{{Short description|2018 novel by Elizabeth Acevedo}} '''''The Poet X''''', published March 6, 2018 by [[HarperTeen]], is a [[Young adult fiction|young adult novel]] by [[Elizabeth Acevedo]]. Fifteen-year-old Xiomara, also known as "X" or "Xio," works through the tension and conflict in her family by writing poetry. ''The Poet X'' addresses themes of [[patriarchy]], [[sexism]], and [[objectification]] of young women through X's experiences.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/elizabeth-acevedo/the-poet-x/ |title=THE POET X {{!}} Kirkus Reviews |language=en}}</ref> The book, a [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''New York Times'' bestseller]],<ref name=":2">{{cite web |date=December 21, 2017|title=The Poet X|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/elizabeth-acevedo/the-poet-x/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Kirkus Reviews}}</ref> was well received and won multiple awards at the [[2019 Youth Media Awards]].

== Plot == Xiomara Batista is a fifteen-year-old [[Dominican Americans|Dominican]] teenager living in Harlem who loves to write poetry. Though she longs to share it with the world, her religious mother is only concerned with her being confirmed, which has been put off for three years. She feels inferior to her brother Xavier (affectionately called Twin), as he receives much praise for his work. During the school year, she develops a love for her lab partner, Aman. However, the relationship is broken when her mother sees them kissing on a train. Eventually, her mother finds her poetry, forcing a confrontation between the two.

== Banned Book Controversy == The Banned Book Project of Carnegie Mellon University identifies this book as banned.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Elizabeth Acevedo, "The Poet X" – The Banned Books Project |url=https://bannedbooks.library.cmu.edu/elizabeth-acevedo-the-poet-x/ |access-date=2024-09-28 |language=en-US}}</ref> In a Federal District Court case in North Carolina, parents asserted ''The Poet X'' was anti-Christian and violated their right to freedom of religion. The court dismissed the case, citing the widely-held judicial principle that education is not indoctrination.<ref>{{Cite web |last=NCAC |date=2020-11-16 |title=North Carolina Lawsuit Challenges The Poet X Over Religious Viewpoint |url=https://ncac.org/news/poet-x-lawsuit#:~:text=In%20their%20lawsuit,%20John%20and,the%20protagonist%20questions%20her%20Christian |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=National Coalition Against Censorship |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Themes == Scholars have emphasized the important of visibility and voice in The Poet X. Rebecca Foote described Xiomara's development as becoming "unhide-able" highlights how poetry allows her to resist being silenced and assert her identity.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Foote |first=Rebecca |date=2024-03-01 |title=“I Am Unhide-able”: Conditions of Visibility in <i>The Poet X</i> |url=https://doi.org/10.1093/melus/mlae011 |journal=MELUS: Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States |volume=49 |issue=1 |pages=28–52 |doi=10.1093/melus/mlae011 |issn=0163-755X|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The novel also explores Afro-Latinidad and Dominican identity, particularly through Xiomara's experience with her religious mother and her community. As discussed in LatinoUSA, Acevedo's work centers "the complexities of Afro-Latinidad" and the importance of finding one's voice, as Xiomara did through poetry. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Aguirre |first=Caroline |date=May 28, 2019 |title=Portrait Of: Elizabeth Acevedo |url=https://www.latinousa.org/2019/05/28/elizabethacevedo/}}</ref>

== Style == The Poet X is written as a novel in verse, reflecting Acevedo's background in spoken word poetry. <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Roddis |first=Eben |title="The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo: A Review." |url=https://ypn.poetrysociety.org.uk/features/the-poet-x-by-elizabeth-acevedo-a-review-by-eben-roddis/ |journal=}}</ref> The poetic form emphasized voice and emotional expression. As expressed in a review by The Poetry Society the novel showcases Acevedo's strength as a poet, using verse to convey Xiomara's internal thoughts and experiences as a young Afro-Latina woman. Critics also highlight how poetry functions as a tool for identity formation. Foote notes that Xiomara's writing allows her to claim visibility and express herself in ways that were forbidden for her. <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Foote |first=Rebecca |date=2024-03-01 |title=“I Am Unhide-able”: Conditions of Visibility in <i>The Poet X</i> |url=https://doi.org/10.1093/melus/mlae011 |journal=MELUS: Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States |volume=49 |issue=1 |pages=28–52 |doi=10.1093/melus/mlae011 |issn=0163-755X|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

== Cultural Significance == The novel is significant for It's representation of Afro-Latina identity and Dominican culture in young adult literature. Acevedo's work highlights experiences often underrepresented in mainstream narratives. According to Latino USA, Acevedo's work centers voices that are often marginalized and highlights lived experiences of Afro-Latina women. As she also mentions in her other book "With the Fire on High" she makes the protagonist a pregnant high school senior from Harlem, because she wants her readers who are young Afro-latina women to be identified in her characters.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aguirre |first=Caroline |title="Portrait of: Elizabeth Acevedo" Latino USA(NPR). |url=https://www.latinousa.org/2019/05/28/elizabethacevedo/}}</ref> Through Xiomara's story the novel explores the intersection of race, gender, culture, and religious expectations, contributing to broader discussions about identity and what it means to be Dominican. <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Foote |first=Rebecca |date=2024-03-01 |title=“I Am Unhide-able”: Conditions of Visibility in <i>The Poet X</i> |url=https://doi.org/10.1093/melus/mlae011 |journal=MELUS: Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States |volume=49 |issue=1 |pages=28–52 |doi=10.1093/melus/mlae011 |issn=0163-755X|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

