MSU LIT 382-Summer 2021 discussion

Hi everyone. This is where we will post our responses to The Poet X.

The Poet X
I began Poet X with low expectations. The use of poetry within literature (books specifically) as a tool is not my go-to. I find that I get through it too fast and that much of the time I find something lacking in its depth. An almost too open-ended approach to an issue, leaving the reader with a low understanding of events or characters and wishing for more substance if you will. Yet, I found myself delightfully surprised with the narrative of Poet X and Acevedo's use of language and structure of each poem to engage the reader as well as to keep us moving deeper into X's life, rather than only being able to dip our toes in. Enough time to know her and see her complexities while having enough generalities to connect my experiences (and experiences of many young adults I know) to the broader ideas of race, gender, family dynamics, first-generation kids, and the conflict of self versus the self we are expected to become.
Acevedo's genuity within X as a character, the diction her character was allowed to keep in showcasing her place in time, her age, and her circumstance but without diminishing her capabilities or intelligence was appreciated. Additionally, the format of the book (the poems) as being both a way for X to share her questions and go through the creation of her identity with the reader as well as being the way of creating her identity for herself, was powerful. For young adults to read Poet X is to understand the strength in individuality without feeling that one must abandon the ties that hold some of us from confronting or following our ideas of self-identity. Family is most specifically where we meet these tensions. The melding together of the tension that comes to X through becoming a young woman and being told what kind of young woman to become, culminates in a resolution that doesn't discount the messiness of real-life coming of age, instead of inviting that messiness and helping readers engage it, eventually showing that you can reach the freedom that comes with the power of self-definition without giving up yourself or your family (or others that participate in our identities that we do not want to disappoint or whose expectations we want to live up to).
I would give this book an 8/10 and would recommend it for all young adults, especially young women who need to be reminded that our voices are important and that is defined by others does not mean that you cannot create an identity for yourself. Knowing and accepting your identity, even at odds with definitions that those close to you have given, can coexist. One does not mean excluding the other but rather being able to confront and engage in discussions that help us navigate our identity as young adults and our identity as daughters (or wives or women or sisters) is more than ok and encouraged.

Prior to reading, I really did not have any expectations for The Poet X. I saw the awards on the cover and the cashier at the bookstore said they loved it, so I had a slightly favorable opinion, but not much else. Now, I can say that this book blew me away. Time and time again I was taken aback by the sheer force of language Acevedo wields. Xiomara's view of the world reminded me of life at 16 and how much strain there is at that time just to find your space in the world. Her struggles with her relationships with herself, her peers, her family, and her religion felt very authentic and moving. The contributing reading of Identity definitely aided in my personal understanding of the way Xiomara interacted with and viewed the world around her. I found myself sucked in, not able to stop, turning page after page keeping in rhythm with the poetry in from of me. This book definitely grew my appreciation for the power of words and how forcefully they can be used as a safe place. Overall, The Poet X was such a powerful text that kept me hanging on to every line I encountered.

I picked up this book with no knowledge of what it was about. By looks of the front cover and the listed awards, I was quick to make an assumption that I would certainly enjoy it if it held this much recognition. I was in fact correct! I enjoyed every page and every line. Many lines leaving me so in awe of the power in them that I reread them to swallow their strength. Xiomara's life was so relatable, taking me back to my high school days. It was relatable and reassuring that I, we, us, are not alone. It brought to life for me personally how relatable all of our lives can be and made me sympathize with others in their search for purpose whether it be religiously or gender-related. The portrayal of identity in the text was a strong asset and kept me turning to the next page.
I was a bit scared of the entire book being in poem form, that fear left immediately. I will be honest, I read the entire thing in one sitting. My love for words and sentence structure grew in this reading. Everyone should read this book!

I’m going to make sure not to spoil anything while talking about Elizebeth Acevedo work: The Poet X.

I stepped into The Poet X with an open mind. Honestly, if there was a bias it was that the book seemed well received and contemporary, and so I had some expectations on a subconscious level for something powerful.

