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A review by erine
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
4.0
I loved [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 this was another lovely story from Elizabeth Acevedo. This ended up being a book club pick due to its presence on multiple "uplifting books" lists, and honestly, it nailed it.
Emoni is seventeen, mother to a two-year old, stressing about college, and loving to cook. Her relationship with her daughter's father is strained, and she's not looking for a new romance, but new kid Malachi seems nice and is definitely interested. Emoni deals with regular teen stresses: assignments, starter job, and friction with people at school. But she also has to be a mom, and help support her Abuela. Her own mother died, and her father lives in Puerto Rico. So things are complicated, but Emoni handles it as best she can.
I wish her recipes were just a touch more detailed (they sounded delicious), but I can't get too riled up, because the lack of detail adds to the bit of magic that she brings to her cooking. I loved how she learns that just because she can cook, doesn't make her a good chef. I loved that Abuela puts down boundaries after years of taking care of her grandchild and now her great-grandchild.
From beginning to end, this was a feelgood story. It reminded of a bit of Waitress in some ways -- the magic of cooking.
Emoni is seventeen, mother to a two-year old, stressing about college, and loving to cook. Her relationship with her daughter's father is strained, and she's not looking for a new romance, but new kid Malachi seems nice and is definitely interested. Emoni deals with regular teen stresses: assignments, starter job, and friction with people at school. But she also has to be a mom, and help support her Abuela. Her own mother died, and her father lives in Puerto Rico. So things are complicated, but Emoni handles it as best she can.
I wish her recipes were just a touch more detailed (they sounded delicious), but I can't get too riled up, because the lack of detail adds to the bit of magic that she brings to her cooking. I loved how she learns that just because she can cook, doesn't make her a good chef. I loved that Abuela puts down boundaries after years of taking care of her grandchild and now her great-grandchild.
From beginning to end, this was a feelgood story. It reminded of a bit of Waitress in some ways -- the magic of cooking.