With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

 

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

Reviewer: Ariana A., Grade 10

Star rating: 5 stars

I adore this book! Ever since Emoni got pregnant freshman year of high school, her life has been filled with making tough decisions for her daughter and abuela. Emoni’s life has alway been difficult as her mother passed away when she was young and her father’s abandonment left Emoni in the care of her abuela, who struggles to get by. We follow Emoni’s senior year in high school, where she faces the decision to chase her dreams and passion for cooking or to settle and struggle with her family.

I was sucked in from the first page, which started with a recipe for a broken heart. Emoni is such a strong and inspiring character. Her unconditional support from her friends and abuela is heartwarming. This book was beautifully written. You can feel how much heart and soul is put in every line. The writing feels real. No situation was exaggerated and the romance was natural, never felt forced. Oh, and the food descriptions! 

I love how this book isn't about a teenager coming to terms with being pregnant, but of a story about a teenager living after her pregnancy. Struggling with the responsibilities of parenthood and school. While Emoni is dealing with heavy responsibilities, her voice is true to her age. At times she is mature and every so often we see her youth showing, a luxury she can’t have. I recommend this book to everyone, especially teens as this will open your eyes and inspire you.

Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibanez

 

Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibanez

Reviewer: Ariana A., Grade 10

Star rating: 4 stars

This is a classical tale of adventure, loyalty, and forbidden love inspired by Bolivian culture and politics, with a dash of folklore magic. Ximena’s harrowing life is to be the decoy Condesa to protect Catalina, the last heir to the Illustrian throne. When the false king demands for the real Condesa’s hand in marriage, Ximena must become a spy and infiltrate the kingdom to return the crown to its rightful place. But what happens when her black and white beliefs on the entire community turns grey? 

This standalone has complex characters, vivid worldbuilding, and a beautifully written magical aspect. Ximena is a strong female protagonist who uses her “feminine characteristics” as her strength. On top of that, her unique ability of weaving moonlight into tapestries allows her to create and hide things. I love how this book incorporates strong female characters, not stereotyping them. El Lobo, the masked vigilante, will become your favorite character! The descriptions of the world, magic, and the food will leave you hungry, figuratively and literally, for more.

In the beginning, I was confused about everything but after a few chapters and connecting to the characters it became clear. This book allowed me to immerse myself in a Latinx fantasy that I don’t read often. Also, if you are expecting lots of action there isn’t much, as Ximena has to sneak around the kingdom for information. On that note, another book called Written in Starlight is set in the same world. Can’t wait to read it!