her partner in Washington, DC.

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