Anger Is Only a Shadow

by Elizabeth Acevedo

From National Book Award-winning, New York Times-bestselling author and renowned poet Elizabeth Acevedo comes a white-knuckle journey to self-understanding and doing the right thing, no matter the cost.

Lil is anything but small. She’s rebellious, she's loyal; she's figuring out what kind of good person she wants to be, or if she wants to be a good person at all. But more than anything? Lil wants to be free.

When her instinct for freedom leads to another stay in D.C. juvenile detention, Lil knows she’s lucky to just be on probation. But judgment, guilt, and an ankle monitor weigh heavily on her, and she can’t shake that pinned-down feeling.

The only person who might understand is her big brother, Aldwin. Except he’s more distant now than just the hundred miles from his college. Something’s been off with him for several months, but only Lil seems to realize how important it is to get to him.

As her court hearing ticks closer, a question looms over Lil as the missed phone calls and strange texts from her brother pile will she stay put, or put her future freedom on the line?

Genres: Young Adult, Poetry, Contemporary, Fiction, Young Adult Contemporary, Latinx

336 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 15, 2026

About the author

ELIZABETH ACEVEDO is a New York Times bestselling author of The Poet X, With the Fire on High, and Clap When You Land. Her critically-acclaimed debut novel, The Poet X, won the 2018 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. She is also the recipient of the Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Fiction, the CILIP Carnegie Medal, and the Boston Globe-Hornbook Award. Additionally, she was honored with the 2019 Pure Belpré Author Award for celebrating, affirming, and portraying Latinx culture and experience.

Her books include, Beastgirl & Other Origin Myths (YesYes 2016), The Poet X (HarperCollins, 2018), & With The Fire On High (HarperCollins, 2019), and Clap When You Land (HarperCollins, 2020).

She holds a BA in Performing Arts from The George Washington University and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Maryland. Acevedo has been a fellow of Cave Canem, Cantomundo, and a participant in the Callaloo Writer’s Workshops. She is a National Poetry Slam Champion, and resides in Washington, DC with her love.

Reviews

[leynes]

WE HAVE A COVERRRRRR

***

Just preordered this book. Elizabeth Acevedo is truly one of all-time faves when it comes to modern writers. I'll read anything she puts out!

[Rachel]

screaming crying throwing up

[em (lattereads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dare I say that this is Elizabeth Acevedo’s best novel yet?

Anger is Only a Shadow tackles topics like the youth criminal justice system, mental health struggles, dementia, gender identity, and autonomy with such care. Watching Lil’s character arc felt so special; she is a character with such soul and depth.

This is a novel I will recommend over and over again — as a reviewer and hopefully in my position as a librarian one day. It’s so full of hope and heart. Acevedo is a master at her craft and is one of the best young adult authors of our generation.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books, Quill Tree Books, Netgalley, and Elizabeth Acevedo for the ARC. I feel very honored to be an early reader for this one.

[Dorian RoseMarin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminded me why Elizabeth Acevedo is one of my favorite authors. Like all her books, it is raw and real. I felt these characters’ emotions — their hopes and dreams and traumas — as if I was there alongside them, feeling them too. Acevedo has an uncanny ability to create stories of everyday life, everyday people, everyday struggles and turn it into something beautiful and full of hope. Something we desperately need at this time. I knew within the first 100 pages (likely before then) that this would be one of my top reads of the year, if not one of my favorites overall.

[apageofabook]

May 2038? What???

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anger Is Only a Shadow by Elizabeth Acevedo is the book many of her fans, including me, have been waiting for.

The story follows Liliana Pantaleón-Ortiz, a young girl navigating the juvenile justice system while running out of chances to get things right. We meet her after she is released back into the custody of her parents and wearing an ankle monitor. Lil is trying to figure out who she wants to be before adulthood makes the consequences of her choices even more permanent.

Despite her mistakes, Lil doesn’t come from a family that has given up on her. Her parents never give up. They are trying to support her while also caring for a new baby and navigating the mental health struggles of Lil’s older brother, Aldwin. Acevedo writes the complexity of this family system and the external factors impacting them beautifully.

As a therapist, I appreciated how much space this book gives to the idea that love and support don’t erase consequences. People can make mistakes, hurt the people around them, and still be worthy of care. The family at the center of this story is imperfect but they keep showing up for one another.

Acevedo has always had a gift for creating characters who feel honest and human. She lets them be messy, complicated, frustrating, and lovable all at once. She trusts them enough to let them figure things out and she trusts readers to sit with that nuance.

