Elizabeth Acevedo is an American poet and author. In September 2022, the

Poetry Foundation The Poetry Foundation is a United States literary society that seeks to promote poetry and lyricism in the wider culture. It was formed from ''Poetry'' magazine, which it continues to publish, with a 2003 gift of $200 million from philanthrop ...

named her the year's

Young People's Poet Laureate Young People's Poet Laureate is a position and award that was established by the Poetry Foundation in 2006. The position is to promote children's poetry Children's poetry is poetry children's literature, written for, appropriate for children, ap ...

. Acevedo is the author of the

young adult novels Young adult literature (YA) is typically written for readers aged 12 to 18 and includes most of the themes found in adult fiction, such as family dysfunction, substance abuse, alcoholism, and sexuality. It is characterized by simpler world build ...

'' The Poet X'', '' With the Fire on High'', and ''

Clap When You Land ''Clap When You Land'', written by Elizabeth Acevedo, is a young adult novel published by HarperTeen on May 5, 2020. The audiobook, produced by Harper Audio and narrated by Melania-Luisa Marte and Elizabeth Acevedo, was released on the same d ...

''. ''The Poet X'' is a ''New York Times'' Bestseller, National Book Award Winner, and Carnegie Medal winner. She is also the winner of the 2019

Michael L. Printz Award The Michael L. Printz Award is an American Library Association literary award that annually recognizes the "best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit". It is sponsored by ''Booklist'' magazine; administered by the ALA's ...

, the 2018 Pura Belpre Award, and the Boston-Globe Hornbook Award Prize for Best

Children's Fiction Children's literature or juvenile literature includes stories, books, magazines, and poems that are created for children. In addition to conventional literary genres, modern children's literature is classified by the intended age of the reade ...

of 2018. She lives in

Washington, DC Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and Federal district of the United States, federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from ...

Early life and education

Acevedo was raised in

Harlem Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park North on the south. The greater ...

, New York City, by Dominican immigrant parents. She is the youngest child and only daughter. By the age of 12, Acevedo decided she wanted to be a

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, flowing, spitting, emceeing, or MCing) is an artistic form of vocal delivery and emotive expression that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and ommonlystreet vernacular". It is usually performed over a backing ...

, but later realized she really wanted to perform poetry. She attended The Beacon School, where she met English teacher Abby Lublin. Lublin recruited Acevedo to join her after-school poetry club to further improve her work. At the age of 14, Acevedo competed in her first

poetry slam A poetry slam is a competitive art event in which poets perform spoken word, spoken word poetry before a live audience and a panel of judges. Poetry slams began in Chicago in the 1980s, with the first slam competition designed to move poetry rec ...

at the

Nuyorican Poets Café The Nuyorican Poets Cafe is a nonprofit organization in the Alphabet City, Manhattan, Alphabet City neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. It is a bastion of the Nuyorican Movement, Nuyorican (Puerto Rican New Yorker) art movement, and has b ...

, and then participated in

open mic An open mic or open mike (shortened from "open microphone") is a live show at a venue such as a coffeehouse, nightclub, comedy club, strip club, or pub, often taking place at night (an open mic night), in which audience members may perform on ...

s at various venues in the city, including

Bowery Poetry Club The Bowery Poetry Club is a New York City poetry performance space founded by Bob Holman in 2002.Aptowicz, Cristin O'Keefe. (2008). ''Words in Your Face: A Guided Tour Through Twenty Years of the New York City Poetry Slam.'' Chapter 26: What the ...

and Urban Word NYC. She went to church every Sunday with her mother and participated in every sacrament. Acevedo does not practice Catholicism anymore, but still considers her relationship with her religion to be developing. She questions the teaching of religion; her book '' With the Fire on High'' is influenced by the fact that religion is empowering but "sometimes makes women and young girls question themselves." She attended

George Washington University The George Washington University (GW or GWU) is a Private university, private University charter#Federal, federally-chartered research university in Washington, D.C., United States. Originally named Columbian College, it was chartered in 1821 by ...

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

, where she graduated with a

Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

Performing Arts The performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience. They are different from the visual arts, which involve the use of paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art objects. P ...

and designed her own degree using courses in performing arts, English, and sociology. She then earned an M.F.A. in Creative Writing at the

University of Maryland, College Park The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1856, UMD i ...

and served as an adjunct professor for bachelor level creative writing courses.

