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shealea 's review for:
With the Fire on High
by Elizabeth Acevedo
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At its core, With the Fire on High is a coming-of-age journey for a teenage girl who’s had to mature more quickly than her peers and who’s had to take on more responsibility than most people her age. I think the book initiates a thoughtful discussion on what “coming of age” looks like for the youth whose circumstances have pushed them into acting like adults at an early age, and in my opinion, this is a discussion that is sorely needed in Young Adult literature.
However, it is worth recognizing that With the Fire on High unapologetically delves into issues outside of Emoni’s personal life. As a main character, Emoni is introspective and thoughtful. Through her perspective, Acevedo raises powerful points regarding gentrification, education as a luxury and as a privilege, racism and microaggressions, colonialism, and sex positivity among the youth.
Strongly written characters, an intersection of identities, cultures, and histories, a taboo subject matter discussed with sensitivity, snippets of creative recipes, phenomenal storytelling, and an extremely satisfying ending — With the Fire on High has all the necessary ingredients (with just the right pinch of magical cinnamon dust) for a quick page-turner that readers will immediately eat up and fall in love with. This one’s absolutely riveting. Please send my compliments to the chef.
I received a physical ARC of With the Fire on High as part of my participation in a blog tour organized by Afire Pages. This does not affect my review.
Content/Trigger warnings:
5 stars
* Read the rest of this review in my natural habitat>
At its core, With the Fire on High is a coming-of-age journey for a teenage girl who’s had to mature more quickly than her peers and who’s had to take on more responsibility than most people her age. I think the book initiates a thoughtful discussion on what “coming of age” looks like for the youth whose circumstances have pushed them into acting like adults at an early age, and in my opinion, this is a discussion that is sorely needed in Young Adult literature.
However, it is worth recognizing that With the Fire on High unapologetically delves into issues outside of Emoni’s personal life. As a main character, Emoni is introspective and thoughtful. Through her perspective, Acevedo raises powerful points regarding gentrification, education as a luxury and as a privilege, racism and microaggressions, colonialism, and sex positivity among the youth.
Strongly written characters, an intersection of identities, cultures, and histories, a taboo subject matter discussed with sensitivity, snippets of creative recipes, phenomenal storytelling, and an extremely satisfying ending — With the Fire on High has all the necessary ingredients (with just the right pinch of magical cinnamon dust) for a quick page-turner that readers will immediately eat up and fall in love with. This one’s absolutely riveting. Please send my compliments to the chef.
I received a physical ARC of With the Fire on High as part of my participation in a blog tour organized by Afire Pages. This does not affect my review.
Content/Trigger warnings:
Spoiler
Mentions of premarital sex; early teenage pregnancy; brief mention of abortion; slut-shaming and racism (both challenged)5 stars
* Read the rest of this review in my natural habitat>