“My parents probably wanted a girl who would sit in the pews wearing pretty florals and a soft smile. They got combat boots and a mouth silent until it’s sharp as an island machete.
RISING ACTION
He is not elegant enough for a sonnet, too well-thought-out for a free write, taking too much space in my thoughts to ever be a haiku.”
Sign Up for Poetry Club! After School Tuesdays
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo is a novel written in verse about 15-year-old Xiomara Batista, a gifted poet who lives with her family in Harlem, NY. The novel is from Xiomara's point of view and reads like her personal journal of her poetry describing her life, her views on religion, having to face constant sexism, her strict Dominican parents, her new forbidden boyfriend, and navigating the world as a young woman of color trying to find her voice.
CLIMAX / TURNING POINT
XIOMARA
XIOMARA
“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?”
Xiomara Batista lives with her twin brother Xavier (whom she calls Twin) and parents in Harlem, NY. Her parents are immigrants from the Dominican Republic and are very strict Catholics. Xiomara has many serious questions regarding her religion and gender roles all while her mother is forcing her to partake in Confirmation. Her best friend Caridad is her complete opposite, but is always there for her.
FALLING ACTION
Our arms can do what our words can't just now. Our arms can reach. Can hug tight. Can teach us to remember each other.
Xiomara's teacher, Ms. Galiano, sees Xiomara's potential with writing and poetry. She encourages Xiomara to join the school's poetry club. However, the club meets the same day as her confirmation class. Xiomara also develops feelings for Aman, her partner in biology class, but her parents have forbidden her to date.
CONCLUSION
“Learning to believe in the power of my own words has been the most freeingexperience of my life.
Xiomara pours out all of her feelings by writing poetry in her journal. Twin gave it to her as a present. To Xiomara, it is a piece of her soul. She writes about the constant sexual harassment she faces in her neighborhood and at school. She writes about her criticisms and questions about the Church and about her love for Aman. Her mother finds her diary and, thinking it blasphemous, burns it! Xiomara is devastated.
Xavier
Xiomara runs away from home and stays with Aman. She doesn't return home until Ms. Galiano encourages her to try to make amends. Xiomara knows that she will need help to face her mother so she brings Father Sean, their priest, to come with her as a mediator. The family reconciles and begins regular therapy sessions, but the wounds remain.
Xiomara has impressed her friends in poetry club with her writing. Ms. Galiano encourages her to join in the poetry slam at the famous Nuyorican Poets Café. Everyone comes to support her: her friends from poetry club, Aman, Twin, Caridad, Ms. Galiano, and even her parents; all cheering her on beaming from the front row.
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