Winner of the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, the Michael L. Printz Award, and the Pura Belpré Award! Fans of Jacqueline Woodson, Meg Medina, and Jason Reynolds will fall hard for this astonishing New York Times-bestselling novel-in-verse by an award-winning slam poet, about an Afro-Latina heroine who tells her story with blazing words and powerful truth. Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking. But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her frustration and passion onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like prayers?especially after she catches feelings for a boy in her bio class named Aman, who her family can never know about. With Mami's determination to force her daughter to obey the laws of the church, Xiomara understands that her thoughts are best kept to herself. So when she is invited to join her school's slam poetry club, she doesn't know how she could ever attend without her mami finding out. But she still can't stop thinking about performing her poems. Because in the face of a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to be silent. ?Crackles with energy and snaps with authenticity and voice.? ?Justina Ireland, author of Dread Nation ?An incredibly potent debut.? ?Jason Reynolds, author of the National Book Award Finalist Ghost ?Acevedo has amplified the voices of girls en el barrio who are equal parts goddess, saint, warrior, and hero.? ?Ibi Zoboi, author of American Street
I fell in love at slam poetry. This one will stay with you a long time.', Angie Thomas, bestselling author of The Hate U Give
'This was the type of book where "I'll just do 50 pages" turned into finishing it in 2 reads. I felt very emotional, not just because the story and the words themselves were so beautiful but because I knew it was going to make so many teens who felt like no one cares about them or listens to them feel seen.', Tomi Adeyemi, bestselling author of The Children of Blood and Bone
''Powerful, finely crafted verse . . . Readers will yearn to finish this verse novel in a single sitting, but its echoes will remain with them much longer'', Guardian
'A story that will slam the power of poetry and love back into your heart', Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Speak and Chains
'The force and intensity behind her words practically pushes them off the page, resulting in a verse novel that is felt as much as it is heard. This is a book from the heart, and for the heart.', New York Times Book Review
'First I read #ThePoetX. Now I'm listening to the audio read by @AcevedoWrites. Happy I don't have to choose between brilliances', Jacqueline Woodson, multiple award-winning author of If You Come Softly and Brown Girl Dreaming
'Acevedo breathes words instead of air', Lisa Heathfield, award-winning author of Paper Butterflies
'This was the type of book where "I'll just do 50 pages" turned into finishing it in 2 reads. I felt very emotional, not just because the story and the words themselves were so beautiful but because I knew it was going to make so many teens who felt like no one cares about them or listens to them feel seen.', Tomi Adeyemi, bestselling author of The Children of Blood and Bone
''Powerful, finely crafted verse . . . Readers will yearn to finish this verse novel in a single sitting, but its echoes will remain with them much longer'', Guardian
'A story that will slam the power of poetry and love back into your heart', Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Speak and Chains
'The force and intensity behind her words practically pushes them off the page, resulting in a verse novel that is felt as much as it is heard. This is a book from the heart, and for the heart.', New York Times Book Review
'First I read #ThePoetX. Now I'm listening to the audio read by @AcevedoWrites. Happy I don't have to choose between brilliances', Jacqueline Woodson, multiple award-winning author of If You Come Softly and Brown Girl Dreaming
'Acevedo breathes words instead of air', Lisa Heathfield, award-winning author of Paper Butterflies







