Book Blurb {The Poet X}

The Poet X

By: Elizabeth Acevedo

I absolutely adored this book. Talking to a middle school reading teacher, I told her I wasn't for sure who (which student) I would recommend this book to. It just had some adult moments, sadly, moments that my high school students have experienced.

A young Hispanic New York girl is learning how find her voice. The book is written in verse and her perspective. She has faced oppression, judgement, sexual assault, heartache, and questions her faith. The book walks you through a school year that she faces many hurdles.  She has a twin (who's perfect) but she soon discovers that he is also facing his own difficulties. Their mother was going to be a nun, but was "sold" to their father (who lusted after all women) to make a better life.

It's a book of hope. It has your jaw drop at times. It makes you applaud the teenagers and cry for them too. Joy is seen for her teacher's relentless ability to help X!

A coming of age story that can be related to.  It might be one of my new favorites (makes me think of "Perks of Being a Wallflower").

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Title: The Poet X

Author/Illutrator: Elizabeth Acevedo

Does the story:

Relate to children’s interests? It is for young adult, not children. Mature content.
Provide various conflicts for readers to explore? ✅ 
Provide age-appropriate content? ✅ teens (although I enjoyed it)
Encourage discussions/conversations? ✅
Distort history?  It doesn't reflect on history. Would love to hear her mom's story. 
Comments/Insights: It is an incredibly quick read, and the verse is not difficult to follow. Journal entry style making it appeal to maybe not strong readers. 

Do the characters:

Represent a variety of people within cultural groups, age ranges and sizes and disabilities? ✅
Are the “good” characters a reflection of a variety of backgrounds? ✅ 
Include females as well as males in leadership and/or non-traditional roles? ✅ X is very strong! 
Represent diverse people at the same “level” of the white characters?
Are all characters depicted realistically and genuinely? ✅
Tend to be depicted as stereotypical? Maybe a little with the Catholic momma... but maybe some stereotypes are true?
Comments/Insights: A story of redemption. 

Does the theme:

Offer readers a variety of things to think about, question, and consider? ✅
Explore, instead of preach, values? ✅
Include lessons from which readers can learn? ✅
Tell the story of a diverse population in a condescending manner, whether contemporary or in the past? ✅
Comments/Insights: It would most definitely provide a discussion! See questions in back of book for more guidance.

Does the story’s setting:

Reflect a variety of places and spaces? ✅
Represent urban, suburban, and rural settings realistically? Urban, takes place in NYC
Represent cultural settings realistically? ✅
Comments/Insights: Very modern and having been to NYC I could picture their story unfolding. 

Do the story illustrations (if there are any): 
Include representation of diverse populations?
Contain diversity represented within cultural groups?
Include characters depicted realistically and genuinely?
Avoid reinforcing societal stereotypes?
Comments/Insights: not present

Book as a Whole 

Would you be embarrassed to read the book to children of a different culture, and their parents?
What is the author’s background for writing the book? Their first book and is a child of DR immigrants. 
What is the context of the book?

Comments/Insights:

Personal Insights
Your personal notes/insights about the book not covered in the previous sections: See blog!