A review by jess_mango
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

4.0

Earlier this year I read Acevedo's other book [b:The Poet X|33294200|The Poet X|Elizabeth Acevedo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498766234l/33294200._SY75_.jpg|54024746] and I've been looking forward to reading With the Fire on High.

In this YA novel, high school senior Emoni Santiago lives with her daughter and her grandmother. Being a teen mom, has made life challenging for Emoni, but she doesn't want to give up on her dreams. She dreams of being a chef. When she is offered a spot in a new culinary course at her Philadelphia high school she signs up. She is challenged a bit by some of the formal training and rules due to her freeform, inspired by whims style of cooking. When the teacher announces a class culinary trip to Spain, Emoni is excited by the opportunity but concerned about where she will get the money from and how she can go on a trip when she has a daughter to take care of.

This is one of those books where you can completely hear the characters voice in narration. Emoni was a vibrant character who was very passionate about food and cooking (As am I...but I am nowhere near as vibrant as Emoni!). She has spirit and knows what she wants. She isn't super boy crazy (which is refreshing for a YA novel) having been burned by her relationship where she ended up pregnant in her Freshman year.

Highly recommend!