Beastgirl:Elizabeth Acevedo, Beastgirl by Elizabeth Acevedo is a phenomenal poetry book. This book is more about real world problems and things that people do that are shameful the reality of the world. I personally did not understand all of the poems I think that the concepts were more for adults than for children. The poems imagery was really good and that made me understand more of what was going on in each poem. The poems weren’t all part of the same story they were almost completely differ...

I absolutely loved the combination of origin stories and modern, personal stories. What a beautiful collection.

I appreciated Beastgirl for what it was, even though my expectations of what it would be were different. I initially anticipated Acevedo making more blatant use of Dominican folklore and legend, but upon reflection, can see that even if she didn't directly recount those tales, the ghosts and enduring presence of them are ones she wove into the poems about her own life experiences. It was also interesting to see how some of these poems ("Conversations," "Pressing," "It Almost Curdles My Dry Womb,...

Poetry's good. Most of the poems are about everyday stuff, which isn't my preference (I tend to prefer poetry that's more abstract). Misogyny and Dominican history are recurring topics. Favorite poems were La Ciguapa and For the Poet Who Told Me Rats Aren't Noble Enough Creatures for a Poem.

BOOK REVIEW IS UP ON YT! Go watch it! ;) //Elizabeth Acevedo is one of my favorite writers. She hasn't been established as a writer for all that long (around 5 years now) and so her catalogue of published novels is still small: The Poet X, With the Fire On High and Clap When You Land. However, she has been around as a poet and spoken word artist for literal decades now. And even when reading her novel or her novels in verse it become clear that Elizabeth Acevedo is deeply rooted in lyricism and

3.5 stars.This was a unique poetry collection. First, the font size was miniscule! I would've appreciated a bigger font. lol. And this is a tiny poetry collection. $12 is a lot for 42 pages. But I bought from my local independent bookstore so it's all good. I liked some of the poems, some I didn't, and some I just plain didn't get. lol. But it was a quick read.

This is only 35 pages but I am always amazed by Acevedo’s words and the stories she crafts. These poems aren’t precisely meant for me, as they’re rooted in Afro-Latina and Dominican roots, but the way with words is BEAUTIFUL. These are also more serious and mature than her YA verses, but they pack the same lunch. Did I spend like $10 for 35 pages of Acevedo’s first chapbook? Yes. Do I regret it? No.

This 32-page edition from YesYes Books‘ Vinyl 45 Series is a quick read but demands an almost-immediate re-read, with many lingering tales of superstitions and personal anecdotes. Many pieces paint a beautiful homage to Acevedo’s Dominican ancestry and cultural traditions, with a little imagination sprinkled in. Poems that explore Trujillo, La Ciguapa, and brujeria mingle with pieces that take on a more personal note, from her family’s immigration to her own body. One of my favorite themes of Be...

"La Negra is a beastgirl. From forehead to heel callused. Risen on an island made of shit bricks, an empire."I know a lot of people praised The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. Check out her poetry book Beastgirl as well. It was only 30 pages but the poems are an amazing take on Dominican culture with a splash of folklore/mythology.

I have loved every book I've read by Elizabeth Acevedo and was so excited to get my hands on this book. Surprisingly, it wasn't a hit for me. While the first few poems were definitely what I was looking for when it came to origin myths, the ones that followed were increasingly hard for me to visualize. Acevedo had so many descriptive words and phrases but many of them either didn't make sense to me or went over my head. Part of the reason I stopped reading poetry when I was younger was because I...

This was very rough, but also very important. I had originally been introduced to this poetry collection with the idea of the anthology being Teen or Young Adult and was therefore very surprised during my reading. I am very glad that this was read before it was put out and was moved to the Adult section, because while it is very moving and important, it is also very, very graphic and sometimes heartbreaking or triggering.

For superstitions: treat them like salt, scatter them before you leaveand let them impale themselves into the soles of your feet.This chapbook was so different from The Poet X and just as beautiful. It was such a quick read but it packed a punch, I'd say my absolute top favorite of the collection has to be Conversations because of the way she displayed mother/daughter relationships in Dominican culture so damn well. Elizabeth Acevedo has this way with language that is otherworldly yet so utterly...

Really great collection of poems on Dominican identity and culture, race, and womanhood.

Elizabeth Acevedo's chapbook is a lovely and encapsulating collection of poems. They are powerful sometimes sweet, sometimes morose. They go back and forth between Dominican folklore and experiences in today's America. I especially admired Acevedo's reflections on Afrolatinx identity. My favorite poems were "Beloved" and "For the Poet Who Told Me Rats Aren't Noble Enough Creatures for a Poem."

This is a incredibly short collection, a chapbook really, but these poems will haunt me. Such beautiful language and rhythm and insight to Afro-Latinx Dominican culture. Definitely a must read.

I honestly can't find the words to describe how much I loved these poems. This collection is incredible.

An incredible book!  Each poem was rife with amazing description and themes that felt personal and culturally informed.  It was beautiful, to experience these poems, and to be able to gain more insight into Acevedo's mind and how it works.  My favorite poem was the one about Dominican superstitions and how they differ from American superstitions.  This is a fantastic compilation of poetry, and if you liked The Poet X, you absolutely cannot miss out on this.Review cross-listed here!

This is a beautiful, gritty, collection of folkloric poetry outlining the experiences of young women in the Dominican Republic and New York City. This collection rebukes the idea that only certain symbols or topics are worthy of poetry. Acevedo writes about her own experiences growing up in New York and the experiences of her family members growing up in the DR. There are many themes in these poems that are also present in her amazing novels, which I love so very much.

I had the pleasure of hearing Acevedo read her work in Detroit the other night and immediately wanted to hear more. "Beastgirl" has such a distinct, accessible (but not "easy") voice. Almost every poem has a moment of real surprise, and there are a few shocks too. Acevedo beautifully integrates Dominican tradition into much of "Beastgirl," while also telling contemporary stories that feel new and immediate. Hoping to read even more of her work--including a forthcoming (soon, I understand) collec...