Winner of the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, the
Michael L. Printz Award, and the Pura Belpré Award!
Fans of Jacqueline Woodson, Meg Medina, and Jason Reynolds will fall
hard for this astonishing New York Times-bestselling novel-in-verse by
an award-winning slam poet, about an Afro-Latina heroine who tells her
story with blazing words and powerful truth.
Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem
neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to
let her fists and her fierceness do the talking.
But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her
frustration and passion onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting
the words to herself like prayers--especially after she catches feelings
for a boy in her bio class named Aman, who her family can never know
about.
With Mami's determination to force her daughter to obey the laws of the
church, Xiomara understands that her thoughts are best kept to herself.
So when she is invited to join her school's slam poetry club, she
doesn't know how she could ever attend without her mami finding out. But
she still can't stop thinking about performing her poems.
Because in the face of a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara
refuses to be silent.
"Crackles with energy and snaps with authenticity and voice."
--Justina Ireland, author of Dread Nation
"An incredibly potent debut." --Jason Reynolds, author of the
National Book Award Finalist Ghost
"Acevedo has amplified the voices of girls en el barrio who are equal
parts goddess, saint, warrior, and hero." --Ibi Zoboi, author of
American Street
