Be sure to visit Bantering Books to read all my latest reviews.4.5 starsI never knew I liked poetry.I’ve never been drawn to it. I have only ever read it in school, where it often left me bewildered. I would stretch my brain to search for the meaning behind the words of Dickinson, Whitman, and Frost. It was such a struggle. And not a very enjoyable one, at that. I would silently hope that the teacher would not call on me, knowing that I didn’t have many, or any, thoughts to contribute to the cla...

4.25/5 ⭐ Honestly, I was ready for some hard truths, and that's exactly what Elizabeth Acevedo delivered with *The Poet X*. Thank you. I was pleasantly surprised by how this book resonated with me. I went into it hoping for a "Preach!" moment, and I definitely had several. *The Poet X* truly delivers. I loved how Acevedo presented Dominican culture through the eyes of Xiomara, a girl who appreciates her heritage but wants to experience it differently than her parents. This is a powerful book ...

✨How do you even describe something PERFECT?The verse. The story. The characterization. The biographical narration.It's so damn powerful and unforgettable.It's about being born a woman, not being appreciated, not being taken seriously, and being seen as 'just a girl'; being forced into so-called societal norms by so-called adults, told what to believe and what to follow, leaving no room for individuality; making 'her' feel like a second choice; being treated differently from the other when born ...

“And I think about all the things we could be if we were never told our bodies were not built for them.” 4½ stars. Wow, this was so good.I recently read Elizabeth Acevedo's With the Fire on High and I found it to be sweet and enjoyable, but I felt like a little something was held back. Like the book played it too safe and didn't really excite me. It was feel-good, and that's just fine, but if I'm being honest I'm a bit of a drama llama. 🦙But *The Poet X*? This book is heart-wrenching and pow...

Contemporary YA and poetry usually don't click for me, so I'm genuinely surprised by how close to perfect "The Poet X" is as a coming-of-age story. The verse format feels intentional and not just a gimmick, and the writing is stellar without relying on overly flowery language. It’s simple yet effective, and it does a fantastic job portraying the complexities of a teenager finding her voice within a culture that often silences young women. Even though our backgrounds are different, I really enjoy...

Poetry's usually not my thing, but *The Poet X* was part of my Goodreads Reading Challenge for 2018, so here we are... I ended up really connecting with the main character, her story, her relationships with her family, her struggles with religion, and the abuse she went through. Elizabeth Acevedo really brought her to life. There was a lot of Spanish in *The Poet X*, but everything was translated right after, so don't worry if you don't speak Spanish. I did feel like the ending of the book pu...

This was such a surprising read for me! I don't usually read poetry, and I definitely don't typically *like* it, so I've avoided books in verse for years. I decided to pick up the audiobook of *The Poet X* from my library just because it was so short, but I'm so glad I gave it a chance. This is a story absolutely everyone should experience. If you're looking for great young adult fiction or diverse books, definitely check this one out!CW: sexism/misogyny, homophobia, slut-shaming, abuse, sexual ...

This book was absolutely INCREDIBLE. I don't usually get into poetry, but I listened to the audiobook of The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, and it completely blew me away. I can't wait to buy a physical copy for myself so I can mark all my favorite sections. SO. DAMN. GOOD. If you're looking for powerful and moving young adult book reviews, check this one out!

"Burn it! Burn it. This is where the poems are," I say, thumping a fist against my chest. "Will you burn me? Will you burn me, too?" I've always been fond of stories told through verse, and I love Elizabeth Acevedo's poetry, so when I learned that she was writing her first YA novel, I knew I had to get my hands on it. I never once doubted that I would love it, but I didn't know it could mean so much to me. I didn't have a clue that I was in for such a raw, honest ride about how religion impac...

I loved #ThePoetX so much that I didn’t want to highlight anything or dog-ear the pages. Instead, I ended up taking pictures of practically every single page.This is one of those books where you think, “I’ll just read 50 pages,” and then you look up and you've finished it in two sittings.Reading this book was a real emotional experience. Not just because Elizabeth Acevedo's story and her words are so incredibly beautiful, but because I know it’s going to make so many teens—teens who feel like no...