Career

Acevedo began her career teaching eighth grade in

Prince George's County, Maryland Prince George's County (often shortened to PG County or PG) is located in the U.S. state of Maryland bordering the eastern portion of Washington, D.C. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, the population was 967,201, making it ...

. While coaxing a student to read more, the student said she was not reading because "these books aren't about us." Acevedo realized her students were affected by the lack of diversity in their books and not by their capabilities. She then bought books that her students could relate to, and realized that she had the power to write such books too. Following graduation from

, Acevedo went into the classroom as a 2010

Teach for America Teach For America (TFA) is an American nonprofit organization whose stated mission is to "enlist, develop, and mobilize as many as possible of our nation's most promising future leaders to grow and strengthen the movement for educational excell ...

Corps participant. She continued on to teach eighth grade English in

. Although the school's population was 78 percent Latino and 20 percent black, she was the first Latino teacher to teach a core subject. She 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 Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (also simply known as Lincoln Center) is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It has thirty indoor and outdoor facilities and is host to 5 ...

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as the Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh and Eighth Avenue (Manhattan), Eig ...

, the

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, commonly known as the Kennedy Center, is the national cultural center of the United States, located on the eastern bank of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Opened on September 8, ...

, South Africa's State Theatre, Bozar in Brussels, and the National Library of Kosovo. She has also delivered several

TED Talks TED Conferences, LLC (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an American-Canadian non-profit media organization that posts international talks online for free distribution under the slogan "Ideas Change Everything" (previously "Ideas Worth Sprea ...

, and her masterful poetry videos have been featured in ''Latina'' magazine, ''Cosmopolitan'', ''

HuffPost ''HuffPost'' (''The Huffington Post'' until 2017, itself often abbreviated as ''HPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and covers p ...

'', and ''Upworthy''. She is also the author of three young adult novels. ''Beastgirl and Other Origin Myths'' was published in 2016 and was a finalist for YesYes

Chapbook A chapbook is a type of small printed booklet that was a popular medium for street literature throughout early modern Europe. Chapbooks were usually produced cheaply, illustrated with crude woodcuts and printed on a single sheet folded into 8, 1 ...

Prize. Her first novel, '' The Poet X,'' was published in 2018. '' With the Fire on High'' is Acevedo's third novel, released in May 2019. Her fourth, ''

'', was published in May 2020. It is about two sisters who grow up unaware of each other while living in different countries, but learn of each other after their father dies. The book was a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book. Acevedo is both a CantoMundo fellow and Cave Canem fellow. Her poems have appeared or are forthcoming from ''

Poetry Poetry (from the Greek language, Greek word ''poiesis'', "making") is a form of literature, literary art that uses aesthetics, aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meaning (linguistics), meanings in addition to, or in ...

'', '' Puerto Del Sol'', ''

Callaloo Callaloo ( , ; many spelling variants, such as kallaloo, calaloo, calalloo, calaloux, or callalloo) is a plant used in popular dishes in many Caribbean countries, while for other Caribbean countries, a stew made with the plant is called call ...

'', ''The Notre Dame Review,'' and other publications. She also works as a visiting instructor at an adjudicated youth center in

, where she works with incarcerated women and with teenagers.

Personal life

Acevedo is of

Afro-Latina Black Hispanic and Latino Americans, also called Afro-Hispanics, Afro-Latinos, Black Hispanics, or Black Latinos, are classified by the United States Census Bureau, Office of Management and Budget, and other U.S. government agencies as Black ...

ethnicity. Acevedo grew up in a conservative and devout Catholic household. However, she no longer practices the religion. She lives in

, with her husband, Shakir Cannon-Moye.

Critical response

The Poet X

''The Poet X'' is a ''New York Times'' Bestseller. The book highlights the struggles of growing up as a Latina girl dealing with her sexuality and religion, and finding her own voice. ''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus. The magazine's publisher, Kirkus Media, is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fiction, no ...

'' describes ''Poet X'' as "Poignant and real; beautiful and intense". Cleyvis Natera's review of ''Poet X'' for ''Aster(ix) Journal'' relates to the main character, Xiomara. Natera writes that ''Poet X'' is relatable to teenage girls dealing with their first love and strict parents that just don't understand, and who are finding themselves or growing into the person that they're meant to be. She urges its readers to buy the book. '' The Poet X'' received the following accolades: * 2019:

American Library Association The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world. History 19th century ...

