The Poet X

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“Crackles with energy and snaps with authenticity and voice.” —Justina Ireland, author of Dread Nation “An incredibly potent debut.” —Jason Reynolds, author of 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 Fans of Jacqueline Woodson, Meg Medina, and Jason Reynolds will be captivated by this remarkable #ownvoices novel-in-verse by an award-winning slam poet, featuring an Afro-Latina heroine who expresses her truth with fierce passion. Xiomara Batista feels invisible in her Harlem neighborhood and, as her body matures, she resorts to using her fists to communicate. Yet, she has much to say and channels her frustrations into a leather notebook, reciting her words like prayers, especially after developing feelings for a boy named Aman, whom her family must never know about. With her mother’s strict adherence to church rules, Xiomara learns to keep her thoughts private. When invited to join her school’s slam poetry club, she grapples with the fear of her mother discovering her secret. Despite the challenges, Xiomara yearns to perform her poems, determined to make her voice heard in a world that often tries to silence her.