Reviews with content warning for Racism - With the Fire on High

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

47 reviews

megan_harper'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
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This book has wonderfully developed characters who are complicated and imperfect but relatable. It doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects. In fact, it embraces many of them. I love the relationship between Imani and Abuela, the love and connection between them was very evident.

Content Warnings

k_fry's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? It's complicated

5.0

I love how tenderly Acevedo wrote teen perspectives, giving them so much dignity, maturity, and growth that felt realistic. It’s not often that I come across a YA where there isn’t at least one unbelievably written character but every one of them in this story had wonderful depth. Of course, mistakes are made but they’re teens so it’s expected - the beauty of the story is how they react or learn believably.

Content Warnings

lilybear3's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

Elizabeth Acevedo never misses. I took way too long to read this book. She has a git in storytelling and writing beautifully. Nothing in this story felt forced and she took the time to develop each character. Even if they weren't in the story that much, I felt like I knew them well and they fit in perfectly. I love Emoni and how she is always proud to be a mother and stands up for herself and her daughter. There's so much love in this story. Plus there's a few recipes!

My only critique is that I think the story could've been a tad shorter. Like I would've been happy with the story ending after

she gets back from Spain and she has a new boyfriend, 'Buela has a boyfriend, and she gets accepted into college.

I personally don't mind an open ending with speculation. However, I think for most readers of YA, it's nice to have all the loose ends tied up and to end the story at the end of the school year.

Though I appreciated tying up the ends with Tyrone and Julio.

I'll always recommend her audiobooks as well. I didn't listen to this book, but Elizabeth does the audio and I'm sure it's amazing! I fell in love with her audios of The Poet X (her own book) and Pride by Ibi Zoboi.

Content Warnings

taleofabibliophile's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.75

Content Warnings

carrot2025's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

This is by far one of my favorite books by Elizabeth Acevedo. It's a wonderful story about how the only mistake you can make in life, is not following your dreams. It's was so amazing getting to ready a story about a single teen mom and her struggles growing up as a poor mixed kid. Watching her grow from a more quiet girl who does what she can to please everyone around her while also feeling guilty for all the pain she's caused into a girl who is willing to do what she has to for her daughter and her own happiness. I love that at no point she's ever told that can't be a chef just because she has a daughter.

It's an amazing read and I highly recommend it to anyone.

Content Warnings

asagetheskater's review

Go to review page

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? It's complicated

4.75

This book is so incredible!! I love the plot and I love the character! This author is one of my favorites, and I was so excited when this book came out! It was a perfect circle of all the things I needed. Cooking, teen mom, finding yourself. I love it!!

Content Warnings

viireads's review

Go to review page

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

even the acknowledgements are making me cry wow iloveit

Content Warnings

hobbithopeful's review

Go to review page

emotional funny 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

5.0

Elizabeth Acevedo wows again, With the Fire on High is an emotional and raw novel following Emoni and her struggle of trying to balance school, raising her daughter, and trying to figure out what she wants out of life.
This is not a book to read on an empty stomach, every meal had my stomach grumbling at the deletable descriptions, and mouth-watering recipes.
A favorite element of all of Acevedo's books is how race is talked about and dealt with. I relate so much whenever this comes up, and the way it is handled feels like a window to my heart had her peering in and putting onto page what I feel.
I never really thought I would enjoy and relate to a book about pregnancy, and the struggle of being a teen mom, and how it affects your entire life and those around you. It is truly a testament to the excellent writing how relatable and real the characters felt. When 'Buela confessed about her doctors appointments, I think my heart broke a little.
Acevedo truly succeeds at putting so much of herself and her heart in every page, as much as love and family is a running theme, so too is hope, and not giving up no matter how hard life gets. I think one of the reasons I always reach for Acevedo's books is because they alway give me hope, and make me feel less alone. So many times I feel so alone, lost, and adrift in life, and then I read a heart-warming novel such as this one and it makes me feel like maybe I can make through another day. That maybe no matter how much I am struggling now, it will all be worth it in the end. To chase your dreams is to welcome fear and learn to be okay with doubt and taking a chance on stuff that might not succeed. I may not have a family like Emoni does, but I do have an unshakeable perseverance, and books like this that allow me to keep going.
A MUST READ.

Content Warnings

lucy__342's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful informative lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.25

Content Warnings

no_u14's review

Go to review page

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

More...