THE POET X

The author's passion and pacing unite in her rhythmic reading of linked free-verse poems telling the story of Xiomara Barista. The author, a performance poet, and her heroine possess a gift for arranging words, sequencing sounds, and enriching both with emotions. Xiomara (X) is a first-generation Dominican-American teen who has "a little too much body for a young girl." She has grown used to deflecting the inappropriate attention of men in her Harlem neighborhood but welcomes attention from her gentle schoolmate, Aman. Her zealous Catholic mother is blind to X's need to understand love, sex, and religion. X's beloved twin brother is consumed with painful secrets, so X writes to find solace and strength and her own voice. The subject, tone, form, and expression of this audiobook are diverse and poignant. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2018 Best Audiobook, 2019 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2018]