Pages: 388
Published: 7th May 2019
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Content Warnings: Strong sexual references
Ever since she got pregnant, seventeen-year-old Emoni’s life has been about making the tough decisions – doing what has to be done for her young daughter and her grandmother. Keeping her head down at school, trying not to get caught up with new boy Malachi. The one place she can let everything go is in the kitchen, where she has magical hands – whipping up extraordinary food beloved by everyone.
Emoni wants to be a chef more than anything, but she knows it’s pointless to pursue the impossible. There are rules she has to play by. And yet, once she starts cooking, and gets that fire on high, she sees that her drive to feed will feed her soul and dreams too. And anything is possible.
Elizabeth Acevedo’s debut novel The Poet X was a unique read in many ways, not least in terms of the fact that it is written almost entirely in poetic verse. In adopting this format, she still managed to deliver a powerful narrative, an excellent protagonist, and a story that I was wholly invested in.
Suffice to say, I was interested and excited to find out what lay in store in her next book, which is told in the more conventional way. Would Acevedo be able to make the transition from verse to standard prose? The answer is an emphatic YES. This book is a roaring success, and I loved it from start to finish.
First of all I should pause to admire the cover. Every aspect of it is so beautifully designed that I do not think I will come across many in 2020 that I like more. Once inside, we are quickly introduced to Emoni, a teenage mother who is still at school and unsure about what her future holds, but with a innate special talent for cookery.
As her final year at school begins, Emoni needs to decide on her optional subjects. After some initial hesitation, she takes a culinary arts class where she hones her considerable skills. The class ends with a week-long trip to Spain, while in the meantime she is working in a restaurant and raising her two-year-old daughter.
It is clear from very early on that Emoni is a fantastic protagonist. She has such an authentic voice, and all of her morals, mannerisms, and insecurities just leap from the page. As a narrator, she is written impeccably and I found myself effortlessly rooting for her as she attempts to realise her ambitions.
Reading the story from her perspective also carried a lot of meaning. There are moments such as the prejudice she receives from others at being a teenage mother, and the reason why she chose to name her daughter Emma, which are very impactful. But above all, I loved how she developed as a character during the course of the book.
All of the other characters were given a great amount of depth, too. They were so well written I almost felt like I got to know them as individuals, particularly Emoni’s grandmother Gloria, best friend Angelica, and mentor Chef Ayden. The family unit that is portrayed is not your average one, but that does not stop it from being brilliant and heartfelt. Indeed, the relationships between Emoni and these characters was one of my favourite things about the story.
There is romance in this book, as is seemingly the case in most YA. However, here it is very sophisticated and by no means overdone. It adds a nice extra layer to the story and Malachi himself is a likeable character. Every theme and every emotion this book conveys is close to perfect.
Another reason why I hugely enjoyed this book was Emoni’s Puerto Rican heritage. The scene where she visited Christopher Columbus’ burial site was fascinating, and it was really good to see an injection of Spanish in the narrative. I liked this book so much that I could forgive Emoni releasing a breath she did not know she was holding no fewer than three times!!
Overall, this is without a shadow of a doubt one of the best YA novels I have read. The likeability and authenticity of Emoni play a major part in that, but the expressiveness of the writing and the ease with which the words flow along to give the story a swift pace are equally top drawer. There is not long to wait until Elizabeth Acevedo’s next book, and I am already looking forward to it.
I adored this book. The writing is brilliant, both through the authentic voice of Emoni and the dynamic she shares with each character.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stephen Reads Books 