Book Review The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Book Review
The Poet X is a novel in verse worth reading. It’s a quick read, but it holds a lot complicated issues that are relatable to young adults.

I really enjoyed reading Xiomara’s story because I was able to connect with her story. Being a Latina myself and growing up in a mild religious household. I say mild because we attend church, prayed etc, but it wasn’t our whole world at home. My experience was very similar to Xiomara, and I was forced to participate in something I never felt 100% comfortable. We all have our own experience with religion, some better than others. But it’s ours and I believe we should experience religion in our own way. I appreciate Elizabeth not being afraid to address a sensitive topic like that.

Overall, I rated The Poet X a 5-star read because of the emotions Xiomara experiences through the stresses of young adulthood. The reading is really fast if you zoom through the poems, but I suggest you to take your time digesting a few as you read. Some poems will shock you, some will break your heart, some will have you rooting for Xio. All will give you an insight into what it’s like being stuck in two worlds and not belonging to either of them.

Trigger Warnings
The Poet X’s trigger warnings contain the following: harassment, homophobia, parental abuse, sexism, sexual assault, and slut shaming.

Worth the Read
Although The Poet X has serious trigger warnings, the plot of the story holds true to many women’s experiences. Xiomara is just a girl who is struggling with puberty and her mother’s sudden change towards her. Confused, hurt, and alone, Xiomara finds her way to get out all the pain she’s been holding in through poetry. You get a glimpse into her world, and how she navigates her way through life as so much of it changes. With the help of her close companions, she heals her relationship with her mother and come into her own.

War Between Mother and Daughter
As her body changes so does her relationship with her mami. 
Xio notices the distance and tension between her and her mami. Before she began puberty, her relationship with her mami was fine. They would spend time together, enjoy church together, but something in her mother’s eyes changed how she saw Xiomara.

I read the strain from her mother in a couple of ways. 

First, her mami wanted to be a nun when she was younger. However, when she met her husband, they got pregnant and all her dreams went out the window. When she sees her daughter’s body change, she instantly wants to suppress her and shove her into a box. She tries to morph Xiomara into the good Catholic girl. Her mami is desparate to live through her because she was denied her own dreams growing up.

When you meet Xiomara, you notice right away that she isn’t the kind of girl to flaunt her body. She’s actually a protective sister, a warrior in my eyes, who will fight for those she loves. So, when her mother tries to punish Xio for something that her body does naturally, it makes you wonder if her mother is actually seeing her.

Another way I see why her mami puts so much pressure on Xiomara is because of the Latin culture. However, Xio is also an American, so she is stuck between two cultures. Her mami expects Xiomara to follow the church and be a good Catholic daughter. But Xio isn’t sure if she believes in God or what he stands for if he accepts the abuse her mami puts her through. Xio wants to believe, but the more her mami pushes, the more she distances herself from the church.

Aside from religion, her mami also expects Xiomara to follow their rules: no date boys, get good grades, be home right after school, clean up the house, prepare her papi and brother food, and pray for her sins. As an American teenager, Xio pushes back on those outdated ideals and tries to figure out who she is on her own terms. 

Some great poems to read to understand the struggle of their relationships are: Rough Draft 3, Cuero, and My Mother and I. 

Writing Saved Her

Diversity and Representation Overview
The Poet X is a YA novel in verse that has Latina representation and LGBTQ+ representation. 

Let’s Yap!
Do you have any recommendations for more novel in verse or poetry books? Are there other books that come to your mind that feel similar to The Poet X? If the poetry aspect doesn’t appeal to you, what other books have you read that provide complicated mother-daughter relationships?
If you end up liking The Poet X, I recommend Home is Not A Country by Safia Elhillo as your next novel in verse that walks you through a narrative of a young girl accepting herself.

Send me all your book recommendations, and please give trigger warnings if needed.