Y'know what they say about if you can't stand the heat, right? ;)
After reading The Poet X, which I absolutely loved, I couldn't wait to read Elizabeth Acevedo's latest book. With the Fire on High had me hooked. I really didn't want to put the book down. To read a story like Emoni's was inspiring since I was reading about a teen girl of color trying her best to rise about her circumstances. However, after a discussion with a colleague, it left me wondering if Emoni's story was realistic. Emoni Santiago is a senior in high school who loves to cook. Cooking and putting her spin on recipes is her calling. Emoni is also a mother to two-year-old girl, Emma, whom she affectionately calls "Babygirl." Emoni and Emma live 'Buela (Emoni's grandmother) and are barely making ends meet. Emoni's mother died while giving birth to her, and her father is barely in the picture. He visits her and 'Buela sporatically and doesn't really have a relationship with her. Emoni juggles school, motherhood, a part-time job, while deciding whether to go to college. She's responsible and caring to her friends (especially her bestie, Angelica) and family. However, she tends to shut herself away from new people because she deals with the stigma of being an unwed teen mother, and the unfair stereotypes that come with it. When new boy Malachi enrolls in her school and takes an interest in Emoni, a romantic rival is quick to point out that Emoni has a daughter in an attempt to shame her and win the boy. Nevertheless, Malachi doesn't fall for it and continues to pursue Emoni. During this time, a new culinary class is introduced to the school and Emoni is quick to pursue this class in order to hone her skill as a chef. Scenarios like this are such wishful thinking, I don't know where to begin. Malachi is the type of guy anyone would love to have. He's patient, kind, and respectful to Emoni. He is a very stark contrast to her ex, Tyrone, who is the cliched player who feels that no one should have access to their daughter without his consent, and that Emoni should not date. Even though Emoni had mentioned that she was not interested in dating because her main focus is on raising Babygirl, the fact that her ex, who has dated and brought girls around their daughter without her consent, has the nerve to try to dictate what she does with her life is sickening. And unfortunately, this does happen in relationships. Women seen as property or not equal is unnerving. Another aspect that made me angry was how Emoni had to deal with being labeled as "easy" and a "ho" because she is a teen mom, despite the fact that Tyrone was her only boyfriend and her first. Why don't people give him a hard time? Why is it only her? They both made a choice, and she is the one being punished for it, while trying to be a great mom to Emma. But like I said before, situations like this do happen and it's unfair. While she does have her moments of attitude, especially when she clashes with her teacher, Chef Ayden, she really does want a better life for her daughter and to own a restaurant someday. She's a girl with hopes and dreams, and works very hard to make them all come true. That's what made me love this book. Now, does this mean that every teen mom can be like Emoni? Here's where my previously mentioned discussion comes in. Not everyone has a support system like Emoni. In addition, there are parents who are willing to dump their responsibilites on their family members just so they can do what they want. Even 'Buela had to tell Emoni that she sometimes needed a day to not be 'Buela and live for herself. Her reasoning is understandable as she had already raised a son, her son's child, and now helping her granddaughter raise her own child. We can't always rely on others to pick up the slack. We have to do it ourselves, no matter how hard it is. I give With the Fire on High a 4.5/5. I really enjoyed this book even though I felt Malachi was just too good to be true, especially as a teenage boy. I've never seen a teen boy that mature in real life, but I do hope that they are out there. But to witness Emoni grow into a mature woman while breaking out of her comfort zone to better herself is something all girls should aspire to. That's what I like and want to continue to see. *I just found out the With the Fire on High will be made into a movie. Bravo, Ms. Acevedo!!!*
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*This is my opinion. Read at your own risk*
In my field of librarianship, we try to be unbiased and keep an open mind. We try to see both sides and stay out of the political madness. However, it's so hard to keep our opinions to ourselves, even though we want to speak our minds at the risk of being fired, harassed, or worse. Especially in my case, being a woman of color who works with minors on a daily basis. I have to watch my back wherever I go. Granted, I live in New York City, but still with recent events and for the past three years, the danger is more prevalent. The area I work and live in is primarily Hispanic. We've had ICE raid our area trying to get into, of all places, CHURCHES and SCHOOLS to arrest immigrants. On my way to work, I walk by an elementary school that was targeted (allow me to repeat myself, an ELEMENTARY school) by ICE. There were signs posted on the school doors saying, "ICE not welcome here" and "Brown People have families too!" It's heartbreaking. I've had to have conversations with my teens, who were told that their countries of origin were "sh*tholes," that they are just as special as any other person. No one has the right to take that from them. I encourage my teens to do and be good, and will defend them until my dying day. And sadly, that day could happen at any moment. Festivals, schools, stores, clubs. I had someone ask me why I don't reveal my identity or where I work. Well, there are numerous reasons: I've been harassed and stalked before. I could lose my job over certain views. And most importantly, I pose a greater risk at being murdered for being 1) female, and 2) a person of color. The last one is something I live with EVERY DAY, even before people became woke to what is happening. Over the weekend, we had two mass shootings. One of them hit my hometown of Dayton. On the day it happened, it would've been my cousin's 29th birthday. He was gunned down on his front lawn in 2011. To say the events hit home would've been an understatement. I've had to hold back so many tears and anger for so long, while seeing news and offensive tweets that just make me sick enough to make me turn off my TV and social media. It's like, "same sh*t, different day." Right now, I just can't. I've had enough. Enough of having to plan safety evacuations for my teens, enough of active shooter trainings for the past six years. I'm not a police officer or a soldier. I'm a LIBRARIAN. I should be exposing people to knowledge, not having to plan escape routes in case a shooter decides to come in. It's too much to deal with hearing people say "well all lives matter" when that has been shown not to be true, or that we have to deal with another person who has no business owning an AK taking innocent lives. How much more can we take? I really want people to think and decide what kind of life do you really want to live. Even though I hear my mother's words, telling me to not post this and be afraid. But I'm not afraid. I'm angry. I'm determined. I'm focused. I will live my life no matter what. No one will take that right from me. I will continue to fight for my rights and the rights of everyone around me, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, etc. Main reason I refuse is, even though my heart and soul are in Ohio, I'm also a New Yorker. We New Yorkers don't back down to anybody. I'm going to end this with quotes from a legend we lost recently. ***** "You wanna fly, you got to give up the sh*t that weighs you down." "If there is a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, you must be the one to write it." ~Toni Morrison 1931-2019 ***** So, what story do you want to tell? 'Til next time <3 |
Who am I?The Library Lady is a Young Adult Librarian and reviewer. She's also a music, anime, and film nerd. Archives
January 2024
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