Acevedo did not disappoint, however the journey was different than expected. It’s funny to admit, but I’ll do so anyway, that this book has cracked open a window in terms of a sort of reintroduction to poetry. In quarantine I had curled up now and then with some poems of Dickinson or random collections of short poems. However, the passion here for poetry that we follow through our protagonist’s personal narrative was contagious and Acevedo’s inclusion of a medley of poetry reminded me of this limb in literature and by extension the power of language. In this case the spoken word, through slam poetry that I hadn’t revisited in years.

Elizebeth Acevedo is a fascinating author, I would recommend looking into her journey in and around this novel. The inspiration for this book was very close to home for her, and that close touch is evident while reading if you keep it in mind. She is a slam poet herself - and I imagine the similarities between her experience and this story as a young woman of color don’t end there.

As a white guy living in Montana, I have to accept that there is an inherent distance between these stories and my own experience. Our lives are vastly different, which makes a novel like this all the more important to read, especially at a young age where young adults are devouring new information and forming their own personal narration and story.

I find the format and use of poetry to be an impressive and compelling element of The Poet X that Acevedo uses to sew the story together.

The themes of religion, non-conformity, family and how those elements become a cocktail of their own is a struggle that is explored with a grace and dexterity that feels quite authentic and grounded. Other issues such as sexuality and voicelessness are powerful elements of select human experience. How invisibility has many facets and can come in the form of being too seen and yet, not heard at all. Having this nuance explored and bound in a physical cover is something that I imagine can be a tool for others who struggle with this burden or experience.

Overall, I would rate this novel a 9/10. I wouldn’t have grabbed it off the shelf personally, but having read It I am sold on its approach and power. The elements here are well worth the time spent in this space that Elizebeth Acevedo has cultivated.

Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X brought me back to my teenage years in ways in so many ways. It is hard to believe that a place as big as Harlem can seem so small through adolescent eyes, but that is just what being a teenager can be like. The hierarchy of high school cliques and the parental restrictions Xiomara (X) faced are somewhat universal. Connection and validation from peers may feel like the most important thing in the world, causing a teenage-tunnel-vision that most young people fall victim to. As Xiomara’s identity is shaped by things both in and out of her control, I found myself remembering how those tumultuous years felt for me. Even though my personal identity is vastly different, some things will be the same for all young people as they grow up.

While The Poet X purported to be a collection of Xiomara’s poetry, it read more like a private diary. This was initially a bit confusing and unengaging, but after mere pages Acevedo’s unique writing style grew on me. Xiomara’s world became easy to enter and soon I felt like I knew Twin, Aman, Caridad, and X’s parents. Ms. Galiano, X’s English Teacher, was especially likable and I found myself dreaming of the day that I could follow in her footsteps, teaching English in a big city. It was inspiring to read as this teacher went out of her way for X time after time.

Xiomara's identity is in flux throughout the novel. She is tugged between girlhood and becoming woman. Between Catholicism and questioning her faith. And being rebel or an obedient daughter. One element of her identity expressing all these uncertainties is her writing. Although teenagers sometimes cannot fully create themselves into who they wish to be due to parents, teachers, or even societal norms, X finds solace in her words and finds the courage to become herself. Whoever that ever that is, X can decide.

7.5/10

Kaitlyn wrote: "The Poet X
I began Poet X with low expectations. The use of poetry within literature (books specifically) as a tool is not my go-to. I find that I get through it too fast and that m..."
Kaitlyn, I loved how you related identity to voice and self-definition. I think that The Poet X beautifully captured how there are things we choose to be and others thing that we just are. I would love to teach this book and open up class discussions about identity. The Poet X was a great story, with so much to take away. I imagine that besides some of the more obvious themes my students may see things that I missed. Sometimes I forget what that was like to be a teenager and I bet that young people can teach me a thing or two about personal identity and what it looks like for them.

Ben wrote: "I’m going to make sure not to spoil anything while talking about Elizebeth Acevedo work: The Poet X.

I stepped into The Poet X with an open mind. Honestly, if there was a bias it was that the boo..."


