Author: Elizabeth Acevedo
Genre: Poetry; Young Adult
Rating: 8/10
This is the coming of age story of Xiomara, a young girl who has a lot to say but no one who would listen. As she navigates religion, love and herself, she finds solace in pouring her heart into words on a page.
Let me start by saying you are about to read a review by someone who is NOT a fan of poetry; it is my least favourite form of literature, and while I can appreciate a well-written poem, I have a pet peeve of having to dissect “deep” poetry. Understandably, I was a little hesitant but I ended up really enjoying the book.
I took the poems at face value, reading each like they were narratives, because like I said before, I am not the type to dissect poems. However, if you enjoy annotating poems, you might find this book even more meaningful than I did.
It was essentially about a girl trying to find her own voice and discover what she really wants. She has expectations and realities piled onto her by her family and society, and she’s starting to question all of it.
The poems were simple, easy to understand, and most importantly, they told a story. The story it told was a very personal and frankly difficult one, so the poems became a way to convey those emotions and thoughts that were hard to express. The use of imagery and stylistic devices really worked to portray her inner turmoil.
Moreover, I loved that this book discussed the power of words and the impact they can have on us. As readers, I’m sure the art of words is something we all appreciate, and the impact they can have on us is something we can all resonate with. Personally, I know how difficult it is to be able to find the right words, and how wonderful it feels to be able to pen down your thoughts and ideas and share them with someone who understands and appreciates them too (Shoutout to my partner in crime S.R. Scribbles).
“The world is almost peaceful when you stop trying to understand it.”
Bringing us back to the story at hand. Coming of age stories might seem like one in a dozen, but this book just goes to show how everyone’s journey, no matter how alike, is special and unique in their own way. As I have said before, this story is very personal, and I love that some people can see themselves in this book and feel that a story has been written just for them. But I also feel that we can all come out of this story relating to one part of it or another, just like how I deeply resonated with Xiomara’s love for words.
Reviewed by: N.G.Rainwater (1st Reading)
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