Book Review: “With The Fire On High” by Elizabeth Acevedo

“Cooking is about respect. Respect for the food, respect for your space, respect for your colleagues, and respect for your diners. The chef who ignores one of those is not a chef at all.” – With The Fire On High

Popular YA author Elizabeth Acevedo’s With The Fire On High is about a teen mom who wants to become a chef. Emoni Santiago has had to grow up quickly as she raises her daughter and helps her grandmother; when a new culinary class starts at her school, Emoni learns how to balance living practically and following her dreams.

What With The Fire On High gets right: I enjoyed reading about Emoni’s love for her family, as well as her hilarious best friend, Angelica, and her protectiveness over Emoni when the new boy starts paying her attention. There are some heartfelt, sympathetic characters in this story- they’re not flawless, but they’re easy to root for.

I also appreciated the timeline of the story. Emoni has already been the pregnant freshman- when we meet her, she is a mom who has experience in navigating the awkwardness and is used to juggling her dual identity as a mom and high school senior. There are still issues in her life to work out, but it’s nice to see the “afterward” of a teen pregnancy. Her life did not “end” just because she had a daughter while in high school.

What With The Fire On High gets wrong: This is a character-driven, coming-of-age kind of story; unfortunately, there’s not much of a plot. It’s mostly just Emoni untangling her relationships with others and figuring out how to balance her dreams with her reality. I enjoyed the focus on the characters, but I would have liked to see more action happen in the story.

Readers who may enjoy With The Fire On High: People who enjoy reading about contemporary young adult issues, character studies, cooking, and family relationships.

Readers who may not enjoy With The Fire On High: People who don’t enjoy young adult fiction or want a more plot-driven story.

With The Fire On High is available in the Recreational Reading section of the library.

Content note: Language, a few suggestive scenes, mentions of past sexual relationships.

Top 5 Cookbooks At The Library

Are you a college student who’s getting tired of takeout? We have several cookbooks in the library that can help you find easy, nutritional recipes that you can use in your dorm. These top 5 cookbooks have beautiful photos of the foods mentioned and step-by-step instructions to ensure your success.

The Healthy College Cookbook: Quick, Cheap, Easy by Alexandra Nimetz, et al.

This eBook is the perfect place to start your cooking journey! Learn how to set up your first kitchen and flip through 200 recipes that anyone can make.

The New Southern Garden Cookbook by Sheri Castle

Find great recipes for the food at your local farmer’s market or right in your backyard with this cookbook! This book includes both vegetarian and omnivore recipes.

Oh She Glows Every Day Cookbook by Angela Liddon

Looking for something healthy and meatless? Angela Liddon’s cookbook will walk you through a variety of plant-based recipes. This book is available in our Recreational Reading section.

Campbell’s Creative Cooking With Soup by Campbell Soup Company

For chilly days, soup really hits the spot. This cookbook offers over 19,000 combinations of easy soup recipes for the hungry student.

Gluten-Free, Hassle-Free: A Simple, Sane, Dietician-Approved Program In Eating Your Way Back To Health by Marlisa Brown

If you practice a gluten-free diet, look no further than this helpful eBook. Gluten-Free, Hassle-Free offers tips in making the change to a gluten-free lifestyle and maintaining good health.

Featured Book: “Art of the Pie”

If you like baking, colorful photographs, or down-to-earth stories, then this book is for you. Art of the Pie: A Practical Guide to Homemade Crusts, Fillings, and Life by Kate McDermott provides both delicious recipes and helpful advice from the author.

McDermott reflects on how pie has shaped her life:

Pie is a meditation that I have practiced countless times. Some of my first attempts were less than stellar, but I didn’t give up because I felt something drawing me in. Standing at the baking counter ready to put my hands into a bowl filled with flour, salt, fat, and water has become a contemplative part of my day- and one that I look forward to.

Pie is the best teacher I’ve ever had.

Art of the Pie takes the reader through the basics to more complicated recipes; from making homemade pie dough to making Apple Quince Pie, Peach Berry Pie, and even Chicken Pot Pie. The beautiful photography by Andrew Scrivani illustrates each delectable detail of the desserts. Close-ups display the desired texture of the pie mixtures and help the reader know what his or her own creations should look like when made properly.

McDermott also includes helpful notes with most of her recipes. These notes add a personal touch to the instructions.

This book is available in the main book stacks of the library. Check its availability on our website!