Ben, I appreciated your critique and agree that it is important to seek out narratives different from our own. Like you said, I also would not have picked up this book for myself but am glad to have read it, especially as a white male bordering on "out-of-touch."

Another thing that you made me appreciate was the use of poetry. I quickly changed my viewing of the text to that of a novel with slightly annoying line placement. However, every entry can be read as poetry and also could perhaps stand alone.

I know nothing about Acevedo but you have inspired me to look into her backstory and other works. I found myself questioning if she was actually Xiomara or Ms. Galiano. Maybe both, maybe neither. I do know she is a gifted story teller.

When considering identity, Acevedo hits the nail on the head for creating a story that many groups can identify with. While I would say the main group would be African Americans and immigrants, she also writes to young women, and just young adults in general. When I told my mom (also a professor who specializes in YA literature) that I was reading this book she was ecstatic, and after finishing it I understand why. Acevedo makes X a very relatable narrator to all readers and while I am typically not interested in poetry, hers was refreshing and was not so artistic and abstract that it discouraged me from reading.
Xiomara's struggles in the story are not unlike those of other young adult books, but Acevedo's use of poetry, and X being such a unique narrator, made them feel fresh and important. The conflict between her and her mother that overarches the story is easy to get invested in, and I felt I was there with X for her highs and lows. Like other have said, it took me a few poems to get interested in the book but by the end, I did not want it to be over. My only critique is that there were some instances where the dialogue did not feel very realistic, so much so that it pulled me out of the story a little bit. I went back while writing this review and it is mostly the dialogue spoken by Aman to X, it feels unnatural at times and not very true to how teenagers talk. This is nitpicky though because the book was published in 2018, and with the internet I know slang changes fast.

Ben wrote: "I’m going to make sure not to spoil anything while talking about Elizebeth Acevedo work: The Poet X.

I stepped into The Poet X with an open mind. Honestly, if there was a bias it was that the boo..."

Ben, I liked your point about your perspective as a white man in Montana. I feel like a lot of people do not recognize that their perspectives are not always going to be similar to that of the story they are reading and get so carried away in the differences that they miss the themes that are applicable to them. I am fortunate in that I grew up somewhere more diverse and I am glad that even though you did not you still have the mindset of trying to understand different groups of people. It is small, but makes a huge difference in the way we interact with others.

Poet X was a great book for many reasons but none more so than Identity. The way Acevedo correlates her own ideas of coming to terms with identity along with those of Xiomara makes the book have a very personal feel to it. I am not a woman so I have never had to deal with a lot of the issues facing X at that time, but the way she used a poetic style when narrating made every story relatable and as if I was there to experience them. Without spoiling too much, the way the supporting characters also have depth and bring in new ideas that show light on other aspects of growing up with very religious parents shows us how X and her brother had to adapt to overcome the image of the perfect kids. I think in terms of a YA novel it is a pretty good one. I liked the way she narrated and made even the smallest of details ones of importance, but sometimes she did get a little carried away. What I mean by that is, she had a great message behind the book and one that I am sure has helped many kids in very similar circumstances, but she made X seem like more of a hero and not a normal teenager. Most YA novels have the same sort of heroical character arc and I think in this book it was just a little over exemplified. Overall, great read and one that highlights the importance of relationships, both friends and love, in a teenagers life.

Kaitlyn wrote: "The Poet X
I began Poet X with low expectations. The use of poetry within literature (books specifically) as a tool is not my go-to. I find that I get through it too fast and that m..."

Kaitlyn, I really agree with your thoughts on the books formatting. Acevedo did a great job formatting the book like a journal and also a poem at the same time. When reading I did not think that the influence of this format would make me read any differently but slowly as I read throughout the book, the formatic choice became clear as it helps further support the books purpose. Also as I sadi in my review, I am not a women but the way in which she speaks about the coming of age that all girls must face and how she does not hide the "messiness" of reality, made me realize the truth about what all young women must go through during their teenage years. Great Review!

Madison wrote: "Prior to reading, I really did not have any expectations for The Poet X. I saw the awards on the cover and the cashier at the bookstore said they loved it, so I had a slightly favorable opinion, bu..."

