With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

I love EVERY DING DANG THING that Acevedo writes. Bonus shout outs to the author who sets the story in my hometown of PHILLY! All the things you love about Philly are represented in the book. AND! our heroine’s best friend is named Angelica which is my daughter’s name!

With her daughter to care for and her abuela to help support, high school senior Emoni Santiago has to make the tough decisions, and do what must be done. The one place she can let her responsibilities go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness. Still, she knows she doesn’t have enough time for her school’s new culinary arts class, doesn’t have the money for the class’s trip to Spain — and shouldn’t still be dreaming of someday working in a real kitchen. But even with all the rules she has for her life — and all the rules everyone expects her to play by — once Emoni starts cooking, her only real choice is to let her talent break free.

Soooooooo much fun! And I listened on audio which is divine because the author herself reads it. Homegirl could read a calculus book and make it sound interesting. Give With the Fire on High to every girl you know. She’ll be inspired.

This title may not have won the Cybils but it’s a winner in my heart this year. Also qualifies for the Diversity Reading Challenge!