== Reception and awards == ''The Poet X'' was well reviewed, receiving starred reviews from ''[[The Horn Book Magazine]]'',<ref>{{cite web |last=Swan|first=Jennifer Hubert|date=2018-03-20|title=Review of The Poet X|url=https://www.hbook.com/2018/03/choosing-books/review-of-the-week/review-poet-x/|access-date=2019-03-05|website=[[The Horn Book Magazine]]}}</ref> ''[[Kirkus Reviews]]'',<ref name=":2" /> ''[[Publishers Weekly]],''<ref>{{cite web |last=Paquett|first=Ammi-Joan|date=2018-01-22|title=Children's Book Review: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. HarperTeen, $17.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-06-266280-4|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-06-266280-4|access-date=2021-10-29|website=Publishers Weekly|language=en}}</ref> ''[[Shelf Awareness]]'',<ref>{{cite web |last=Coulter|first=Emilie|title=Shelf Awareness for Readers for Tuesday, March 13, 2018|url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/readers-issue.html?issue=696|access-date=2021-10-29|website=Shelf Awareness}}</ref> and ''[[School Library Journal]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slj.com/?detailStory=poet-x-elizabeth-acevedo-slj-review|title=The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo {{!}} SLJ Review|last=Farrell|first=Della|date=2018-03-15|website=School Library Journal|access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref> as well as positive reviews from ''[[Booklist]],''<ref>{{cite web |last=Bratt|first=Jessica Anne|date=November 1, 2017|title=The Poet X|url=https://www.booklistonline.com/The-Poet-X-Elizabeth-Acevedo/pid=9103099|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Booklist}}</ref> ''[[The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books|the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books]],''<ref>{{cite journal |last=Kirkwood|first=Melanie|date=2018|title=The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo|url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/686742|journal=Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books|language=en|volume=71|issue=7|pages=276|doi=10.1353/bcc.2018.0148|issn=1558-6766|url-access=subscription}}</ref> and ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Poet X|url=https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062662811|access-date=2021-10-29|website=IndieBound|date=7 April 2020 |isbn=978-0-06-266281-1 |language=en}}</ref>

The audiobook received a starred review from ''[[Booklist]].''<ref>{{cite web |last=Booth|first=Heather|date=March 1, 2019|title=The Poet X|url=https://www.booklistonline.com/The-Poet-X-/pid=9508377|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Booklist}}</ref> It was the fourth most ordered book at the [[New York Public Library]] in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/02/nyregion/new-york-library-books.html|title=How the N.Y. Public Library Fills Its Shelves (and Why Some Books Don't Make the Cut)|last=Hu|first=Winnie|date=2019-03-02|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-03-05|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In 2018, ''Kirkus Reviews'' named ''The Poet X'' one of the best young adult books of the year.<ref name=":2" />

