Book Review

     Each year, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, we honor and recognize the histories, cultures and contributions of the Hispanic and Latinx community by observing National Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month. This year, to celebrate this momentous occasion, I read Elizabeth Acevedo’s “The Poet X,” a young adult novel-in-verse following Xiomara Batista, an Afro-Latina who finds comfort in the pages of her poetry journal, which helps her heal from feeling “unheard” and “unhide-able.” 

     At this point, I think I have every single page marked up because it’s just that good. It’s like reading Xiomara’s deepest, darkest secrets as they appear in her poetry journal… though that might be the future English teacher in me talking. Regardless, “The Poet X” is an excellent pick for any day of the year, but it’s especially poignant for National Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month. It celebrates Latinx heritage and demonstrates the power of refusing to be silent, of finding words that finally give you permission to be yourself. And that is a powerful thing.

     “The Poet X” is one of those novels that makes it feel like you’re delving into the main character’s innermost thoughts and emotions. Acevedo’s poetry grows roots in your heart, snaking this way and that until you realize that you’re so interconnected with Xiomara, so invested in the words bleeding straight from her heart, that you begin to feel like you’re reading her diary. The novel is written in an intimate and personal way, and it crackles with Xiomara’s voice and authenticity in a way that invites readers in rather than pushing them away. I could go on and on about how “The Poet X” makes poetry feel raw, accessible and intimate, but I won’t bore you with all the details. Just believe me when I say that there are so many moments in this novel that make it worth reading (and re-reading), especially the poems “How I Feel About Attention,” “Names,” “Holding a Poem in the Body” and “Ants.”

     Released in 2018, “The Poet X” is Acevedo’s debut novel. It beautifully portrays how poetry enables Xiomara to interrupt the silence the world has forced her into as she confronts her doubts about God, comes to terms with her budding sexuality and tries to honor her Dominican-American mother’s expectations. 

     Xiomara struggles against the demands the world has for her—until she finally discovers that she can use slam poetry and spoken word to “let the words shape themselves hard on [her] tongue” and “let [her] body . . . take up all the space it wants.” I won’t spoil the ending for you, but her acceptance of her body in spite of others’ expectations allows her to finally let both her body and voice “take up all the space [they] want.”

     If Xiomara’s story of self-discovery and self-empowerment isn’t enough to inspire you to read “The Poet X,” maybe learning that it’s a banned book will. If you can’t tell from my dog-eared copy of this book, I absolutely loved it and recommend it to everyone. Trust me on this one.

     Stay tuned for next month’s book review, where we’ll be celebrating the rich and vibrant histories and stories of Indigenous and Native communities. November is Native American Heritage Month!