's (ALA) top ten

Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults The American Library Association's Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults, formerly Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults, is a recommendation list of audiobooks presented yearly by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) division. The Yo ...

* 2019: ALA's top ten

Best Fiction for Young Adults The American Library Association's (ALA) Best Fiction for Young Adults, previously known as Best Books for Young Adults (1966–2010), is a recommended list of books presented yearly by the Young Adult Library Services Association The Young Ad ...

* 2019:

* 2019: Pura Belpre Award * 2019:

Odyssey Award The Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production is an annual award conferred by the American Library Association (ALA) upon the publisher of "the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United ...

for Excellence in Audiobook Production * 2019: Golden Kite Honor Book for Young Adult Fiction * 2019: The Amelia Bloomer Book List * 2019: Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children's Literature * 2019: Carnegie Medal * 2018: ''Boston Globe'' Horn Book Award * 2018 National Book Award for Young People's Literature * 2018:

Kirkus Prize The Kirkus Prize is an American literary award conferred by the book review magazine ''Kirkus Reviews''. Established in 2014, the Kirkus Prize bestows annually. Three authors are awarded each, divided into three categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, ...

finalist

With the Fire on High

''With the Fire on High'' received the following accolades: * 2020: ALA's top ten

* 2020: ALA's top ten

* 2020: Amelia Bloomer Book List * 2020: Audie Award for Narration by the Author or Authors * 2020: Award Award Nominee for Young Adult * 2019: Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Fiction * Golden Kite Honor Book

Clap When You Land

''Clap When You Land'' is a ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' and Indiebound bestseller. It also received "a standing ovation" from ''Kirkus Reviews''. ''Clap When You Land'' received the following accolades: * 2021 Carnegie Medal Nominee for Shortlist * 2021 Odyssey Honor Audiobook * 2021

's (ALA) Top Ten

* 2021 ALA's Top Ten

* 2021 Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) Notable Children's Recording * 2021

Audie Award The Audie Awards (, rhymes with "gaudy"; abbreviated from ''audiobook''), or simply the Audies, are awards for achievement in spoken word, particularly audiobook narration and audiodrama performance, published in the United States of America. They ...

for Multi-Voiced Performance * 2021 Audie Award for Young Adult * 2020

Goodreads Choice Awards The Goodreads Choice Awards is a yearly award program, first launched on Goodreads in 2009. Winners are determined by crowdvoting, users voting on books that Goodreads has nominated or books of their choosing, released in the given year. Most boo ...

winner for Young Adult Fiction * 2020

Booklist ''Booklist'' is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. ''Booklist''s primary audience consists of libraries, educators, and booksellers. The magazine is ...

Top of the List for Youth Audio * 2020 Kirkus Prize Finalist

''Family Lore''

''Family Lore'' received the following accolades: * 2024:

NAACP Image Awards The NAACP Image Awards is an annual awards ceremony presented by the U.S.-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to honor outstanding performances in film, television, theatre, music, and literature. The over 40 ...

for Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction

Bibliography

As writer

Young adult novels

* * * *

Adult fiction

In anthologies

* ''Beastgirl and Other Origin Myths'' (YesYes Books, 2016) * ''Because I Was A Girl: True Stories for Girls of All Ages'' ( Henry Holt, 2017) (with stories by

Victoria Aveyard Victoria Aveyard (born July 27, 1990) is an American writer of young adult and fantasy fiction and screenplays. She is known for her fantasy novel '' Red Queen''. Aveyard wrote the novel a year after graduating from University of Southern Califor ...

Libba Bray Martha Elizabeth "Libba" Bray (March 11, 1964) is an American people, American writer of young adult novels including the Gemma Doyle Trilogy, ''Going Bovine'', ''Beauty Queens'', ''The Diviners (Bray novel), The Diviners'' series, and ''Under the ...

Melissa de la Cruz Melissa de la Cruz (born September 7, 1971) is a Filipina-American writer known for young adult fiction. Her young-adult series include ''Au Pairs'', the '' Blue Bloods'', and ''The Beauchamp Family''. Early life and education Melissa de la Cruz ...