Madison,
I like what you said about the power of words as a safe place, I definitely got the same sense while reading this book. For so many of us in the writing major, we get used to being encouraged to share our work that we often forget about the power of writing for ourselves. On another note, I also came into The Poet X with limited background knowledge and it is so interesting that we all had such positive experiences reading this for the first time, and for school no less.

Chris wrote: "When considering identity, Acevedo hits the nail on the head for creating a story that many groups can identify with. While I would say the main group would be African Americans and immigrants, she..."

Chris I definitely agree that the Identity behind this book spans far and wide beyond just "African-Americans" or "immigrants", and I think that is part of the books purpose. To find out what your own identity is and don't become defined by the labels that are put on you. Just as you said with the way she narrates, she puts all of these very specific topics into her book without any of us noticing because of a narrator like X who is relatable enough to have it feel like a conversation. Finally, I agree with what you said about the unnatural dialogue, kind of like what I said in my review which is just that X seems like a hero. A lot of the stuff she says and does just feels like something that would only happen because the author wanted it to. Good Analysis!

Bailey wrote: "I picked up this book with no knowledge of what it was about. By looks of the front cover and the listed awards, I was quick to make an assumption that I would certainly enjoy it if it held this mu..."
Bailey, I really agree with everything you said in your review! I was definitely apprehensive about the poetry part as well, but looking back, it felt so natural and I could not imagine the text being any other way. Your statement "It was relatable and reassuring that I, we, us, are not alone" completely sums up what I felt going through Xiomara's experiences. It was all so genuine and beautiful, I definitely agree that everyone should read this book.

Spencer wrote: "Poet X was a great book for many reasons but none more so than Identity. The way Acevedo correlates her own ideas of coming to terms with identity along with those of Xiomara makes the book have a ..."
Spencer,
Identity is a great way to, really, sum up this text. I like that you highlight the struggle Xiomara and Xavier face between their real self and the image of being the perfect kids. I think we all have to come to terms with that fact in finding ourselves, no matter our background. Sometimes we have to break away from our parents and family to find our identity. The text follows Xiomara through that difficult part of realizing that fact and her navigation through it. Not everybody can be the perfect kid, but be amazing in their own way, and I think that is part of what makes this book noteworthy and special.

I was not familiar with this book title or Acevedo as an author prior to receiving our course reading list. After reading the book’s back cover, I was struck by the complexity of themes that I knew the book was about to approach from a bildungsroman perspective. My personal resonance with the internal struggles and identity confusion that Xiomara felt about both her body image and religious upbringing was surreal throughout my reading experience. Identity is such a complex and fragile thing to navigate, especially independently and introspectively in one’s teen years; through Xiomara’s illustrative retelling of her experiences, however, I think many adolescents could feel as if though they were actually being understood by someone struggling with similar problems. In particular, the way in which Acevedo talks about the struggle to be genuinely heard and the empowerment that spawns as a result of feeling heard for the first time in adolescence was expertly done. As a pre-service teacher, this novel, through verse, delves into many thematic elements and teenage turmoils that all youth experience in terms of combatting strife with and discusses them in a raw and emotive way. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this very accessible text and think that it presented the concepts of identity confusion and teenage self-consciousness in a very unique and applicable way.

Acevedo beautifully captures the uncertainty and emotions of crossing that threshold between childhood and young adulthood in The Poet X. Like most teens, Xiomara is trying to figure out who she is, and who she wants to be; at the same time she is trying to reconcile what her family expects her to be. The way that Acevedo crafted the novel to read as a poetry journal allows the reader to connect with Xiomara's thoughts in an intimate way. Many times I found my own thoughts reflected in these pages. Identity is a central theme, not only for Xiomara but for her parents as well--she details the drastic changes between who Mami and Papi once were, and who they became. This is an important book for young teens (especially BIPOC teens) because Xiomara reads as a "real" teenager with the same struggles as they may be facing. In addition, I think parents/guardians of young teens should read this book too, as it is a window into the teenage experience in this age of social media; perhaps it would help them better understand what these kids are facing today, and remind them that they too were once kids struggling in the gray areas of growing up. I truly enjoyed this book!

