With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

With the Fire on High

by Elizabeth Acevedo

'A delicious, evocative story' THE GUARDIAN

From the author of THE POET X comes a sumptuous prose novel, perfect for fans of Angie Thomas' On the Come Up, Justin Reynolds' Opposite of Always and Nicola Yoon

Ever since she got pregnant, seventeen-year-old Emoni's life has been about making the tough decisions - doing what has to be done for her young daughter and her grandmother. Keeping her head down at school, trying not to get caught up with new boy Malachi. The one place she can let everything go is in the kitchen, where she has magical hands - whipping up extraordinary food beloved by everyone.

Emoni wants to be a chef more than anything, but she knows it's pointless to pursue the impossible. There are rules she has to play by. And yet, once she starts cooking, and gets that fire on high, she sees that her drive to feed will feed her soul and dreams too. And anything is possible.

'With its judicious depth and brilliant blazes of writing that simmer, then nourish, With the Fire on High is literary soul food' New York Times

Reviewed by readingwithwrin on

5 of 5 stars

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With the Fire on High is a book that covers several different topics ranging from teen pregnancy, to deciding to go to college or not and how the main character Emoni is going to be able to afford to do so if she does go to college.
This book is very realistic and once again Acevedo has done an amazing job bringing it all to life. Emoni is a character I immediately loved because of how real she is, she constantly has to make tough decisions as a a single parent not only for herself, but her child as well all while balancing going to highschool. With The Fire on High focuses on Emoni's senior year, and how she needs to choose what she is going to do with her life, to support herself and her daughter. While she does have the support of her homeroom teacher as well as another teacher later on it's still a scary decision, and one made even more complicated by the expectations her absentee father has put on her. She is also having to deal with her Abuela keeping secrets from her, and an ex-boyfriends family making her life more difficult at times. One thing besides her daughter that keeps Emoni going is her passion and love for cooking. It's what she loves to do and something that she feels extremely connected to in a way she can't quite explain, but one that she knows will help her in life.

Overall I loved this book. Emoni and the people around her have become some of my favorite characters I've read this year. The relationship she has with her Abuela is one that I loved seeing and even though it was complicated at times, I am so happy it ended the way it did. When it came to Emoni and school her willingness to take more on to have a chance at doing what she loves is inspiring especially with the support she was getting from two of her teachers who saw that passion in it from her. The ending of this book was amazing and one that I wish more stories would have.
Acevedo is one of my all-time favorite authors and I cannot wait to read her newest book Clap When You Land.

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  • Started reading
  • 25 June, 2020: Finished reading
  • 25 June, 2020: Reviewed