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The Poet X

By: Elizabeth Acevedo
Narrated by: Elizabeth Acevedo
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Publisher's summary

Don't miss this acclaimed audiobook, read by the author-winner of an Odyssey Honor and an AudioFile Earphones Award winner!

The Poet X is also the winner of the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, the Michael L. Printz Award, and the Pura Belpré Award.

Fans of Jacqueline Woodson, Meg Medina, and Jason Reynolds will fall hard for this astonishing #ownvoices 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, whom 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)

This young adult novel, a selection of the Schomburg Center's Black Liberation Reading List, is an excellent choice for accelerated tween readers in grades six to eight, in the classroom or for homeschooling.

Plus don't miss Elizabeth Acevedo's With the Fire on High and Clap When You Land!

©2018 Elizabeth Acevedo (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers
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Editorial review


By Tirzah Price

THE POET X MARKS A BRAVE NEW VOICE IN YA

This novel-in-verse is narrated by the author, which isn't very common for young adult fiction and so came as a surprise. But after listening to this book just once, I truly believe that no one but the author could narrate this stunning novel, which simmers with truth and energy, and do it justice. Elizabeth Acevedo draws on her own experience growing up as the child of Dominican parents living in Harlem, New York, to create her main character. Xiomara is a force to be reckoned with and too often, seen as difficult, a problem to be fixed or someone to be controlled. Told from a young age "pero, tú no eres fácil," Xiomara has learned to stifle her thoughts, her questions, and in some cases, her creativity in order to satisfy her mother's exacting demands that she be a good Catholic girl.

Of course, keeping quiet and following her mother's rules can only work for so long. Xiomara's world opens up when she is invited to join an after-school poetry club—held at the same time as her religious Confirmation classes, a required extracurricular—and then starts to fall for a classmate that her mother most definitely will not approve of. The tension of her desires and the growing urgency of her poetic voice clash with the rigid expectations that her mother holds her to—expectations that feel unfair, especially compared to the leniency her twin brother is granted as a boy.

I consider myself lucky that The Poet X is the novel that opened my eyes—and ears—to the power of audiobooks. Acevedo's narration captured my attention so wholly I found myself sitting in my car, listening, long after I arrived at my destination. Elizabeth Acevedo has since published more novels and poetry, and, luckily for all of us, she's had a hand in narrating each one.

Continue reading Tirzah's review >

Critic reviews

"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." (AudioFile)

Featured Article: The Audible Essentials Top 100


The spirited (but friendly) debate over these titles could have gone on indefinitely. With years of listening, countless customer reviews, and a catalog of seemingly infinite great listens, 100 suddenly felt like a very small number. What we know for sure—each title that made it to this collection is elevated and made special in some way by audio, whether by a layered performance from a single narrator, a brilliantly cohesive full cast, original music, or immersive sound effects. Discover an audio experience for the ages.

Editorial Review

Fifteen-year-old Xiomara Batista wants to be a poet and has already started writing, but life isn’t quite as simple as that. A powerful novel-in-verse that has slayed all before it, The Poet X is young adult fiction at its most impactful.
In a word? Astonishing. Written and narrated by Dominican-American poet and author Elizabeth Acevedo, The Poet X is a stunning novel-in-verse that has raked in the awards from the moment it was unleashed on the world. It is no great surprise, such is the power and poise of The Poet X, an incredible young adult fiction audiobook for listeners of all ages.
Fifteen-year-old Xiomara Batista isn’t going to stand in silence any longer. Tucked away in Harlem, New York City, Xiomara has embraced her developing physicality and growing confidence, although much of what she wants to say is confined to the pages of a dog-eared leather notebook. You can call it a diary if you must, but it is more so a collection of mantras and prayers that take the listener directly to Xiomara Batista’s heart. And when the young girl catches feelings for Aman in one of her classes? All bets are off. After all, Mami’s commitment to the church means Xiomara can’t exactly let her feelings for Aman flow forth. For now, the notebook will have to suffice. For now, for now…
Everything changes when Xiomara is invited to join the slam poetry club at school, a calling that conflicts with Mami’s wishes for her child. Will Afro-Latina heroine Xiomara Batista find peace in poetry? Where does twin brother Xavier fit into all of this? The Poet X is a stunning listen from start to finish, a coming-of-age story unlike any other, inspirational and engaging in equal measure. Elizabeth Acevedo is a star in the making, and The Poet X is a debut novel of free verse worth paying attention to. —Audible Latino Editor.

What listeners say about The Poet X

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  • Overall
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    4 out of 5 stars

Written in Verse - great for audio

Beautifully told story of teen girl of Dominican parentage in NYC navigating being true to herself, her parents' expectations, fitting in at school -very likable protagonist .

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Amazing

I couldn’t stop listening. It’s 5:30am and I have class in less than four hours. Amazing.

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wow!

this book was great the emotions was clearly jumping out the words. i am glad I listened she had stuff things to say

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an adolescent coming a young adult

This was a very powerful book about a young creative Afro Latino American teenager trying to figure out what defines her true identity in this world.

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Absolutely Beautiful!

A random selection is now a favorite. The rhythm and tone is very relaxing.

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nice book

very entertaining. the book is very direct and breathtaking. I love poetry and this is pure emotions I would read this many more times

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Powerful Poetry!

This is one of the best books I have ever read. it has changed the way I experience poetry and culture.

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👋👋👋

I've read Poet X before listening to this and this book will make you feel so many emotions. Elizabeth did such a great job of writing and reading her poems. When she read the poems, it doubled the intensity of the book.

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Fantastic!

Hispanic females with strict moms will relate, understand and celebrate with author’s poetic words. I am so glad author narrated. Outstanding!

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Loved every moment!

The author's words are so eloquent and descriptive that I literally visualize each moment. The story touched my heart. Made me smile. Shed a few tears. And in the end rejoice for X!

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