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

emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ writing
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ insightfulness
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ readability
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ plot development
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ character
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ pace

Emoni Is such a relatable, lovable and memorable character. I like that you can see her strength and vulnerability consistently. She’s truly relatable for any high school kid, regardless of their race or family situation. That’s not to say that her race and family situation don’t play a very important part in the story and I appreciate the attention the author pays to these details. Representation is so important and this is a great example of that. Senior year of high school can be such a big time And the author is very sensitive to that, not minimizing the pressures. I appreciate how Emoni learns to become independent while still being able to lean on others. I also like that this book shows equal respect for college education and real world experience. The treatment of sex is also very realistic. Sex is not taboo, but the plusses and minuses are addressed as well as the reality that having it once doesn’t take the choice away the next time or in the next relationship. I think this would be a great book for any high school student to read and was also a great reminder for me of what that time is like. Such a quick, enjoyable read as an adult, but I think also a very important and poignant read for it young adult. 

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