WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH
With The Fire On High was a delicious read in every way! This YA/also-loved-by-adults novel tells the story of Emoni Santiago, a talented high school senior and teenage mother who must balance her passion for cooking and dream of becoming a chef with her responsibilities to her toddler daughter. Emoni, who lives with the grandmother who raised her, is independent and loyal, strong and strong-willed. She has a hardened exterior that protects her from the judgment of others - but sometimes keeps her from letting in new friends, love, and aspirations for her future. It’s only in the kitchen that Emoni can truly follow her heart and let her creativity shine. And even though Emoni has sworn off boys to focus on motherhood and her studies, a new student at school helps her see that she may not have to choose between responsibility and some happiness of her own.
This book offers plenty of positive messages for young readers on identity, loss, community - and especially on finding balance and not seeing the world in absolutes. Emoni shows perseverance and grit in big and little ways: cooperating with a difficult teacher, approaching a potential employer with confidence, maintaining integrity in her work. When she would vacillate between stagnation and growth, I enjoyed watching her struggle with her choices and then take one step toward adulthood each time. Emoni’s character also grows from her past relationships with boys. As she learns not to use male attention to boost her own self esteem, we watch her go from unsatisfying encounters, to avoiding boys at all, to recognizing that there can be balance in a caring relationship based on mutual respect and kindness.
The food in this book is absolutely endless, and Emoni's magical process in the kitchen was a joy to read. I did a little IG stories poll and I loved the suggestion of chocolate pudding, a culinary class assignment that Emoni spices up with a little paprika. I made a little taste test with and without paprika here and guess which won?
