With the Fire on High
“I keep thinking about this river somewhere, with the water moving really fast. And these two people in the water, trying to hold onto each other, holding on as hard as they can, but in the end it's just too much. The current's too strong. They've got to let go, drift apart. That's how it is with us. It's a shame, Kath, because we've loved each other all our lives. But in the end, we can't stay together forever.”
— Never Let Me Go
Kazuo Ishiguro
A Review:
What first caught my attention for this book was the vibrant colors on the cover and the recognizable name of Elizabeth Acevedo. I first heard of her through her powerful and amazing spoken word that creates vivid imagery tackling the intricacies of being Black and Latina. This book is an extension of her spoken word as she guides us through the experience of a teen mother (Emoni) from Philadelphia balancing her Borikua identity. By the end of the book, it is easy to imagine yourself in Philadelphia experiencing the same culture as Emoni. Emoni navigates her way through the last year of high school while taking care of Babygirl, determining how to manage relationships, and deciding what dreams of her own she should follow. Elizabeth’s voice shines clearly through the characters in the dialogue and descriptions in the book. Her concise chapters reinforce her poetic style and quickly move the book forward. Although I did not connect with the book and was disengaged at the start of the story, by the end, I was rooting for and feeling for Emoni as her story progressed. It may be harder to connect to if you are not down with the culture, a woman, or from Philadelphia, but that may be the point. It is not for the majority; rather, it is for the minority and the population with a smaller voice. It is a great book for young women of color, especially those who understand the struggle of making difficult decisions as they make their way to adulthood.