{| class="wikitable" |+Awards for ''The Poet X'' !Year !Award !Result !Ref. |- ! rowspan="6" |2018 |[[Boston Globe–Horn Book Award|Boston Globe-Horn Book Award]] for Fiction & Poetry |'''Winner''' |<ref>{{cite web |last=Book |first=Horn |title=2018 Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards acceptance speeches roundup |url=https://www.hbook.com/story/2018-boston-globe-horn-book-awards-acceptance-speeches-roundup |access-date=2021-10-29 |website=The Horn Book}}</ref> |- |[[Goodreads Choice Awards|Goodreads Choice Award]] for Poetry |Nominee |<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=The Poet X |url=https://www.goodreads.com/work/best_book/54024746-the-poet-x |access-date=2021-04-21 |website=Goodreads}}</ref> |- |[[Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature]] |Finalist |<ref name=":2" /> |- |[[Los Angeles Times Book Prize|''Los Angeles Times'' Book Prize]] for Young Adult Literature |'''Winner''' |<ref>{{cite web|last=|title=BookPrizes by Award - 2019|url=https://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/bookprizes-award/|access-date=2021-10-29|website=Festival of Books|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-03-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327164953/https://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/bookprizes-award/|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |[[National Book Award for Young People's Literature]] |'''Winner''' |<ref>{{cite web |title=National Book Awards: 2018 winners |url=https://www.nationalbook.org/awards-prizes/national-book-awards-2018 |access-date=2020-08-02 |website=[[National Book Foundation]]}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> |- |[[New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association]] (NAIBA) Book of the Year for Young Adult |'''Winner''' |<ref>{{cite web |title=NAIBA Book of the Year Awards |url=https://www.naiba.com/page/BooksoftheYear |access-date=2021-10-28 |website=New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association}}</ref> |- ! rowspan="12" |2019 |[[Rise: A Feminist Book Project|Amelia Bloomer List]] |Top Ten |<ref>{{cite web |last= |date=2019-02-01 |title=2019 Amelia Bloomer List |url=https://www.ala.org/rt/srrt/2019-amelia-bloomer-list |access-date=2021-10-29 |website=American Library Association |language=en}}</ref> |- |[[American Library Association]]'s [[Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults]] |Top Ten |<ref>{{cite web|last=ALAM|date=2019-01-22|title=YALSA names 2019 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults|url=http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2019/01/yalsa-names-2019-amazing-audiobooks-young-adults|access-date=2021-04-04|website=News and Press Center|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=March 15, 2019 |title=Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults: 2019 |url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Amazing-Audiobooks-for-Young-Adults/pid=9716852 |access-date=2021-10-28 |website=Booklist}}</ref> |- |[[American Library Association]]'s [[Best Fiction for Young Adults]] |Top Ten |<ref>{{cite web|last=NGILBERT|date=2019-02-19|title=2019 Top Ten Best Fiction|url=http://www.ala.org/yalsa/2019-top-ten-best-fiction|access-date=2021-04-04|website=Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)|language=en}}</ref> |- |[[Association for Library Service to Children]]'s [[ALA Notable lists|Notable Children's Recordings]] |Selection |<ref>{{cite web|date=March 15, 2019|title=Notable Children's Recordings: 2019|url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Notable-Children-s-Recordings/pid=9716855|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Booklist}}</ref> |- |[[Association for Library Service to Children]]'s [[ALA Notable lists|Notable Children's Books]] |Selection |<ref>{{cite web|date=March 15, 2019|title=Notable Children's Books: 2019|url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Notable-Children-s-Books/pid=9716549|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Booklist}}</ref> |- |[[Carnegie Medal (literary award)|Carnegie Medal]] |'''Winner''' |<ref>{{Cite news|last=Flood|first=Alison|date=18 June 2019|title=Carnegie medal goes to first writer of colour in its 83-year history|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jun/18/carnegie-medal-first-writer-of-colour-elizabeth-acevedo-the-poet-x|access-date=2020-08-02}}</ref> |- |[[Lambda Literary Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature|Lambda Literary Award for Children's and Young Adult]] |Finalist |<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-03-07|title=31st Annual Lammy Finalists|url=https://lambdaliterary.org/2019/03/31st-annual-lammy-finalists/|access-date=2022-01-20|website=Lambda Literary|language=en}}</ref> |- |[[Michael L. Printz Award]] |'''Winner''' |<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last=Morales|first=Macey|date=2019-01-28|title=American Library Association announces 2019 youth media award winners|url=http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2019/01/american-library-association-announces-2019-youth-media-award-winners|access-date=2019-03-05|website=ALA News and Press Center|language=en}}</ref> |- |[[Odyssey Award]] |Honor Book |<ref name=":0" /> |- |[[Pura Belpré Award]] |'''Winner''' |<ref name=":0" /> |- |[[Walter Dean Myers Award]] |'''Winner''' |<ref>{{cite web|date=2021-01-22|title=The Walter Awards > Past Winners and Honorees|url=https://diversebooks.org/walter-awards-past/|access-date=2021-10-29|website=We Need Diverse Books|language=en-US}}</ref> |- |[[Young Adult Library Services Association|YALSA]]'s [[Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers]] |Top Ten |<ref>{{cite web|date=March 15, 2019|title=Top 10 Quick Picks: 2019|url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Top-10-Quick-Picks/pid=9716849|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Booklist}}</ref> |- ! rowspan="2" |2020 |Lincoln Award |Nominee |<ref name=":1" /> |- |Rhode Island Teen Book Award |Nominee |<ref>{{cite web|title=Announcing the 2019 RITBA Winner and the 2020 List! {{!}} Rhode Island Teen Book Award|url=https://riteenbookaward.org/announcing-2019-ritba-winner-and-2020-list|access-date=2021-10-29|website=Rhode Island Teen Book Award}}</ref> |}

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{S-start}} {{s-ach|aw}} {{succession box|title=[[Carnegie Medal (literary award)|Carnegie Medal recipient]]|before=''[[Where the World Ends]]''|after=''Lark''|years=[[2019 in literature|2019]]}} {{S-end}}{{Michael L. Printz Award Winners}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Poet X}} [[Category:2018 American novels]] [[Category:2018 English-language novels]] [[Category:2018 children's books]] [[Category:American young adult novels]] [[Category:African-American young adult novels]] [[Category:Hispanic and Latino American novels]] [[Category:National Book Award for Young People's Literature–winning works]] [[Category:Michael L. Printz Award–winning works]] [[Category:Carnegie Medal in Literature–winning works]] [[Category:Literature by Hispanic and Latino American women]] [[Category:Novels set in Harlem]] [[Category:Quill Tree Books books]]