Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated With the Fire on High in Books
Jul 25, 2019
With The Fire On High centers on Emoni Santiago, a teenage mother struggling to graduate from high school on time. When a culinary arts elective is offered during her senior year of school, she takes it despite feeling like she should be spending her energy on her daughter's future instead of realizing her own dreams. The elective opens up an entire world for her, however, taking her from whipping up magic alone in her own kitchen to being recognized by talented chefs as having something special. The added hours spent on cooking begin to affect her other responsibilities, however, and Emoni struggles to balance everything in her life, a fight that is very nearly upended by the new, very cute boy who just transferred to her school.
Emoni deals admirably with the vast responsibilities of being a parent, the complications of her own somewhat unusual home life (she's been raised by her grandmother after her mother's death and her father's absence), and the pressures of high school. Especially a school where she spent freshman year pregnant. Rather luckily, her daughter's father goes to a different school, so at least she doesn't have to deal with him every day.
Similar to The Poet X, the book deals with the intersection of black American culture and Puerto Rican culture, a combination I've been seeing more and more in Young Adult. (Well, The Poet X was Dominican, but they have very similar worries, mostly revolving around feeling "not black enough.")
I loved Emoni, I loved Malachi (the cute transfer student), I loved Abuela and Baby Girl/Emma. I even didn't mind Tyrone too much. For being a player, he was trying to do right by his daughter. Acevedo has such a talent for characters. Angelica (Emoni's best friend) and her girlfriend were a delight, too.
If you see a book by Elizabeth Acevedo, pick it up. You won't be disappointed. I can't wait to pick up her next book, which appears to be another novel in verse called Clap When You Land, due out next year!
You can find all my reviews and more at http://goddessinthestacks.com
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Shaun Collins (3 KP) rated Lethbridge-Stewart: Beast of Fang Rock (#3) in Books
Jan 12, 2018
My only complaint (and it's a small one) is the Brigadier himself is pushed back so slightly in this one in favor of Anne Travers. But, thats as it should be. This is her story, her time to shine, and Lethbridge-Stewart seems content to back her characterization until he's needed to be the man of action during the thrilling third act. As I said, its a SMALL complaint.
Definitely give this one a read kids!
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated The Bees in Books
May 10, 2018
The Bees is the most unique book I have read in my life. I can't say that I have read a book that was completely about bugs. It reminded me a lot of Bee Movie.
Flora 717 is at the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to bee culture. She is a sanitation worker. It's her job and the job of the other floras to keep the hive in tiptop condition. But, there is something special about Flora 717. She is bigger than others in her group and she is pulled aside for more assignments besides cleaning. When Flora is taken to meet the Queen, she finds out more and more about the hive she lives in and about the lives of past and future colonies. Flora breaks some rules in good ways and in bad, but throughout it all she must survive!
The Bees in most interesting. Even though it was about bees, I wanted to know what was going to happen next and how Flora was going to handle every situation. I learned a lot more about bees than I may ever want or need to know, but it's cool to get a glimpse into their world.



