Book Review – With the Fire on High

Hello there happy readers. I hope you’re reading a fabulous book. I’m here with a review for a book that I’ve seen so many people talking about this summer and like a delicious slice of pumpkin pie, I just couldn’t resist any longer. I mean, look at this cover. Absolutely gorgeous and definitely my favourite cover this year.

About The Book 📚

Title: With the Fire on High

Author: Elizabeth Acevedo

Publication Date: May 2019

Publisher: HarperTeen

Suggested Reader Age: 14+

Genre: Contemporary

Goodreads Link

My Review

› With the Fire on High begins with a recipe for Lemon Verbena Tembleque.

Emoni's Lemon Verbena Tembleque - Eating Books

› Someone actually made the recipe from the book!
http://www.eatingbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/withthefireonhigh-elizabethacevedo01.jpg

› Emoni is a teen mom. She’s also a talented cook. She has big dreams but she’s stubborn and has a lot of self-doubts. With the help of supportive teachers, family, and friends, Emoni learns to let her walls down and go after her wildest dreams.

“You’re the author of your own life story.”

› Emoni calls her two-year-old daughter, Emma, “Babygirl”. Emma’s father, Tyrone doesn’t live with them but does take Emma on the weekends. She met him when she was in 9th grade, he was a year older and she admits she fell for his good looks and charm.

“So much of my decision to have sex had more to do with being chosen than it did with any actual sexual attraction.”

› Emoni and Emma live with Emoni’s Abuela. Emoni’s mother died when she was very young and her father couldn’t handle raising a child. He went back to Puerto Rico, leaving Emoni with his mom. He comes to visit sometimes, leaving without a goodbye. Abuela is serious, yet really caring and loving. She never shames Emoni for having Emma. Emoni and her father have a complicated relationship.

“But still, when we hang up, neither one of us says I love you. Neither one of us says I miss you. Neither one of us says just come live here, with me. He doesn’t say, I’m sorry for leaving. And I don’t say, I’m so angry you left.”

› Emoni’s relationship with her best friend, Angelica, is adorable. Angelica is a super-talented artist with aspirations of going to art school. Her and Emoni have been best friends since elementary school. Angelica is gay and has a girlfriend named Laura. She makes sure to remind Emoni to put herself first sometimes.

› Ms. Fuentes is Emoni’s advisory teacher. She has an amazing rapport with students, truly cares, and will go to bat with the admin to make sure each student gets what they need. Ms. Fuentes helps Emoni choose colleges and pick a topic for her college essay.

‘I think you should write about the one that scares you most. Taking risks and making choices in spite of fear – it’s what makes our life story compelling.’

› Chef Ayden is the teacher for the culinary class at Emoni’s high school. He’s respectful, serious, demanding, and able to push each student to be their very best.

› Malachi is an extremely charming new student who crushes on Emoni. They are in the same culinary class. I don’t like how he touches Emoni’s hair when she’s already squatted his hand away once, and he does a few other things that kind of irk me, but overall, he’s a nice dude.

› Likes 😻
• Positive messages, positive role models
• Learn about many cultures: Spanish, Puerto Rican, African-American
• Diverse characters
• Yummy descriptions of food will leave you craving Emoni’s cooking.
• Quick chapters offer a page-turning experience, great for reluctant readers.
• Realistic teen romance.
• I LOVE the beautiful, relatable, raw writing style.

“Where we come from leaves its fingerprints all over us, and if you know how to read the signs of a place, you know a little bit more who someone is.”

› Dislikes
• I wasn’t MOVED. I didn’t feel connected to any character.
• Nothing really happens. The few conflicts that came up were quickly resolved.
• The parts written in Spanish were confusing and took me out of the story.

› Final Thoughts
• With the Fire on High is a quick read about perseverance, teamwork, respect. Emoni learns that nothing is black and white and there are no perfect answers.