"I let the words shape themselves hard on my tongue.
I let my hands pretend to be punctuation marks
that slash, and point, and press in on each other.
I let my body finally take up all the space that it wants" (pg. 79).

At first glance at The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, the book appears to be any average young adult novel. This novel has the standard page count and a cover that is sure to catch the eye of any young reader. Once I opened the book, I noticed right away that this is not any average book. The pages are filled with poem formatted text instead of the standard prose paragraphs. The writing style works incredibly well with the plot in this story of transformation, identity, and discovery-themed book.

Xiomara is a student, twin, friend, daughter, and poet. Her family heavily practices Catholicism, so she is held to great expectations, mainly by her mother who would have married Jesus if she could. Xiomara truly struggles with identity as she questions the bible, her mother's parenting, and as she tries to discover what it means to be a teenager. She cannot date because of her mother's orders, but she begins to experience feeling for a boy in her class which causes some confusion regarding her religion and causes her to tackle some tough situations where lying and hiding things comes into play.

Acevedo does an incredible job displaying many themes that are relevant for students today. Identity, transformation, parent relationships, school struggles, lying, and discovery are just some of the many that are present in The Poet X. My favorite part of this novel is the heavy emphasis on Xiomara's passion for writing poetry and how Acevedo uses poet format writing for almost every page. This pairs incredibly well with the story and accurately represents Xiomara's character. The writing is very accessible for readers of many ages, but there are some moments when language translation may be needed.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could not put it down while reading it. The story is very engaging and I found myself relating to many of the topics and events that occurred throughout. I would recommend this book to any and all teenagers and young adults who are trying to find their passion, trying to figure out who they are or how they fit into society, and anyone else who just wants a good read. I loved the language used throughout this book as it was beautifully written and included tons of imagery and creative techniques to keep readers engaged and interested.

"But maybe my silence.
Just made himself more alone.
Maybe my silence.
Condones the things people think" (pg. 177).

“This is what a cuero looks like:
A regular girl. Pocket-less jeans
that draw grown men’s eyes. Long hair.
A nose ring. A lip ring. A tongue
ring. Extra earrings. Any ring
but a diamond one on her left hand. …” (pg. 205)

Who am I? Xiomara grapples with finding her identity as a girl growing into womanhood, questioning herself, her family, and her religion as she struggles to find a way of expressing herself that doesn’t involve her fists. She has always been tall and strong. But like so many females, Xiomara’s body has changed, and she has to deal with the unwanted attention that brings on top of figuring out what her own feelings on the matter are. Writing poems in her notebook has always helped her explore her feelings; will they also help her express herself to friends and family?

The found this story so relatable. I look back at my own adolescence and even though I only had a quarter of the sass that Xiomara has, I can still relate to her struggles as she tries to figure out who she is. I grew up in rural cornfields and Xiomara grew up in the city. I am white, Xiomara is not. My family is not religious, Xiomara’s is. And yet, I still saw some of my struggles growing up reflected in Xiomara’s struggles. It is so important to be able to understand the world through the perspective of others, and Acevedo gives us relatable teenage characters with relatable teenage problems and relatable teenage viewpoints (flawed as they may sometimes be) to examine the world and ourselves through. I have little in common with Xiomara, yet her viewpoint still resonates with me. I can only imagine characters like Xiomara and Xavier would be so affirming and impactful for those who connect with them in more ways than I do. I think this book would resonate with a lot of teenagers, and I would absolutely recommend it to young adults and adults alike.

