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Elizabeth Acevedo
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With the Fire on High Hardcover – May 7, 2019

by Elizabeth Acevedo (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 4,439 ratings
Editors' pick Best Young Adult
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From the New York Times bestselling author of the National Book Award–winning title The Poet X comes a dazzling novel in prose about a girl with talent, pride, and a drive to feed the soul that keeps her fire burning bright. Winner of the California Young Reader Medal!

Ever since she got pregnant freshman year, Emoni Santiago’s life has been about making the tough decisions—doing what has to be done for her daughter and her abuela.

The one place she can let all that go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness.

Even though she dreams of working as a chef after she graduates, Emoni knows that it’s not worth her time to pursue the impossible. Yet despite the rules she thinks she has to play by, once Emoni starts cooking, her only choice is to let her talent break free.

Plus don't miss Elizabeth Acevedo's Clap When You Land!

Previous page
  1. Print length
    400 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Quill Tree Books
  4. Publication date
    May 7, 2019
  5. Grade level
    7 and up
  6. Reading age
    13 years and up
  7. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1.25 x 8.25 inches
  8. ISBN-10
    006266283X
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0062662835
  10. Lexile measure
    810L
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-The acclaimed author follows up her celebrated The Poet X with a love letter to food and a tribute to young, single mothers. Emoni Santiago is an Afro-Latinx high school senior in Philly who dreams up the most delectable concoctions, always mixing up tastes from her two cultures with a spice of her own. The news of a culinary arts course with a possible trip to Spain grabs her interest, but how will she juggle school, work, and taking care of her daughter? The young woman is barely balancing everything on her plate with the help of her talented best friend Angelica, 'Buela (her intractable grandmother), and occasional visits from her activist father (who moved to Puerto Rico after her mother's death). Acevedo populates her first prose novel with complex and unforgettable characters and turns the stereotype of "teen mom" on its head. Emoni has to deal with daycare drop-offs, custody issues, and making ends meet alongside college applications, budding romances, and the high school rumor mill. Realistic dialogue and vulnerable interior monologues about sex, loss, and insecurities will ring true with all adolescents. The author expertly weaves Spanglish, toddler mom worries, and culinary lingo and aptly evokes the Philly and Spain settings, immersing readers in Emoni's world. The novel's three parts are introduced by recipes created and perfected by the protagonist, and hints of Laura Esquivel's Like Water for Chocolate will leave teens hungry for more. VERDICT Acevedo's second serving offers a much-needed nuanced exploration of teen parenting that belongs on all shelves.-Shelley M. Diaz, BookOps: The New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Libraryα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

“Acevedo has done it again: the multi-award-winning author of The Poet X (2018) here delivers perfection... This sophomore novel is simply stunning.” — Booklist (starred review)

“[A] stunning sophomore novel from National Book Award and Printz winner Acevedo.... With evocative, rhythmic prose and realistically rendered relationships and tensions, Acevedo’s unvarnished depiction of young adulthood is at once universal and intensely specific.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The acclaimed author follows up her celebrated The Poet X with a love letter to food and a tribute to young, single mothers... Acevedo’s second serving offers a much-needed nuanced exploration of teen parenting that belongs on all shelves.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

“Acevedo continues to create beautifully realized characters with complex lives... Readers of all sorts will find something to connect with in this honest and ultimately hopeful story.” — Horn Book (starred review)

“With the Fire on High is a worthy follow-up to Acevedo’s nationally lauded debut. Emoni’s headstrong perseverance is inspiring. Acevedo’s clever imagery and explorations of language and culture make the journey not only beautiful, but thought-provoking.” — Entertainment Weekly

“Acevedo’s first novel, written in verse, centered on a teenage poet. Now, we have a teenage chef. A former eighth grade English teacher, Acevedo sees these young talents not as rarities. They are everywhere — and in Acevedo’s hands, their stories transcend what is expected of them.” — Washington Post

“Emoni’s story is a gift... With its judicious depth and brilliant blazes of writing that simmer, then nourish, With the Fire on High is literary soul food.” — New York Times Book Review

“With such distinctive ingredients combined with Acevedo’s already established sizable audience, this Fire on High should undoubtedly prove to be a sizzling success.” — School Library Journal

"Acevedo’s unvarnished depiction of young adulthood is at once universal and intensely specific." — Publishers Weekly

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Quill Tree Books; 1st edition (May 7, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 006266283X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062662835
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 years and up
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 810L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.53 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.25 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 4,439 ratings

