Elizabeth Acevedo

Elizabeth Acevedo is an acclaimed American poet and author known for her award-winning young adult novels written in verse. A former National Poetry Slam champion, she explores themes of Afro-Latinidad, family, and identity, drawing from her Dominican-American heritage. Her debut novel, The Poet X, won the prestigious National Book Award for Young People's Literature and the Michael L. Printz Award.

Early life and education

Elizabeth Acevedo was born in New York City to Dominican immigrants and grew up in the Washington Heights neighborhood. Her early exposure to spoken word poetry at venues like the Nuyorican Poets Cafe profoundly shaped her artistic voice. She attended The George Washington University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts and was a member of the DC Youth Slam Team. Acevedo later completed a Master of Fine Arts in Creative writing at the University of Maryland.

Literary career

Acevedo began her career as a performance poet, winning the National Poetry Slam as part of the Women of the World Poetry Slam team. This background in slam poetry directly influenced her transition to writing novels in verse. Her breakthrough came with the publication of The Poet X in 2018 by HarperCollins. She followed this success with the novels With the Fire on High and Clap When You Land, the latter exploring the aftermath of the American Airlines Flight 587 disaster. Her work is frequently taught in schools and has been translated into multiple languages, cementing her status as a leading voice in contemporary young adult literature.

Works

* The Poet X (2018) – A novel in verse about a Dominican-American teenager in Harlem who discovers her power through slam poetry. * With the Fire on High (2019) – A novel following a young mother in Philadelphia pursuing her dream of becoming a chef. * Clap When You Land (2020) – A dual-narrative novel in verse about two sisters, one in New York City and one in the Dominican Republic, who discover each other after their father's death in a plane crash. * Family Lore (2023) – Her first novel for adult audiences, centering on a Dominican-American family in New York City and their mystical gifts.

Awards and recognition

Elizabeth Acevedo has received numerous major literary honors. The Poet X earned the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, the Michael L. Printz Award, the Pura Belpré Award, and the Walter Dean Myers Award. For Clap When You Land, she won the Carnegie Medal, becoming the first writer of color to do so. She has also been a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Kirkus Prize. In 2022, she was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts.

Personal life

Elizabeth Acevedo is married and splits her time between Washington, D.C. and New York City. She is a vocal advocate for diversity in publishing and frequently speaks at events for organizations like the Library of Congress and the American Library Association. A former eighth-grade English teacher, she remains deeply engaged with educational communities, often visiting schools and participating in programs like the National Book Festival.

Category:American novelists Category:American poets Category:21st-century American writers