For me, this is a story about second chances, family, accountability, and what it means to have people who refuse to let you face the hardest parts of your life alone. We all deserve that.

[Laura B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seventeen-year-old Lil is in trouble with the law again. She would say she’s bad news, but really she’s having a hard time navigating her feelings and impulse control. The story takes place over the course of about a month while first she is waiting adjudication, and then while under house arrest awaiting her court date. During this time she struggles with family dynamics, making new friends, feeling like she’s abandoning her old friends, and her caring, passionate personality.

Acevedo takes us on a journey where we connect deeply with Lil and begin to understand her day-to-day struggles. She does an excellent job depicting the beginnings of mental health struggles and the juvenile detention system, and of course, her Dominican heritage. The poetry sprinkled throughout is an added bonus. I do wish we were given a bit more background to understand Lil’s “impulse” control. The need to explode from holding in emotions was described beautifully, but Lil’s draw towards petty theft was not really addressed. I also felt like the timeline for Aldwin’s mental illness seemed a bit rapid, though understandable in an attempt to fit it into the timeline of the novel. Lastly, I was disappointed by the ending. I felt like the novel could have benefited from an epilogue just to touch on some resolution for both Lil and Aldwin - maybe a year or so down the road.

Four stars. Ages 15+ Includes: mental illness, transphobia, detention, and brief mention of drugs and alcohol.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Just a girl, formed in the wildwood, who should only be chased after if you wish to be devoured.”
🚔
Lil is a rebellious teen on probation after another stint in juvenile detention, desperate to prove she can stay out of trouble, even as she feels trapped by expectations and an ankle monitor. But when her brother Aldwin starts acting distant and sends troubling messages, Lil becomes convinced something is wrong. With her court date approaching, she must decide whether to follow the rules and protect her future or risk everything to help the one person who understands her.
📖
This was moving, powerful, and so beautifully written: full of the kind of prose and poetry that hits you right in the heart. I’m so glad @acevedowrites is back in the YA space because she does this kind of storytelling so well. The representation of mental illness and the juvenile detention experience feels honest and important, and I loved how the story highlights the impact literature and writing can have in helping us process, survive, and find ourselves. I also really loved the Dominican representation woven throughout. This title releases September 15 and you’re going to fall in love with Lil!

CW: medical content, transphobia, deadnaming, mental illness, forced institutionalization, police brutality, confinement, schizophrenia

[Melissa Schwartz Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25. This is my third time reading a book by Elizabeth Acevedo, and it did not disappoint! This YA ARC follows 17 year old Lil, living in the DC Metro area and often getting in trouble with the law despite being a passionate, caring, and bold girl simply struggling to manage impulse control issues. Family dynamics as well as old and new friends ultimately come into play as she deals with house arrest following her most recent infraction. I overall really enjoyed the story and was quickly brought back to Acevedo’s familiar writing style that I knew from her other writings (Clap When You Land is my personal favorite). One issue I did have was that there wasn’t more of a deep dive into Lil’s impulse control struggles. I think this was so important and while it can somewhat be her superpower, it was also her downfall and I would have loved that to be analyzed a lot more. I also think that it would have been great to get an Epilogue with a description of the following year or so. I do think certain plot points could have been fleshed out more, specifically Aldwin’s situation and the details behind his university not stepping in more. Otherwise it was a great story and I look forward to it getting more traction by the time it’s published! Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC.

[Nocturne Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anger is Only a Shadow is a YA novel by Elizabeth Acevedo. I am so thrilled and thankful to Netgalley and Harper Collins Children Books Publishing for letting me read and review this before the publishing date on September 15th, 2026. I have read all of her books thus far, so I feel confident in my thoughts on this one. THIS BOOK GOING BACK TO HER YA ROOTS FEELS SO NOSTALGIC TO ME. Her YA novels always explore honest thoughts, feelings, and actions of teenagers with more serious topics to delve into mixed within. This one is no exception. The exploration of teenage emotions makes you feel nostalgic and seen; validated. Vulnerability is often seen as a negative thing, but this book celebrates it. Better to be vulnerable and real than continue to make yourself so small you cease to take up any space. Ah, I love Elizabeth Acevedo. I wanted to hug Lil so hard. The poems included in her books add poetic symmetry to the plotlines while also staying true to the original artistic style of a novel. Yes, the wording is juvenile, but hey. It's a novel FOR juveniles. I'm not the target audience, but I will read whatever she writes regardless. She can weave together the family dynamic like no other. 4 ⭐ 

[Renee Senters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars. Acevedo does it again! I am never disappointed with her books - ever! I love how she combines prose and poetry so seamlessly to tell the story of Lil, the novel's protagonist. As we meet Lil, we learn she is part of the juvenile justice system. We meet her family and friends - some old and some new and see her attempt to navigate the system. Lil definitely experiences some ups and downs and ultimately learn what she values most.