About the author

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Elizabeth Acevedo

Elizabeth Acevedo

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ELIZABETH ACEVEDO is the author of Clap When You Land, With the Fire on High and The Poet X, which won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, the Michael L. Printz Award, the Pura Belpré Award, the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, and the Walter Award, amongst many others. She is a National Poetry Slam champion and holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Maryland. Acevedo lives with her family in Washington, DC. You can find out more about her at www.acevedowrites.com.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
4,439 global ratings
Acevedo delivers another 5 Star!
5 Stars
Acevedo delivers another 5 Star!
Emoni Santiago doesn’t let getting pregnant as a freshman slow down her ambition in life. Raised by her grandmother because her parents are out of the picture, things have not come easy for her in her short life. She’s not the best student and she has a daughter to provide for at such a young age, and this really forces her to grow up and not be able to enjoy being a teenager. What she lacks for in the traditional family support is made up by those in her community that help to build her up! She has a grandmother that is tough but very loving, teacher/guidance counselor who believes in her and friends that hold her up! They all help her to see that her passion for cooking can become her career. Sometimes her ambition is questioned with the demands of raising a daughter, being a good granddaughter, having a new cute boy flirt with you, and deciding between furthering her education and working to put food on the table, but in the end Emoni makes the decision that is best for her.I really loved the messages in this book of community, and pride. Elizabeth Acevedo does it again with an amazingly heartbreaking story. I laughed and cried in this book up until the end. I was also very hungry and wanting to try some of Emoni’s concoctions in the book! I would never wish the burden of having to become a mother at the young age of 14 for anyone, but Emoni took it in stride. I highly recommend this beautiful book!
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Top reviews from the United States

Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense
5.0 out of 5 stars Acevedo Stuns Yet Again
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2019
Verified Purchase
What I Liked:
The writing – It’s no secret that I loved The Poet X. It reintroduced me to poetry and created a thirst for more. Acevedo’s sophomore novel is told in prose and it’s no surprise that her writing is just as poetic. There were times while reading where I had to pause just to appreciate her imagery.

Emoni – I really enjoyed Emoni as a character. She has so much love for her daughter and her grandmother. All throughout the story, you can feel her hesitation when it comes to pursuing her dreams. She has responsibilities that have kept her from doing so, but learns that it is herself that has been holding her back for so long. I loved reading about her passion for cooking. It’s an outlet for her emotions and her creativity. Something she is a natural at, but a skill where she still has a lot to learn.

Afro-Latinidad – The exploration of what it means to be Afro-Latinx is at the center of who Emoni is. I loved that the MC was so adamant about her identity. Being black and Latinx aren’t mutually exclusive; being black does not subtract from her Latinidad and being Latinx does not subtract from her being black.

Teen parenthood – Most books I see about teens with children have to do with teen pregnancy, so it was refreshing to read a book about a teen mother with a toddler.

Emphasis on family and friends – Emoni might not have much, but she has an incredible support system, from her best friend Angelica to her abuela. As strong as these relationships are, Emoni doesn’t have the best relationship with her father and feels distant from her mother’s side of the family, but I loved that these relationships end of shifting for the better.

Magical realism – Although this one might strictly be called contemporary, Acevedo weaves in elements of magical realism. Emoni’s cooking is said to elicit emotional responses from those who taste it. It’s presented very subtly, but I think that’s one of the reasons I loved it so much.

Final Verdict:
Elizabeth Acevedo creates another wonderful and very relatable MC in With the Fire on High. Emoni is a character who is both vulnerable and strong and whose successes at the end of the novel feel like your own.
5 people found this helpful
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Nina D
5.0 out of 5 stars I just discovered a new favourite
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2020
Verified Purchase
The story: Emoni Santiago is no stranger to hard times. Her mother died in childbirth and her father left her in the care of her grandmother, in Philadelphia, to return to Puerto Rico and a life free of his memories and child. This young woman is the epitome of determination, devotion and perseverance, even if she can’t see it for herself.

I read in an author interview that Elizabeth Acevedo wanted to look at the issue of teenage pregnancy from the ‘after’ perspective. This isn’t a story about a teenager coming to terms with being pregnant. It’s the story of a teenager living her life and trying to achieve her potential while juggling the responsibilities of parenthood with regular school requirements. She struggles to meet assignment deadlines alongside working part-time for the salary that puts Baby Girl in daycare and food on the table. She’s not perfect and every so often we see glimpses of the angsty teenager she doesn’t have the luxury of being.

Oh, the food… the food… the food. Do not read this story at any point when you’re hungry or you might just try to eat the book. It is truly a feast of the senses from the descriptions of the smell of herbs to the delectable adjectives used for the dishes. The types of dishes are quite astounding too, mixing both Emoni’s Latina and African-American heritages. It is said that certain smells and tastes can trigger our memories. The results of Emoni’s kitchen experiments touches each and every person she cooks for. Readers get small peeks into the lives of other characters through the memories Emoni’s food evokes from them.

Abuela Gloria is Emoni’s rock and source of eternal comfort. She somehow finds the way to balance her relationship with her granddaughter, who is adult yet still child, with her own life. Emoni never takes her for granted and is potently aware that her abuela has raised her child, her child’s child and is now helping to raise that child’s child too. Through it all, however, both of these women are strong and committed to achieving better.

