With the Fire on High - Elizabeth Acevedo.

Title: With the Fire on High
Author: Elizabeth Acevedo
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Publication date: May 7, 2019
400 Pages
5/5 Stars

Synopsis:

With her daughter to care for and her abuela to help support, high school senior Emoni Santiago has to make the tough decisions, and do what must be done. The one place she can let her responsibilities go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness. Still, she knows she doesn’t have enough time for her school’s new culinary arts class, doesn’t have the money for the class’s trip to Spain — and shouldn’t still be dreaming of someday working in a real kitchen. But even with all the rules she has for her life — and all the rules everyone expects her to play by — once Emoni starts cooking, her only real choice is to let her talent break free.



I really loved this book! It was different than the books that I normally read - usually I eat up fantasy novels and fairy tale retellings. This felt more down to earth and real; dealing with real life issues. I liked reading about it, and I want to read more books like this. I want to keep expanding the literature I read and the points of view I'm taking in.

Emoni is a strong female. She struggles with balancing her responsibilities as a young single mother, and a high school graduate. She isn't a victim though. She is a hard worker - both in school and work - and cooking is what brings her peace and joy. Her hands are magic - she always seems to know just what to add to make simple things taste delicious, and her food comforts people and reminds them of their past. 

Some of the issues that were talked about: being a young single mother in high school, providing for her family, being raised by your grandparents, having a baby or getting it aborted, choosing to follow your dreams and passions (going to college) vs working and making money straight out of high school, friendship and sticking up for your friends, not judging someone before you get to know them, dealing with your baby's daddy and his family - maintaining a good relationship with them, working through parents not being there for you, figuring out how to be true to yourself and knowing it's not wrong to pursue something you want, acceptance, LGBT.

There's a lot in this book, but I read it really quickly. It has nice short chapters, that I feel like anyone can read without getting overwhelmed. I loaned it to my sister (who doesn't really read); I think she'll really enjoy it. I loved both the struggle and the strength in this book. I loved the insight into a different culture, and just the love and support of family and friends. 

I'm definitely going to read Elizabeth Acevedo's other books!

"I can't think of a single way to make my life more how I imagine it, but I can imagine a hundred ways to make this sandwich better. And sometimes focusing on what you can control is the only way o lessen the pang in your chest when you think about the things you can't."

"The world is a turntable that never stops spinning; as humans we merely choose the tracks we want to sit out and the ones that inspire us to dance."