I did not rate this 5 stars, because I was a little disappointed with the ending. While the ending fits the story well, I just wanted more. Despite this, I highly recommend reading this upon its release!

[Kate Blankenship · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Publishers, Quill Tree Books and Netgalley for the advanced reading copy of 'Anger is Only A Shadow.' This beautiful, heartbreakingly raw book delves deep into the world of mental health and the crises that occur sometimes. The ripple effects of having a loved one who might be scared, hurt, in trouble, panicked.. it affects every single family member. As Lil tries to figure out all the things in her own life, she's also a worried sister and an apologetic daughter. I loved hearing the stories from her grandmother and I appreciated their family history and stories. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone

[Rat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to HarperCollins for the arc!

This is such a beautiful story. Lil is an incredibly compelling character: a young girl in a complex situation just trying to do the best she can for herself and for her family. She makes mistakes, but she also learns and grows from them, and it all makes for a story that you can believe is happening right now to someone else.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the poetry in this book. It was both emotionally poignant and really well done!

[ceci viana · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh, my heart.

lil is a “troubled” girl, in and out of problems with the law, her school, and her parents. when she is released on probation, she knows she has to follow the conditions of her freedom. but when she starts getting alarming messages from her big brother off at school, she feels in her bones that something is wrong, and she knows she has to get to him.

this is just a beautiful story. i loved lil, i loved what a fighter she is. her family was beautiful and caring and so loving. every character was just so human. i can't count the number of times that i teared up reading this.

elizabeth acevedo has such a special place in my heart; the poet x came to me in a time when i needed xiomara more than i could have ever known. all of her books have been so deeply personal to me, including this one. i loved this with my whole being.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

[MidoriShelfTalk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. For the most part, the way the adults responded in the book is a way I wish the younger me was cared for - the way I try to show up positively and care for the younger generation. I always love the Dominican culture Acevedo brings but I especially enjoyed the folktales told throughout the book that had my Google search. I loved finding out the title of the book and how it came together with the novel.

[Anniee Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one hits emotionally right from the start. The voice is raw, powerful, and deeply human, following a journey of identity and choice. It’s reflective without dragging, and the writing flows beautifully. A story that lingers.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

[Raquel Fuell · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful book and a beautiful message that no one is every truly alone during struggles. I am so happy that I was able to read this book Elizabeth just has a way with words and prose that really stays in your heart and head. I loved how she brought her own life experiences onto the pages of this story and let us truly see the power of family and the love that is there.

[Carlyn Morenus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Elizabeth Acevedo so was excited to get this ARC. A powerful book about a young woman, Lil, who is smart and hot-headed and passionate and angry and loves so deeply. And keeps making bad choices. But everything is grounded in so much love and caring, and such a solid family, that you can't help being hopeful about her eventual outcomes. Great writing, great characters, high emotions.

[mikeyandherbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

E-Arc provided by Netgalley

Elizabeth Acevedo will always write a beautiful story, there weren't as many poems in here as I thought there might be but all of the ones included were lovely. I really appreciated this story and I liked that not everything was perfectly wrapped up in a bow at the end

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterful. Elizabeth Acevedo writes teenagers and families so authentically. No pat solutions, but they know there’s a way forward.

Thanks to Edelweiss and Quill Tree Books for the electronic ARC. Out in September.

[Ari (Books. Libraries. Also, cats.)]

Elizabeth Acevedo never misses! This wasn't my favorite of hers (there were some threads that I wanted more of a resolution on), but overall still another solid contemporary YA from her. Can't wait to see what she does next!

[Alexx Burris · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only negative thing to say - THIS WAS TOO SHORT!!!!

[rowan ୨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ★
beautifully written story from Ms Acevedo as usual but wasn't my fave out of her ya novels.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to HarperCollins, NetGalley, and most of all, Elizabeth Acevedo for the arc of Anger is Only a Shadow. This was beautiful and sharp and I loved it all, even the difficult parts. Well done.