Poet X

Readers captivated by the works of Jacqueline Woodson, Meg Medina, and Jason Reynolds will be enthralled by this remarkable novel-in-verse, a New York Times bestseller penned by an acclaimed slam poet. The story centers around Xiomara Batista, an Afro-Latina protagonist whose fierce words and raw honesty bring her narrative to life. Living in Harlem, Xiomara feels both invisible and exposed, grappling with her identity ever since her body developed its curves, prompting her to let her strength and defiance speak for her. She harbors a world of thoughts and emotions, which she expresses in a leather notebook, treating her verses as sacred mantras, especially after developing feelings for Aman, a boy in her biology class whom her family must never discover. Under the watchful eye of her strict, church-abiding mother, Xiomara knows she must keep her innermost thoughts hidden. Things take a turn when she's invited to join her school's slam poetry club—a prospect that excites her, although she's unsure how she could possibly join without her mother's knowledge. Nevertheless, the allure of sharing her poetry on stage is irresistible, as Xiomara is determined not to remain voiceless in a world that often dismisses her.