The Poet X is a piece of Acevedo’s heart that we cradle in our hands, an intimate portrayal of someone who isn’t quiet and easy and is all the more beautiful for her sharp edges. Every stanza, Acevedo seemingly challenges herself to improve on what was written before, creating a brutally bittersweet story of what it means to find your voice, both on and off the page. From my first read five years ago to my last, Xiomara continuously inspires me to occupy the spaces I’m told I cannot with my pen, and more importantly, my voice.
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, (List Price: $15.99, Quill Tree Books, 9780062662811, April 2020)
Reviewed by Sydney Mason, Epilogue: Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina