This book was so well done and lyrically written. The words flow and you cannot stop reading. The chapters are short and reminded me of a recipe being slowly combined to create a perfectly appetizing dish. With unforgettable characters that pulse to life on the page and have you craving more. Pure, poetic bliss! Emoni is such a stellar lead. Her growth throughout the novel reflects her need to realize that she does not have to do everything, that she can ask for help, and she is allowed to be selfish. Like many of her recipes, she simply needs to add a dash of her own magic to make it happen. She is determined to go to Spain and I love how she brought the class together to raise funds. This trip also makes her realize the impact she has on all of those around her, as those who love her work tirelessly to make sure she can follow her dreams. Parent relationships a very important aspect of the novel. This is seen with Emoni's determination to give her daughter a great life despite being a young mother. Also, with Emoni's father abandoning her when she needed him most and her relying on her tight bond with her abuela to make up for his lack of care. But also, it is about Emoni realizing how important it will be for her daughter to have a father in her life, unlike Emoni, and therefore Emoni must mend bridges and push for her baby's father to be a part of her life. It is a story about trust, love, acceptance, and learning from past mistakes. Emoni and Malachi (the new boy) are great together, but I also liked that their relationship was not the main focus. The book is about all the important people within Emoni's life and how they shape who she is as a person. From her best friend to her aunt, her abuela to her father, even to her cooking class teacher to her homeroom teacher, she has many people who impact her everyday life. But, most important of all, is her daughter and that certainly shines through. Emoni wants to live her life and reach for her big dreams, but not at the expense of her relationship with her daughter. She wants to be a chef, but she will always make sure she has the time to spend with her most precious love. This book does not glorify teen pregnancy. In fact, it shows how hard life is with a child, but it also shows how resilient and devoted a teen mother can be to the child she decides to raise. With very little help for her, and, often times, roadblocks or programs that could make her life harder. It was especially sad to hear the experiences Emoni faced when pregnant or when someone hears about her daughter. The backlash that women face is not the same that men in the same scenario do. She is villainized, sexualized, degraded, all for one act between two people. Emoni deserves as much love and respect as any teenager, baby or no.
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