The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo | Rating: ★★★★★

As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via Edelweiss by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

There's nothing inexplicable about why The Poet X works and how it represents such an important voice in coming of age novels. Elizabeth Acevedo is a powerhouse in terms of accurately portraying the mind of a youthful poet as she is discovering herself and her prose. Every second of The Poet X is full of strength and honesty. Raw, lively and heartbreaking. Most importantly, it covers so much ground in such a short amount of time.

Acevedo's Xiomara is frankly one of the best voices in YA contemporaries of the last decade. When she feels, readers feel. When she writes, it's this intensely intimate look into the mind of a young woman and it feels unlike anything I've felt in recent memory. Xiomara is someone you long to know--to look into her mind once, twice, a dozen times--and automatically root for.

There's this incomparable prose to the story that is melodic and adds more depth to an already stellar coming of age tale. Topics explored include first loves, religion, tense family bonds, the changes that come to our bodies in our teenage years, and so much more. Acevedo conveys all of these with a familiar and frank observation. Xiomara will remind you of someone you know or knew--or, of course, yourself.

Personally, I loved how all of it was set out in verse. Reading The Poet X is like experiencing the life in real time. Fans of Acevedo's poetry will find a release in this, as it centers around prose and life. I found the tone to be striking and perfect for fans of Ellen Hopkins and Kwame Alexander.

Overall, there's something every young woman can relate to in The Poet X. There's so much circling in on teen angst vs. acceptance, body image vs. what we wish to be seen as, and the exploration of all the words in our minds. Elizabeth Acevedo pens one of the best stories of the year and will blow you away with all your expectations of The Poet X.

A total must-read for everyone and one of the most needed voices in YA fiction.