ELIZABETH ACEVEDO is a New York Times bestselling author of The Poet X and With the Fire on High. Her critically-acclaimed debut novel, The Poet X, won the 2018 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature.
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Early Life and Education.
Acevedo was born to Dominican immigrants and raised in New York. She is the youngest child and only daughter. By the age of 12, Elizabeth decided she wanted to be a rapper, but then quickly realized what she really wanted to do was perform poetry.
At the age of 14, she competed on her first poetry slam at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, and then participated in Open Mics around the city, in such as venues Bowery Poetry Club and Urban Word NYC.
She holds a BA in Performing Arts from the George Washington University and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Maryland.
Writing Poetry to Critically Acclaimed Teen Adult Novels like “The Poet X”.
-Source: The Guardian
Elizabeth Acevedo was teaching eighth grade in Prince George’s County when she was coaxing a specific student to read more, and when she asked her students as to why they weren’t reading, the response she got was, “These books aren’t about us.’’
Acevedo was influenced to buy books that her students could relate to, when she realized that she had the power to write such books too.
After that she started writing poetry. She has two collections of poetry, Beastgirl & Other Origin Myths (YesYes Books, 2016) and winner of the 2016 Berkshire Prize, Medusa Reads La Negra’s Palm (Tupelo Press, forthcoming).
“I only know that learning to believe in the power of my own words has been the most freeing experience of my life. It has brought me the most light. And isn’t that what a poem is? A lantern glowing in the dark.”
-Elizabeth Acevedo in “The Poet X”
The Poet X is her debut novel and also a New York Times’ Best Seller. It also won the 2018 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. The book highlights the struggles of growing up as a Latinx girl dealing with her sexuality and religion, and finding her own voice.
With the Fire on High is Acevedo’s third novel, released in May 2019. Her fourth, Clap When You Land, has been accepted for publication.
Her Accolades, Career and Net Worth.
Acevedo is a previous National Slam Champion, as well as former head coach for the D.C. Youth Slam Team. She has performed at Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, the Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts, South Africa’s State Theatre, Bozar in Brussels, and the National Library of Kosovo.
Her Net Worth is estimated to be around $1 million -$5 million dollars as of 2019. Due to her best selling novel “The Poet X” and her other interesting pieces of work like “With the Fire on High” along with her masterful poetry videos being featured on Cosmopolitan, Upworthy and Huffington Post, her net worth is pretty believable.
The Poet X’s Impact on Young People’s Literature.
With the response she got from her students in Prince George County, she quickly understood that there were very few books which the young people could relate to. Thus, she began writing her own.
Among her other books, The Poet X is considered to be a masterpiece among young teens which encourages them to move forward fearlessly thus making a statement among teenagers’ hearts and encouraging them to write novels too.
“Poignant and real, beautiful and intense, this story of a girl struggling to define herself is as powerful as Xiomara’s…“
-Review by Kirkus Magazine
“Powerful, haunting story of finding your voice and power.”
-Review by Common Sense Media
Top Books of Elizabeth Acevedo.
The Poet X (2018) – Ratings: 4.42 out of 5
Source: Acevedo Writes
With The Fire On High (2019) – Ratings: 4.25 out of 5
Source: Acevedo Writes
Beast girl and Other Origin Myths (2016) – Rating: 4.34 out of 5
Source: Acevedo Writes
Clap When You Land (2020) – Ratings: 4.45 out of 5
Source: Acevedo Writes
