High school senior Emoni Santiago is a wonder in the kitchen, crafting magic with flavors
and aromas. She dreams of attending culinary school one day, even if it seems as if there aren’t
many places for her to go in life. With an aging grandmother, an absent father, and the
responsibility of a three-year-old daughter to take care of, Emoni can’t afford to put herself first.
However, when her school announces a new culinary arts class, complete with an
apprenticeship in Spain, she can’t help but hope — it might be time, finally, for her dreams to
take flight.
This was so heartwarming and tender and vibrant — I found myself utterly lost within the
characters' hopes and dreams, and simply reading about them left me with such a warm,
satisfied feeling. Still, as inspirational as it was, the story didn't shy away from difficult topics like
colorism or teen pregnancy. Acevedo writes with such honesty, and built characters that were
the perfect combination of likable and flawed. Overall, a brilliant, dazzling novel.