Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in With the Fire on High, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Coming of Age and Teen Parenthood
Creativity vs. Professional Norms
Food and Connection
Caregiving, Independence, and Identity
Support, Community, and Mentorship
Summary
Analysis
On the bus after school, Angelica lists all the schools with graphic design programs where she’s planning to apply. Then, she admits she’s not sure she’ll get in, since they only accept the best. Emoni reminds Angelica she is the best. Angelica sighs and asks where Emoni plans to apply. Emoni lists several Philadelphia schools, including Drexel, which Ms. Fuentes is really pushing for. But Emoni says she’ll never get a scholarship with her subpar grades, and she doesn’t want to take out loans. And really, isn’t it more important to work so she can care for Babygirl than go to school? Angelica points out that Emoni can’t work at the Burger Joint full-time, but Emoni says she’s just focusing on Angelica’s anniversary menu. Both girls tell the other to remember they have more to offer the world than they think they do.
Both Emoni and Angelica struggle a bit to believe in themselves and that the world will accept them and appreciate their talents. This becomes especially apparent as Emoni insists she’ll never get a college scholarship. Indeed, it seems almost like Emoni is simply echoing the middle school counselor who pushed her toward Schomburg Charter due to her subpar grades. Still, Emoni is trying hard to justify this outlook, as when she suggests that making money and supporting Babygirl is more important than college.
Themes
