January's Book of the Month
The Poet X
By: Elizabeth Acevedo
"In The Poet X, Acevedo skillfully sculpts powerful, self-contained poems into a masterpiece of a story, and has amplified the voices of the girls in el barrio who are equal parts goddess, saint, warrior, and hero." -Ibi Zoboi, author of American Steel
"Acevedo delivers an incredibly potent debut." -Jason Reynold, author of National Book Award finalist Ghost
"The Poet X crackles with energy and snaps with authenticity and voice. Every poem in this stunningly addictive and deliciously rhythmic verse novel begs to be read aloud. Xiomara is a protagonist who readers will cheer for at every turn. As X might say, Acevedo's got bars. Don't pass this one by." -Justina Ireland, author of Dread Nation
A young girl in Harlem discovers slam poetry as a way to understand her mother's religion and her own relationship with the world. Debut novel of renowned slam poet Elizabeth Acedevo.
Xiomara Baptista 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, much less speaking her words out loud. But still, she can't stop thinking about performing her poetry.
Because in the face of a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to be silent.
Learn more about The Poet X and Elizabeth Acevedo's work here!