The Poet X

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (2018) 361 pages

This audiobook on Libby is less than four hours and narrated by the author. It is full of powerful slam poetry. It is a novel, but it feels like it could be a memoir. It has been reviewed on this blog a couple times before. We follow Xiomara Batista, a child of Dominican Republic immigrant parents in Harlem, through her 10th grade year of high school. One of her poems introducing herself repeats the phrase "Pero, tu no eres facil." The first words to describe Xiomara were "You sure ain't an easy one." Through her diary and poetry we get to know her mother, father, twin brother, best friend, boyfriend, and English teacher. I love that she questions her parents' religion. She struggles with the way boys and men treat her now that she has developed curves. She deals with strict parental rules on dating like many teens. Ms. Galiano, the English teacher, encourages her to join poetry club and perform at NYC wide poetry slams. She finds her voice by keeping a diary and writing poetry. The climactic scene with her mother, who goes through her diary and considers the thoughts expressed in her poetry as sinful, gave me a strongly visceral feeling. Thankfully she continues to be empowered by voicing her words through poetry for everyone at the big spring poetry slam to hear.
 

Object Lessons

Object Lessons by Anna Quindlen (1991) 262 pages

Twelve-year-old Maggie and her parents, Tommy and Connie Scanlon, are the main characters in this coming-of-age story. Tommy's father, John Scanlon, is a force to be reckoned with. He is an outspoken Catholic, angry that the Mass is now said in English instead of Latin. His opinions are harsh and his sons and wife dare not cross him, although Tommy did that just once when he married Connie, his pregnant girlfriend. Connie feels that she has been the scapegoat of the family and avoids the Scanlons when possible. Maggie has been the most comfortable with her gruff grandfather, but when he becomes hospitalized one summer, the family dynamics seem to be in flux. Meanwhile, a developer is building new houses in a wooded area behind Tommy and Connie's house. The neighborhood kids can't stay away from the construction work. Maggie's friendships are changing, to her dismay. Her mother seems less available lately. Her parents don't seem to spend time together anymore. This book is a trip back in time, but its lessons are current for any modern time period.

Never hug a nun

Never hug a nun/Kevin Killeen 182 pg.

Patrick is one of three brothers living in Webster Groves, MO growing up in a good Catholic family.  But Patrick sometimes has a bit of a problem actually BEING good.  He finds himself in some strange situations but  many are typical of a childhood in a nice suburban neighborhood in the 60's.  This book is fun to read and full of local color.  Congrats to author Kevin Killeen on his first book and may many more follow.

After This / Alice McDermott 279 p.

See below, except that McDermott has also hung out at my college bar.  (At least she's described it in perfect detail.)  So weird.