First published 2019
Emoni Santiago became a mother during her freshman year of high school. Now she juggles caring for her daughter and her abuela while finishing school. The kitchen offers her only refuge. When she cooks, something magical happens. Her food transforms into something beyond ordinary ingredients and technique. Emoni dreams of becoming a professional chef after graduation. She believes this dream lies beyond her reach given her responsibilities. The practical demands of single motherhood seem to rule out culinary school or restaurant work. Yet her talent refuses to stay contained. Each time she steps into the kitchen, her abilities push against the boundaries she has accepted. Emoni must choose between the safe path she thinks she should follow and the calling that sets her apart. Her gift for cooking represents more than career potential. It connects her to something deeper about who she is and what she can become. The story follows her struggle to honor both her duties as a young mother and her extraordinary culinary abilities.
Genres: family-life, coming-of-age, contemporary, food-writing
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
392 pages · Hardcover · Quill Tree Books
Content warnings: pregnancy-loss