Mattia Goddard

This was my first novel written in verse and I was captivated.

I see why The Poet X won The National Book Award.

It is nothing short of brilliant.

And beautiful.

And heartbreaking.

I know only peripherally about the warring cultures she writes about but I felt her struggle. Daily battles with her mother, her classmates, her faith, her body.

Parents, have your teens read this book.

There is no cursing, no sex. Just real teen angst that on some level every person can relate to.

I chose Elizabeth Acevedo for the 52 week reading challenge- the prompt was A Book by a Caribbean author.

I found this on my daughter's bookshelf.

I am so glad I picked it up.

This is why I love reading challenges.