We follow the teenager Emoni during the year before her graduation. She loves to cook and to bake and when her school offers a new culinary arts class she knows she has to participate in it. In the class a one-week trip to Spain is included. But due to the fact that Emoni comes from poor circumstances and already has a young daughter she is unsure whether she will be able to get the necessary money in time for the trip. On top of that, Malachi has just transferred to her school and the two of them fall in love.
So, it's kinda a typical YA romance story, except for the teen pregnancy part ... and except for the other parts as well... because like I said, Elizabeth Acevedo really manages to make everything she writes about truly and uniquely her own. I love her writing style. I love how her characters are sizzling with life. Every single character in this novel was realistic. Emoni with all her hopes and dreams but also her fears and struggles. Malachi who is really respectful and charming, but has his insecurities as well. Emoni's best friend who is out and proud and literally the light of my life. Emoni's baby daddy who gets to see Emma on the weekends. Her grandmother who cares for her. Her father who is absent. I really loved the character dynamics in this book and how Emoni's life became so believable through the people she was living and associating with.
So, it's kinda a typical YA romance story, except for the teen pregnancy part ... and except for the other parts as well... because like I said, Elizabeth Acevedo really manages to make everything she writes about truly and uniquely her own. I love her writing style. I love how her characters are sizzling with life. Every single character in this novel was realistic. Emoni with all her hopes and dreams but also her fears and struggles. Malachi who is really respectful and charming, but has his insecurities as well. Emoni's best friend who is out and proud and literally the light of my life. Emoni's baby daddy who gets to see Emma on the weekends. Her grandmother who cares for her. Her father who is absent. I really loved the character dynamics in this book and how Emoni's life became so believable through the people she was living and associating with.