I can’t believe that I haven’t read a verse novel before I read “The Poet X.” I really enjoyed the format of this story, and it makes me want to seek out more verse novels. Also, as the differences between written poetry and spoken poetry were explored in the story, I wondered what it would be like to listen to the audiobook version of this story instead of reading the written version – so I’ve added that to my long to-do list as well. 5/5

When I first picked up this book, I initially thought it would be a quick and easy children's book. Although this book was a quick read, I didn't anticipate the story to be as moving as it was. Acevedo cunningly projects the struggles, joys, and confusion of growing up in a way that universally connects the reader to their childhood memories. This coming-of-age story follows a young Harlem girl named Xiomara as she navigates the confusing teenage years. The main obstacles that Xiomara faces are all too relatable, things most of us dealt with at her age, such as relationships, friendships, puberty, identification, and insecurity.

Organized as a collection of rhythmic verse poems by Xiomara, this book details a genuine sounding account of what growing up was like for her, written in her voice. This creates a familiar tone that resembles a private diary rather than a collection of her poems. A reason this book feels as sincere as it does is due to Acevedo's ability to perfectly represent moments that would otherwise be insignificant. Delivering the reader an emotional and accurate portrayal of what life was like for Xiomara.

Bobby wrote: "When I first picked up this book, I initially thought it would be a quick and easy children's book. Although this book was a quick read, I didn't anticipate the story to be as moving as it was. Ace..."

Bobby, your review of The Poet X was so similar to mine, yet, it made me think about other young adult works I have read, maybe even at the age they were "intended" for and how many lessons did I miss from those? Being that we are a bit older than the audience this novel was written for it really struck me that I likely got way more from it at this age than at a younger age, which makes me wonder if there are so many hidden messages in other reads we would not pick up on earlier in life.

I like your comment on the book feeling like a private diary. I had that same feeling while reading, it definitely felt more personal than the typical paragraph format of a book. The poems were certainly filled with a multitude of power that I think was really well executed and likely even better in the shorter poetic approach than if it had been in paragraphs. I almost think after reading this format that I tend to get lost in long paragraphs and with the poems, there was no space to get lost in.

Rebecca wrote: "Acevedo beautifully captures the uncertainty and emotions of crossing that threshold between childhood and young adulthood in The Poet X. Like most teens, Xiomara is trying to figure out who she is..."

Rebecca, I had not previously thought of suggesting this to parents of teens, although, after reading your review and your note on this idea I was moved in a positive way by it. I think that is a terrific idea! Maybe a book suggestion for parents at the beginning of high school provided by the school...? I really like this idea and think there is room in our world to execute it if it has not been already. I know that I was inclined to keep reading the text. I could see parents really benefiting from knowing their kids better or remembering their teenage years in a sense of a refresher if you will. I am glad you brought this up!

Jenna wrote: "“This is what a cuero looks like:
A regular girl. Pocket-less jeans
that draw grown men’s eyes. Long hair.
A nose ring. A lip ring. A tongue
ring. Extra earrings. Any ring
but a diamond one on her ..."

Hi Jenna! I loved your response/review for this novel! The way you compared yourself to Xiomara was genius because it really proves the point you were trying to make. It truly is important to learn from others and gain perspective from a variety of people and their backgrounds/experiences. I am also very different from Xiomara, yet I too felt I could connect with her throughout the novel. I could understand (to a certain point) what she was going through. This story would work well for many students who are trying to grow up and learn how to be an individual in society. I also really liked that you mentioned following along to an audiobook!! YES, I will be doing this too because I am interested in hearing what the audiobook does differently from what I did while reading.

Darian wrote: "I was not familiar with this book title or Acevedo as an author prior to receiving our course reading list. After reading the book’s back cover, I was struck by the complexity of themes that I knew..."

Hi Darian! I liked that you mentioned thinking about this as a pre-service teacher. While this is not necessarily a class geared towards education, there are so many benefits for us pre-service teachers (as students) to learn from books like this. Acevedo's book is a perfect example of something we could recommend to students when they are searching for their next read. I think I'll definitely be reading these books through the education lens.

Darian wrote: "I was not familiar with this book title or Acevedo as an author prior to receiving our course reading list. After reading the book’s back cover, I was struck by the complexity of themes that I knew..."

