The Poet X tells the story of Xiomara Batista, finding freedom and redefining it through poetry. Xiomara is a high schooler who lives in Harlem and is a daughter of Spanish speaking Dominican parents. Her daily life is exacting and harsh because of her size, dealing with an devout Catholic mother and peers that misunderstand her. It's for this reason that Xiomara doesn't speak much unless it's to let her fists do the talking. She fights to defend her soft-hearted twin brother and herself, against those who feel like they have a right to her body.

The Poet X includes journal entries and poems that speak to all young girls like Xiomara. As such, I was surprised by how much I identified with this book. It was deeply in tune with the complications and emotions of being a bigger sized brown girl from a religious background. I only thought the ending lost the intensity. I get that Acevedo tried to end things on a high but it felt too much like a 'happily ever after' ending which was inconsistent with the rest of the story. I would've much preferred a more open ending, giving a sense that there are still things that need to be resolved and are best left for the reader to interpret.

However, I loved reading this stanza-like novel and the all the artisry that Acevedo embeds it with. I thought The Poet X was intense, poetic and creatively told.