Emoni’s father isn’t completely absent. He visits every year from Puerto Rico and maintains an ‘over the phone’ relationship with his daughter. He’s a proud Latino, studious and aware of his history and passionate about sharing it with those in his community. But he’s not a parent. Emoni calls him by his first name and although they have a ‘working’ relationship she resents his abandonment. This is an aspect that is developed and resolved as the story unfolds.

I guess then, for me, a main strength of this novel is the relationships built between Emoni and those around her, not just her family. At only seventeen, she has to find a way to cultivate a mature, healthy relationship with her daughter’s father and his uppity mother.

Her best friend is another source of strength and their devotion to each other is a beautiful example of the power found in true friendship.

Then there’s Malachi, the handsome, persistent, compassionate young man with his own difficult past, who finds a way to break through Emoni’s defences and helps her learn to trust again.

The story ends at a beginning. We’ve seen a snapshot of Emoni’s life. We meet her as a high school senior who’s goal is to graduate and maybe get into a college, despite all that is stacked against her. We leave her at another milestone. We don’t know what her life will become but we’ve seen her develop in confidence and self-awareness, and we know she has what it takes to achieve her dreams, whatever form they may take.
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Karla
5.0 out of 5 stars Hermoso
Reviewed in Mexico on January 11, 2021
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Su portada estan hermosa que te anima a leerlo
One person found this helpful
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Megan aka @coffeeandkindles
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Summer Read
Reviewed in Canada on July 30, 2020
Verified Purchase
This book.....OMG! I've seen it all over the place and I understand why now. This book needs to be in your life! It's a strong female lead that you are rooting for right from page one, beautifully written with so much detail you feel like you're following Emoni around and it gives you all feels! I couldn't put this book down! Emoni is such a beautiful character, she is who we all wish we could have been in high school. You root for her the whole way through and you finish this book feeling proud of who she's grown into. As much as she comes across as being strong and confident you get just enough of that teenage girl doubt to make you believe her age, she's a beautifully written character and I was left wanting to know who the woman she'd grow into would be. The recipes included at the beginning of each part are a wonderful touch and I can't wait to try them. I highly recommend this book!
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Coke-Cinelle
5.0 out of 5 stars Très chouette romance sur fond de cuisine
Reviewed in France on April 29, 2021
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J'ai adoré, je l'ai dévoré. Des odeurs de cuisine à vous donner l'eau à la bouche, une jeune femme pleine de vie et une famille passionnante
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Laura Machado
5.0 out of 5 stars Muito melhor do que eu esperava!
Reviewed in Brazil on April 1, 2020
Verified Purchase
A única coisa que eu esperava deste livro era que falasse sobre uma garota no colegial que tinha sido mãe adolescente e que gosta muito de cozinhar. Emoni tem muito mais do que isso, mas adorei ver como a autora abordou todos os lados de sua personalidade e da sua história de um jeito tão natural e real, que dá para se apegar a ela logo nos primeiros capítulos!

Tem poucas coisas que eu posso falar sobre o livro, porque ele entrega tudo que promete! Os capítulos são muito curtos, mas esse é o jeito da autora de contar, o que às vezes me incomodou, mas na maior parte do tempo só me fez ler o mais rápido possível. Gostei bastante do arco da personagem, de sua personalidade como mãe, mas ainda adolescente. De sua relação com o pai, a avó, a filha e o pai de sua filha. De como ela questiona como é vista por ser negra e porto riquena.

Os aprendizados dela como cozinheira também foram muito bacanas e apropriados, na hora certa, ainda que previsíveis. O romance é outra coisa que foi mega fofa, Malachi é um amor e conquista fácil, então não deixa quase nada a desejar.

Na verdade, a única coisa que deixa a desejar é que eu queria bem mais romance, entende? Sei que não era o foco do livro, mas as poucas cenas realmente voltadas ao romance eram ótimas, me fazendo querer mais, muito mais! Quem mandou a autora ser tão boa? E o desenvolvimento do enredo é, como eu falei, previsível, ainda que não de um jeito realmente ruim.

Super recomendo! Achei que fosse ser só mais um livro adolescente, mas é bem mais do que isso! Todos os personagens são marcantes e a história em si é bem real e preciosa!

Nota verdadeira: 4,5
10 people found this helpful
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Filipa
2.0 out of 5 stars Damaged delivery
Reviewed in Spain on March 23, 2021
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The cover is like this and the only reason why it's not in a worst condition is because it's an hard cover. Either way this was not supposed to happen.
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Filipa
2.0 out of 5 stars Damaged delivery
Reviewed in Spain on March 23, 2021
The cover is like this and the only reason why it's not in a worst condition is because it's an hard cover. Either way this was not supposed to happen.
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