Hey Darian! Your review said a lot of the things I was thinking as I read through this story and reflected upon it. I really love the way you pointed out the struggles to be genuinely heard and the empowerment that spawns as a result of feeling heard for the first time. I think a lot of the reason that I find this story so relatable for adolescents is because I think most people struggle with finding their voice and a way of expressing themselves that resonates with them. Acevedo expresses these feelings in a way that is so relatable, and it makes the characters more relatable to a wide variety of students.

Ben wrote: "As a white guy living in Montana, I have to accept that there is an inherent distance between these stories and my own experience. Our lives are vastly different, which makes a novel like this all the more important to read, especially at a young age where young adults are devouring new information and forming their own personal narration and story."

Chris wrote: "I am fortunate in that I grew up somewhere more diverse and I am glad that even though you did not you still have the mindset of trying to understand different groups of people. It is small, but makes a huge difference in the way we interact with others."

Ben and Chris, I'd like to continue this chain of replies, because I found both Ben's original post and Chris's response so important. I'm really glad that you both opened up about your perspectives and experiences, and how those relate to the perspectives presented in "The Poet X." In my original post I listed some of the ways that I differed from the character Xiomara and some of the ways that I still found her relatable. As a pre-service teacher, I think it is important to examine the perspectives presented in literature and to both find stories that are relatable while also offering varied perspectives and I'm glad that you both addressed this. Adolescents and teenagers are constantly forming their view of the world, and through reading stories with relatable characters who offer another perspective of the world with different experiences in life, their view of the world can shift in immeasurable ways.

Hey Rebecca, I apologize if this randomly quotes your opening statement. I'm still getting used to Goodreads response format.

I enjoyed reading your thoughts on the impact of poetry in this novel. As a poetry journal readers are invited into a uniquely personal experience. It's not only powerful, but a good testament to an authors toolset and a reminder of the potential and options in crafting a story. I find this poignant because language is a tricky thing. Even as I sit here, ostensibly able to gather my thoughts into a cohesive response, it's easy to struggle to straddle that gap between our thoughts and how we communicate those thoughts or feelings. Poetry is amazing in that I think it tests those limits of communication and storytelling. I found this exploration through Acevedo to be quite exciting and inspiring to a degree - though I am no poet.

The poetry weaves a sense of reality as you've highlighted, and I am happy that I had a chance to read something that may truly connect with and inspire teens, especially BIPOC as you mentioned.

Happy Sunday!

-Ben

Jenna wrote: "“This is what a cuero looks like:
A regular girl. Pocket-less jeans
that draw grown men’s eyes. Long hair.
A nose ring. A lip ring. A tongue
ring. Extra earrings. Any ring
but a diamond one on her ..."


Hey Jenna!

I really enjoyed reading your thoughts here.

It's so interesting how relatable a character can be when you don't share much of the facets that makeup their story. I connected with you sharing your relationship with Xiomara as a character. As I Mentioned in my writeup, I felt even further removed, at the offset, on paper, from this character. I went into detail about concepts that separate us, my own lens and privilege. However, it is a disservice to Acevedo's writing and work for me to ignoramus's how close I felt with the main character. The humanity and what bonds us together was alluring and compelling. The poetry and authenticity of this story had me awash in my own memories and I was often thrown back to my teen years, even in dreams after reading. That's a testament to the strengths of this piece, that I think you've highlighted well. I could have done a better job in my writeup in including those details as well.

I've never read a verse novel either - but agree that one should be added to my list. Perhaps to the top of my list, as it grows ever longer!

Happy Sunday!

Ben

Bailey wrote: "I picked up this book with no knowledge of what it was about. By looks of the front cover and the listed awards, I was quick to make an assumption that I would certainly enjoy it if it held this mu..."

I think that you're self-awareness is of your identity and place is significant to understanding Avecedo as an author and how her situation of time and place for her characters is just as important for her readers. In the same way, her use of slam poetry underscores significant points of identity formation for X, the poetry itself leaves enough room for readers to see X's journey and gain something from understanding another perspective (from the race, gender, ethnicity, first-generation families) as well as to understand our personal identities, biases we hold, and ways that those around us can shape us (if we let them). For me, I relate to the struggles of being a young woman trying to create an identity for myself that is not based around stereotypes or oppressions but I do not understand the experience of being a young Afro-Dominican woman in Harlem and that is where it is important for young adults to see themselves within narratives as well as to read and understand stories that are not there own.