Quvenzhané Wallis Quvenzhané Wallis ( ; born August 28, 2003) is an American actress and author. In 2012, she starred as Hushpuppy in the drama film ''Beasts of the Southern Wild'' (2012), for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, becomi ...

Francesca Zambello Francesca Zambello (born August 24, 1956) is an American opera and theatre director. She is the artistic director of Washington National Opera. Early life and education Born in New York City, Zambello lived in Europe when she was a child, learn ...

) * ''Women of Resistance: Poems for a New Feminism'' (

OR Books OR Books is a New York City-based independent publishing house founded by John Oakes and Colin Robinson in 2009. The company sells digital and Print on demand, print-on-demand books directly to the customer and focuses on creative promotion throug ...

, 2018) (with stories by Danielle Barnhart, Iris Mahan, Ryka Aoki, Rosebud Ben-Ori, Safia Elhillo, Jade Lascelles) * ''Ink Knows No Borders'' (

Seven Stories Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children's Books is a museum and visitor centre dedicated to children's literature and based in the Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle upon Tyne, close to the city's regenerated Quayside. The renovated Victorian ...

, 2019) (with poems by

Samira Ahmed Samira Ahmed (born 15 June 1968) is a British journalist, writer and broadcaster at the BBC, where she presents '' Front Row'' on Radio 4 and '' Newswatch'' on the BBC News channel and BBC One during '' BBC Breakfast'', and regularly present ...

Erika L. Sánchez Erika may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Hayasaka Erika (''Megatokyo)'' * Erika (''Friends'') * Erika (''Pokémon'') * Erika (''Underworld'') * Erika Itsumi ''(Girls und Panzer)'' * ''Erika'' (film), a 1971 Italian thriller film * Eri ...

Ocean Vuong Ocean Vuong (born , ; born October 14, 1988) is a Vietnamese American poet, essayist, and novelist. He is the recipient of the 2014 Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowship from the Poetry Foundation, 2016 Whiting Award, an ...

Fatimah Asghar Fatimah Asghar is a South Asian American poet, director and screenwriter. Co-creator and writer for the Emmy-nominated webseries '' Brown Girls'', their work has appeared in ''Poetry'', ''Gulf Coast'', ''BuzzFeed Reader'', ''The Margins'', ''The ...

, Chen Chen,

Ada Limón Ada Limón (born March 28, 1976) is an American poet. On July 12, 2022, she was named the 24th United States Poet Laureate, Poet Laureate of the United States by the Librarian of Congress. This made her the first Latinas, Latina to be Poet Laurea ...

Kaveh Akbar Kaveh Akbar (b. 15 January 1989; Persian language, Persian: کاوه اکبر) is an Iranian American poet, novelist, and editor. He is the author of the poetry collections ''Calling a Wolf a Wolf'' and ''Pilgrim Bell'' and of the novel ''Martyr ...

, Hala Alyan, Safia Elhillo, Jenny Xie, and Bao Phi) * ''Woke: A Young Poet's Call to Justice'' (Roaring Brook Press, 2020) (with poems by Mahogany L. Browne and Olivia Gatwood)

As audiobook narrator

* '' The Poet X'' by Elizabeth Acevedo (

HarperTeen HarperCollins Publishers LLC is a British–American publishing company that is considered to be one of the " Big Five" English-language publishers, along with Penguin Random House, Hachette, Macmillan, and Simon & Schuster. HarperCollins is ...

, 2018) * ''Pride'' by Ibi Zoboi ( Balzer+Bray, 2018) * '' With the Fire on High'' by Elizabeth Acevedo (

, 2019) * ''

'' by Elizabeth Acevedo (

, 2020) * '' Family Lore'' by Elizabeth Acevedo ( Ecco, 2023)

References

External links

Women of the World Poetry Slam 2016-- Elizabeth Acevedo "Hair"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Acevedo, Elizabeth Living people 21st-century American novelists 21st-century American poets 21st-century American women writers American women novelists American women poets American writers of Dominican Republic descent Carnegie Medal in Literature winners George Washington University alumni Michael L. Printz Award winners Novelists from Maryland Novelists from New York (state) People from Prince George's County, Maryland Poets from Maryland Poets from New York (state) University of Maryland, College Park alumni Year of birth missing (living people) National Book Award for Young People's Literature winners