Though on the verge of adulthood, high school senior Emoni Santiago has been making adult decisions for the past three years, ever since she got pregnant with her daughter as a freshman. Now, with senior year coming to a close, Emoni has even more decisions ahead of her — most importantly, whether or not to pursue her dream of becoming a chef. Authentic and heartfelt, With the Fire On High is a joyful read about finding the courage to pursue your passion even when it seems impossible.
From the New York Times bestselling author of the National Book Award longlist 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.
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.
Elizabeth Acevedo is the daughter of Dominican immigrants. The Poet X is her debut novel. She lives with her partner in Washington, DC. Find her online at www.acevedowrites.com.
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