25 December 2019 WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH by Elizabeth Acevedo, HarperTeen, May 2019, 400p., ISBN: 978-0-06-266283-5

“My grandmother chose to raise me when my father settled me on her lap, asking her to watch me for a while, and then left the hospital. ‘A while’ became seventeen years. It was in that exchange of my body from his hands to hers that the entire course of my life changed. 

People say that you’re stuck with the family you’re born into. And for most people, that’s probably true. But we all make choices about people. Who we want to hold close, who we want to remain in our lives, and who we are just fine without. I choose not to dwell on my father’s rotating-door style of parenting, and instead reflect on my grandmother’s choice to not only bring me home from the hospital and raise me, but also to offer me a fighting chance.

The world is a turntable that never stops spinning; as humans we merely choose the tracks we want to sit out and the ones that inspire us to dance.”

Emoni Santiago’s first time--at age 14--is certainly in the running for one of the most uncomfortable and unfulfilling consensual sexual experiences imaginable. And it resulted in the unexpected conception of her daughter, Emma. Emoni and the baby’s father Tyrone did not stay together, and they have a somewhat tense co-parenting relationship.

Emoni’s mother died when she was a toddler and her father lives in Puerto Rico, so her paternal grandmother, who raised Emoni, is now also helping raise her daughter.  

Emoni continues to attend high school and work a part-time restaurant job. She has grown up displaying talent for understanding the interplay of ingredients and preparing delicious meals. That’s why, before Babygirl came along, Emoni dreamed of attending culinary school. 

When her high school offers a new culinary arts class, Emoni gets her first opportunity to work with a real chef. She begins learning the discipline and basics that will provide the framework necessary to successfully employ her creative instincts in commercial kitchens. 

WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH showcases Emoni’s challenge to keep all the balls in the air: care for Emma; get along with Tyrone; maintain academic success; nurture her lifelong friendship with Angelica; and develop a friendship (or more) with her new classmate and fellow aspiring chef Malachi Johnson. She is also chairing the student fundraising committee raising funds for a trip to Spain that is part of the  culinary arts curriculum. And she also needs to squeeze in time to work on college application essays.

I love that this tale about a struggling teen is a success story. Emoni’s child is happy and healthy. Emoni has good relationships with her father and Abuela. She does a great job of maintaining the important parenting relationship with Tyrone, despite his displeasure over her new relationship with Malachi. She gets a few good breaks, thanks to her work ethic and talent. 

And, as she graduates high school, she successfully brainstorms a sustainable path toward achieving her dreams. 

WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH is a cautionary tale, in regard to teens having sex. But, more importantly, it is a book that shows teens that, even if you are handed some breathtaking challenges, it’s often possible to overcome them with organization, hard work, and the support of loving friends and family.

Richie Partington, MLIS

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