Welcome to Litsy!

I got the chance to listen to the audiobook version. Wow what a great book. A book I can relate on the family pressure that Xiomara has to endure and parents treating you differently because you‘re a girl. A lot of different subject were mentioned: physical correction, homosexuality, love and hate relationships,religion, sex etc

This book offers a powerful narration composed solely of poems. It's a very well constructed story; the poems are powerful, they translate very well the mood of a female adolescent. It's an addictive book that will make you feel all sorts of emotions: anger, sadness, hope, desire...

I listened to this on audio, read by the author, which was a great decision. Listening to Xiomara pour her heart out through her poetry was such an experience. I absolutely loved this book, and would highly recommend listening to it on audio.

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?
Elizabeth Acevedo, The Poet X

The writing is absolutely beautiful. The author narrates the audio book and it‘s stunning.

Day 7. #7days7covers. # covercrush Love the feel of this cover!

The story reminded me a lot of Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, but soooooo much better.

#CoverCrush #7Covers7Days
Thanks @Leftcoastzen for the tag. I always want to play!😊

Would you like to show us some of your favorite book covers @Jnnlb ? No explanation needed. Post a photo of that moving cover art and tag one Litten each day for the week. Can‘t wait to see what you got! Have fun!!💕

Day One:
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Cover Design by Erin Fitzsimmon

Poet X is a great read, and I read it way too fast.
X finds herself in the poetry she writes and the relationship she begins to forge with her lab partner, beginning to discover more to herself beyond daughter and sister. Unfortunately when her mother discovers her writing it becomes a point of contention between them and X has to overcome to share herself and her truths.

#poetx #youngadult #elizabethacevedo

Poetry for breakfast.

This week‘s library haul includes newer stuff from Guy Gavriel Kay and Cat Sebastian, plus my weekly dose of poetry courtesy of Elizabeth Acevedo.

This is a book everyone should read. It has something for everyone - race, sexuality, family, bullying. Xiomara (see-oh-MAH-ruh) is from the Dominic Republic and lives with a very strict mom, a father who lives there but doesn't parent, and her twin brother Xavier. She's struggling with her own identity which her mom takes as outward defiance.

I finished this one a couple days ago. I almost never read poetry so I didn't know how I would feel about this one. But I loved it! This book gave me all the feels and my heart broke for Xiomara. She was just trying to figure out how to be a teenager with having a very strict mom who felt her way of thinking was the only way. Elizabeth Acevedo is now an auto buy author for me!

The Poet X is a YA novel told in verse by a slam poet about a blossoming poet. It‘s all the great things about YA: coming of age, finding your voice, first love; but so much more. Race, religion, family, LGBTQ, and just flat out great writing. For everyone who loves great writing, not just teens. But if you have a teen, or know a teen, pleas recommend it.

I know I‘m late to the party but this was incredible! Has Elizabeth Acevedo just become one of my favorite authors? Yup! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you haven‘t yet, you should read this book.

If you love audiobooks or you want to fall in love with audiobooks, you should read this book.

If you have ever had a complicated relationship with a parent, you should read this book.

Everyone, of you haven‘t already, you WANT to read this book.

It‘s beautiful and raw and smart and has ALL the feelings.

It was the first book I read for #BFCr3. #TeamFitLit

I was wowed by this book! It felt very authentic and powerful.Pulls out so much emotion and thought.Xiomara is in the tricky times of adolescence. She discovers her voice in the wonderful poems she writes,it‘s hard after that to compromise.The fears , the joys, the heartbreaks and a mother‘s tough standards all are in play here.Highly Recommended!

This book is crammed with so many feelings. I think it describes so perfectly and painfully what it‘s like growing up, feeling boxed in, questioning, finding yourself, and finding your words—speaking your truth. I like the themes around religion, spirituality, guilt, and shame. I wish I had this book growing up. I will buy it for my daughter.

“I think when we get together and we talk about ourselves, about being human, about what hurts us, we are also talking about God. So that‘s also church, right?”

“...words give people permission to be their fullest self.”

“And I think about all the things we could be If we were never told our bodies were not built for them.”

“When your body takes up more room than your voice you are always the target of well-aimed rumors...”

"Mami says she thought it was a saint‘s name. Gave me this gift of battle and now curses how well I live up to it."

Already posted about it, but here's another post, because this book deserves it. Best book I read this weekend for the #24in48 readathon. Anybody who's thinking about picking it up, I wholeheartedly suggest the audiobook, the author is so passionate when narrating, it's a wonderful experience.
#hour42challenge @24in48

This was so so good. I doubt that I could enjoy it as much if I weren't listening to the audiobook because I was able to hear the author's words the way she intended them to be heard. I loved every second of it, it was brilliant. Also it's my first finished book for the #24in48 readathon.
@24in48

An interesting concept and a quick read. A perspective I haven't experienced before, which is always fun.

