Overview
The Poet X is an insightful poetic novel that explores the life of a Dominican teenage girl living in Harlem. Author Elizabeth Acevedo was the winner of the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature for this book and it was named one of the best young adult books of the year when it was published in 2018.
The book is about Xiomara, a quiet yet bold and intelligent girl who makes sense of her complicated world by writing poems. Her short-form poems detail all of her experiences, thoughts, emotions, dreams, and fears — all while unraveling the impactful events of her sophomore year of high school.
Seeing as this book is repeatedly recommended for teenage readers, we’re going to review everything parents will want to know before letting their child read The Poet X. Let’s take a look!
Harmful Content ❗️
Xiomara does not hold back from detailing her thoughts and struggles with real issues in her life. She writes about being objectified as a young woman in her neighborhood, having serious doubts about her family’s religion, and feeling as though not enough or too much for those in her life. Xiomara is deeply thoughtful and introspective, so though these are mature topics, they are written with sincerity and are not overly gratuitous.
Language
Xiomara does use some adult language in her poems, most frequently being “sh*t” or “d*mn.”
Sex
As a teenage girl, Xiomara writes about how she increasingly notices boys more and wants to know what it’s like to be loved and kissed by a boy. In a conversation she replays with a friend, she even says, “I’m ready to stop being a nun. Kiss a boy, shoot, I’m ready to creep with him behind a stairwell and let him feel me up.” Part of the plot is that Xiomara does end up having her first kiss with a boy she meets in class, though they do not go beyond kissing.
Xiomara also writes extensively about feeling constantly objectified for having a more curvy body. She constantly receives inappropriate comments and occasional unwanted touching from boys at school and even older men.
Violence
While violence is not a particularly crucial element of The Poet X, Xiomara does admit that she is quick to get into a fight. Often it’s in retaliation for someone bullying her twin brother. Additionally, she notes a couple of stories in which her mother is physical with her, specifically backhanding her as punishment.
Positive Value 💫
The Poet X strikes a perfect balance of describing Xiomara’s unique story and perspective, while also hitting on generally universal experiences for teenage girls. And make no mistake — these poems are not like the poetry you had to read in school. So even if your child is not a fan of poetry, they can likely find themselves connecting to the struggles and emotions described in these verses.
This series of short-form poems is approachable, easily relatable, and puts you right in the shoes of Xiomara herself. As Xiomara learns about who she is and who she wants to be in The Poet X, it can encourage your child to find ways to express themselves as they explore their own identity.
So, should my kid read it?
We’d say for ages 15 and up, this is a fantastic read. However, we recommend parents consider the maturity level of the book and their child to make the best decision.