Rebecca wrote: "Acevedo beautifully captures the uncertainty and emotions of crossing that threshold between childhood and young adulthood in The Poet X. Like most teens, Xiomara is trying to figure out who she is..."

I very much enjoyed your use of quotes from the novel to open and end your review! I similarly agree that Avecedo's use of language was both powerful and beautiful. One of the most powerful lines for me was "I think about all the things we could be if we were never told our bodies were not built for them"(188). I think, for a young adult novel especially, the context of having both Aman and X face the same struggle of being told what they should or should not be is important and so is having X be able to break through that anyway. There is power in what the people we love say to us or about us and even if we want to be something else, much of the time we want to make those people proud. To introduce such complexities, and explain it in a way that young adults can relate to (allowing them to be able to recognize and understand that tension) is important and powerful in its own way. The tensions between family, friends, and partners are introduced in ways that help young readers explore conflict, learn how to navigate their wants and identity with tensions from society or family, and offer constructive ways of becoming a young adult and dealing with these 'growing pains' in ways that create something even more beautiful (i.e becoming closer to our parents, understanding our heritage, reconciling who we are with what we are told we should be, following our own path, sticking up for ourselves).

Spencer wrote: "Poet X was a great book for many reasons but none more so than Identity. The way Acevedo correlates her own ideas of coming to terms with identity along with those of Xiomara makes the book have a ..."

Hi Spencer,
I could not agree more with your articulations about the uses of identity within the book. I thought that Acevedo's use of both religious contentions, as well as Xiomara's self-consciousness about the body, spoke so well to central issues that teenagers are exposed to. Thank you for your wonderful commentary of the employment of these throughout the novel by verse. - Darian

Madison wrote: "Prior to reading, I really did not have any expectations for The Poet X. I saw the awards on the cover, and the cashier at the bookstore said they loved it, so I had a slightly favorable opinion, but..."

Hi Madison,

I could not agree more with your sentiments about relating to the 16-year-old self that is reminiscent within this book. I was also reminded of the gravity of these central identity questions and the weight they played in my life at that time while reading. Similarly to you, I had no experience with this novel aside from seeing the awards on the front initially; I was also extremely blown away by the applicability of this bildungsroman. - Darian

Bailey wrote: "I picked up this book with no knowledge of what it was about. By looks of the front cover and the listed awards, I was quick to make an assumption that I would certainly enjoy it if it held this mu..."

Hi Bailey, I love your thoughts about Xiomara's relatability, and agree. There is something so powerful about recognizing yourself in a character's thoughts or situations, that feeling of "I thought I was the only one who felt that way!" Indeed, these types of revelations can help us realize that there is more that connects us than separates us, while at the same time respecting and learning about our differences.

Spencer wrote: "Poet X was a great book for many reasons but none more so than Identity. The way Acevedo correlates her own ideas of coming to terms with identity along with those of Xiomara makes the book have a ..."

Hi Spencer, I can see why you would think Xiomara seemed too much like a hero at the end of the book. I feel like it was an intentional choice by the author to have the story end on a more positive note. Teenagers are self-centered at times, so it's plausible that X gives her story a happy ending where everything works out for the best because she knows that after the party, Mami still won't allow her to date, Twin still will hide his truth, and she'll still have to go back to church.

I'm not a stranger to poetry. Being a published poet myself I always go into poetry with an open but somewhat skeptical view as many people consider themselves "poets". However from the start of "Stoop sitting" the book felt natural to me. Not forced into sweet words like many poems but like I was really with the author watching the older women gossip as they toddled around. Not to mention each poem doesn't seem to sit on its own and they all capture the feeling of growing up. I especially loved how "Stoop Sitting" Was revisited as "Stoop Sitting...Aman". It kept the flow going through familiarity and I greatly enjoyed it.