#BookishBingo: Character celebrates birthday
#RippedBodiceBingo: Someone wears a costume

I hate how this cover was plagiarized but dang the story was so well written it still gets a top tier rating from me. Acevedo is a phenomenal author and I am excited for her evolution.

I read this book last year and just listened to the audiobook- so incredibly good! Listening to Elizabeth Acevedo narrate her own work is a joy! Her spoken word is amazing ❤️

This kinda sucks. Have not read this highly rated book. https://bookriot.com/2019/07/05/plagiarized-book-cover/

I cried for the character and cried for me. I was able to learn and feel understood. This was an emotional rollercoaster and rewarding.

After attending her first poetry slam, the 16-year-old protagonist of this book thinks, “It was just a poem, Xiomara. But it felt more like a gift.“

That's how I feel about “The Poet X.“ What a gift! In lush & vivid verse, X explores intimate subjects: sexuality, religion, race, culture, gender, & family. While her life as a Dominican American differs from mine, her doubts about God & the patriarchy of religion echo my heart's own experience.

This short novel was gorgeous. It was only 3.5 hours on audio and left me wanting more of this beautiful, spoken lyrical writing told from the perspective of 15 year old Xiomara writing in her journal about her experiences growing up in conservative household with immigrant parents and stretching her wings to fly. Highly recommend.
#ReadingWomenChallenge A Novella

Xiomara‘s bff, Caridad, should serve as an inspiration to us all. Her most frequently uttered phrase?

“I‘m here for you. You‘ll figure it out.”

😭💖

Looking for new YA audiobook recommendations!

Oh wow 😮 article: https://bookriot.com/2019/07/05/plagiarized-book-cover/

Xiomara on the occasion of her first period:

“Then I snuck money from where Mami hides it beneath the pans, 
bought tampons that I shoved into my body
the way I'd seen Father Sean cork the sacramental wine.”

Xiomara on religion, the sacrament of confirmation, & freedom of choice (or the lack of it):

“I touch my tongue to the word volition,
like it‘s a fruit I‘ve never tasted
that‘s already gone sour in my mouth.”

Pictured: me at 16 with my favorite aunt on the day of my confirmation. Note: my total lack of eyebrows. Hey, 2002. 💁‍♀️💅 Also, she‘d be horrified by my choice of background. It‘s tongue in cheek (I‘m neither Catholic nor a Satanist). 😅

“When your body takes up more room than your voice, you are always the target of well-aimed rumors.”

I absolutely loved this book!!!!

This was really good! I like when YA books feel real, and this one did. I am not sure I loved the novel in verse format (some of the verses seemed not that poetic.. just telling a story) but it made for a quick read. My only other complaint is that the resolution felt unnaturally rushed. The major conflict happened only about 40 (short) pages from the end of the book and then everything just got tied up nicely.

Just finished this and loved it! Such a realistic portrayal of being a young Latina growing up in NYC. I found it extremely relatable. It kept me intrigued. Each poem was so well-written. It's such a unique book. Definitely one of the best books I have ever read!

"And I think about all the things we could be if we were never told our bodies were not built for them."

Wow. This was so good! Amazing storytelling through poems. It's not something I'd usually pick up but I am SO glad I did.

⭐⭐⭐⭐?

Well deserved! We actually just talked about this book of verse in this month‘s podcast episode! Article: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jun/18/carnegie-medal-first-writer-of-col...

@Clwojick here‘s my girl Sietje in her favorite sleeping pose. 😂

I loved The Poet X on audio. If you haven‘t heard it yet I‘d recommend it. I love hearing the poetry in the author‘s voice. It‘s not a book of poetry- but the main character writes. 💕👍

I liked this a lot. It really had a good feel for expressive teens and I loved the diversity. I can feel all the passion behind the main characters feelings.

I‘m not usually one for books in verse, but man this one is hitting me right in the feelings!

Wow! I devoured these verses. The poetry was beautiful and Elizabeth Acevedo's voice shines through as very powerful and genuine. The book reminded me of how I wrote angry poetry when I was a teenager as a coping mechanism. It made all the difference. The questions Xiomara has about theology are the same kind I grappled with. It made me feel understood. I did think things wrapped up a little too neatly at the end.

And I think about all the things we could be if we were never told our bodies weren‘t built for them. 🎧 *audio walking

This poem shook me. This is the point that I got super sucked into the book and ended up staying up late to finish it. Acevedo's poetry gives Xiomara an incredible voice in a powerful coming of age story. I don't remember the last time I was so moved by a book - I cried at the end (literal tears) and I NEVER cry at books. The closest I ever got was the beginning of Harry Potter 7. This one had me weeping by the end due to its beauty. 5+🌟