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therainbowshelf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book is overflowing with strength and warm family feelings. I absolutely loved it. The characters are so loveable (excluding Baby Girl's paternal grandma) and it was so wonderful reading Emoni's passion for cooking. I thought the author did a great job crafting love and self-acceptance into this story and loved that Emani was never ashamed of being a teen mom. The recipes were also super delightful to see and added a lot of character.
📚 The gist 📚: Emani is a high school senior and mother to a charming little girl, and lives with her supportive grandmother. The world keeps trying to bring her down, throwing judgy adults, financial instability, and racism in her way again and again as she strives to become a chef.
📒Representation📒: mixed race black and Latinx mc, bipoc characters, Latinc characters, teen motherhood, nontraditional family, low income, wlw sc
💕 For readers looking for 💕: a beautiful exploration of family and motherhood, passionate and loveable characters, a sweet romance, diverse and representative characters, playful recipes, and a food focus
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Alcohol, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Infidelity
Minor: Stalking, Pregnancy, and Homophobia
Slut shaming, shaming a teen mom, threat if taking your child, financial instabilityvenetiana's review against another edition
Nothing wrong with the book. It was a gift and not my jam. :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and Abortion
elenamarmiroli's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Questo libro si è rivelato una piacevolissima sorpresa.
Ho adorato particolarmente l'integrazione organica del background culturale della protagonista e i suoi interessi all'interno dell'arco narrativo, e l'interesse amoroso che si dimostra sempre dolcissimo, diverte da leggere e che non sminuisce mai la protagonista o il fatto che sia una ragazza madre.
Inoltre, questo libro esplora argomenti più delicati, come la relazione problematica di lei con suo padre, le difficoltà economiche, il razzismo o la sua gravidanza in giovane età, riuscendo a mantenere un buon equilibrio tra la trattare bene queste tematiche, senza mai però far diventare questa lettura pesante.
Devo dire che ho molto gradito quest'ultima cosa, perché rende la storia ricca di speranza per un futuro migliore per la protagonista, cosa che secondo me merita.
Ho adorato particolarmente l'integrazione organica del background culturale della protagonista e i suoi interessi all'interno dell'arco narrativo, e l'interesse amoroso che si dimostra sempre dolcissimo, diverte da leggere e che non sminuisce mai la protagonista o il fatto che sia una ragazza madre.
Inoltre, questo libro esplora argomenti più delicati, come la relazione problematica di lei con suo padre, le difficoltà economiche, il razzismo o la sua gravidanza in giovane età, riuscendo a mantenere un buon equilibrio tra la trattare bene queste tematiche, senza mai però far diventare questa lettura pesante.
Devo dire che ho molto gradito quest'ultima cosa, perché rende la storia ricca di speranza per un futuro migliore per la protagonista, cosa che secondo me merita.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Pregnancy
Moderate: Racism and Grief
Minor: Lesbophobia
librariangeorgia's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Cursing
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, and Abortion
nofy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Death of parent
lectora21's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Abortion, Alcohol, Bullying, Death of parent, Racism, Sexual content, and Vomit
itsmeyseniab's review against another edition
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I can now officially say that I've read all of Elizabeth Acevedo's novels! However, out of her three books, this was my least favorite. That being said, I still find her writing beautiful and would still consider her one of my favorite authors.
My main "issue" with this novel was how... bored I was (I know that that isn't a "valid" critique, but I just wasn't as compelled as I have been with her stories in the past). This was very slice of life (excuse the bad pun) and all though it was relatable, reading about her day-to-day tasks (ie. going to high school, work, taking care of her daughter, etc.) made my time reading this novel very mundane and left me wanting more.
I felt very "meh" about our main character Emoni as well. I wish I could've learned more about her and her personality beyond being an aspiring chef and teen mother. The supporting characters were unmemorable to me and the romance in this novel fell flat as well.
I enjoy Elizabeth Acevedo's novels that are written in verse a lot more, but I'm eager to see what she writes next!
My main "issue" with this novel was how... bored I was (I know that that isn't a "valid" critique, but I just wasn't as compelled as I have been with her stories in the past). This was very slice of life (excuse the bad pun) and all though it was relatable, reading about her day-to-day tasks (ie. going to high school, work, taking care of her daughter, etc.) made my time reading this novel very mundane and left me wanting more.
I felt very "meh" about our main character Emoni as well. I wish I could've learned more about her and her personality beyond being an aspiring chef and teen mother. The supporting characters were unmemorable to me and the romance in this novel fell flat as well.
I enjoy Elizabeth Acevedo's novels that are written in verse a lot more, but I'm eager to see what she writes next!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Abandonment, Gun violence, Death, Death of parent, and Bullying
teen pregnancyashleycmms's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Grief, Child death, Murder, and Racism
sheryl_macca's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was my first Acevedo read that was pure prose and I hoped that I would love it as much as The Poet X and Clap When You Land. Luckily, I did.
In fact, luck had nothing to do with it. Acevedo is the queen of emotional, intelligent and powerful YA. She gives her teenage characters maturity and their complex lives the respect that they deserve.
In this book a teenage mother of Puerto Rican descent is about to graduate high school. She is torn between her dreams and her responsibilities but with the help of her support network she finds a way through. Aside from her daughter, Emoni's first love is food. Her cooking, her culinary arts class and her recipes, old and new, are a perfect metaphor for so much more in her life.
I particularly enjoyed the short chapters which offered a snapshot like diary entries. Like with Acevedo's poetry as prose, we're not given detailed descriptions of every day, every moment. This is a fast paced and punchy read but I did miss the poetry element. I'm sorry, I wish I didn't but I just did.
In fact, luck had nothing to do with it. Acevedo is the queen of emotional, intelligent and powerful YA. She gives her teenage characters maturity and their complex lives the respect that they deserve.
In this book a teenage mother of Puerto Rican descent is about to graduate high school. She is torn between her dreams and her responsibilities but with the help of her support network she finds a way through. Aside from her daughter, Emoni's first love is food. Her cooking, her culinary arts class and her recipes, old and new, are a perfect metaphor for so much more in her life.
I particularly enjoyed the short chapters which offered a snapshot like diary entries. Like with Acevedo's poetry as prose, we're not given detailed descriptions of every day, every moment. This is a fast paced and punchy read but I did miss the poetry element. I'm sorry, I wish I didn't but I just did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Racism
lexa's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
A beautifully written (and narrated) book. Such a heartfelt coming of age story. Loved the role that food and cooking played.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
Minor: Pregnancy, Sexual content, Vomit, Racism, and Gun violence