One year on from HarperCollins UK’s acquisition of Egmont Books (formerly Egmont UK Ltd) from the Danish media group, Egmont, we are delighted to announce our new identity: Farshore.
Electric Monkey is delighted to announce the acquisition of The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo.
Lydia Silver, Editorial Assistant at Egmont Publishing did the deal with Charlotte Bodman from the Rights People for UK and Commonwealth rights.
The Poet X is a powerful novel in verse that flows like a rap song. It explores themes of identity, freedom, first love, and finding your voice.
About The Poet X
Xiomara has always kept her words to herself. When it comes to standing her ground in her Harlem neighbourhood, she lets her fists and her fierceness do the talking. But X has secrets – her feelings for a boy in her bio class, and the notebook full of poems that she keeps under her bed. And a slam poetry club that will pull those secrets into the spotlight. Because in spite of a world that might not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to stay silent.
Brave, bold and beautifully written, The Poet X is perfect for fans of One, The Hate U Give and Nicola Yoon’s Everything Everything.
Lydia Silver said “For Electric Monkey, we’re looking for the voices that stop you in your tracks, the freshest perspectives, the most memorable storytelling – and Elizabeth Acevedo’s heart-grabbing novel in verse offers exactly those things. We’re thrilled to welcome her to our growing list of outstanding new talent, award-winners and bestsellers.”
Elizabeth Acevedo said: “I’m so excited to be working with Egmont & Electric Monkey in bringing The Poet X to the UK. I hope audiences of all backgrounds will find something of value in my character, a tough cookie teen learning to trust her own voice.”
Elizabeth Acevedo is an award-winning slam poet who has delivered several TED talks, performed internationally, and featured in Cosmopolitan, The Hufffington Post and Teen Vogue. She’s Afro-Dominican and was born and raised in New York City.
She has 15K followers on Instagram and the YouTube video of her performing her poem Hair has been viewed 214,000 times. The Poet X is her first novel.
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo publishes 08 March 2018 in eBook and 03 May 2018 in paperback, age 12+.
Praise for The Poet X
“Once in a rare while a book comes along that seems to live, breathe on its own – The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo is such a book. Devastatingly beautiful, it’s a true example of the power of words.” – Lisa Heathfield, author of Paper Butterflies
“A story that will slam the power of poetry and love back into your heart.” – Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Speak and Chains
“The Poet X crackles with energy and snaps with authenticity and voice. Every poem in this stunningly addictive and deliciously rhythmic verse novel begs to be read aloud. Xiomara is a protagonist who readers will cheer for at every turn. As X might say, Acevedo’s got bars. Don’t pass this one by.” – Justina Ireland, author of Dread Nation
“In The Poet X, Acevedo skillfully sculpts powerful, self-contained poems into a masterpiece of a story, and has amplified the voices of girls en el barrio who are equal parts goddess, saint, warrior, and hero.” – Ibi Zoboi, author of American Street
