Written by contributor Cielo B
This book is just wonderful! It holds magic within its pages, and everyone that’s interested in diving into a contemporary fiction story featuring some of the most hard-working women should definitely pick this book up!
With the Fire on High tells the story of seventeen-year-old Emoni Santiago, a teen mother that lives with her grandmother (or ‘Buela, as Emoni calls her) and her two-year-old daughter, “Babygirl” Emma. Acevedo takes the reader on a journey, seeing Emoni finding the balance between school, job, family, and everything else while having her own dreams such as becoming a chef someday. But with money running short and the responsibilities she carries on her back, things might get a little hard (and oh, they do).
This is a book that hooks you right away. Emoni’s narrative voice is amazing and carries you smoothly through the story, making the reader instantly care about her life, her dreams, worries, and struggles. It takes you inside the Santiago home, which couldn’t be more filled with love and support from the family. As a Latina myself, I got to see bits and pieces from my own family and more people I love and care about in this book. The representation of the Latinx culture couldn’t been more perfectly executed, making it possible for Latinx readers to see themselves accurately portrayed in these pages.
It’s impossible not to comment on the strong family bonds in this book. The Santiago women are the kind to put a smile on their faces and deal with whatever life throws their way, no matter what. Emoni’s relationship with her ‘Buela is so full of love, support, and optimism, it made me emotional while reading it. With the Fire on High reminds those who read it that you don’t need to read a book with a girl slaying dragons to feel inspired by her or seeing her as a hero. The women portrayed in this book are the real-life heroes.
But the diverse representation doesn’t stop there. Emoni’s best friend is part of the LGBT+ community and her relationship with her girlfriend has a significant part in this book. It’s impossible not to admire the way Acevedo represents diversity in its many forms so effortlessly and accurately, something sadly we don’t get to see very often in literature (but we, as a society, need to).
Another strong point of this book is how it addresses some topics you don’t get to read in contemporary books very often, like racism, teenage motherhood and all its ups and downs. For one part, we see Emoni dealing with the racism that comes when you’re mixed raced, being half black and half Dominican and being told many times she doesn’t fit completely in any of the two cultures. Being a teen mother, we also see her being constantly judged by people in the street, not to mention the several issues she has with her daughter’s paternal family, and trying to come back to dating after having a baby. It gives you an insight on how a life like that might be, and what I liked the most about Emoni was how mature she behaved in the face of all those situations, and how she dealt with them very differently from some other teens that haven’t been through what she has.
Finally, the trip to Spain and the Culinary Arts class were a magical touch that gave this story life, the descriptions of the food they cooked, the places they visited, and the hard work that went into succeeding in the class had me so invested from start to finish. It made me want to eat all those dishes they were making and getting lost in the streets of Spain!
With the Fire on High will leave you with a smile on your face and if your Latinx or part of the LGBT+ community, you may see some bits of your life reflected in its pages, which inspires you to keep working towards your dreams and will remind you of the importance of family. I give this book a 10/10, because I think this is something everyone should read because of its many important, positive messages!
With The Fire On High is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
Will you be picking up With The Fire On High? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
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.
