With the Fire on High Character Analysis

Emoni Santiago

The protagonist of the novel, Emoni is a 17-year-old senior at Schomburg Charter. She’s also the mother of two-year-old Babygirl, whom she coparents with Babygirl’s dad, Tyrone. After her mom died in childbirth… read analysis of Emoni Santiago

’Buela/Gloria

’Buela is Emoni’s paternal grandmother who raised Emoni from infancy. She was also instrumental in helping Emoni through Babygirl’s infancy, though in the present, she’s making sure Emoni takes on more responsibility for… read analysis of ’Buela/Gloria

Babygirl/Emma

Emma—whom Emoni calls Babygirl—is Emoni and Tyrone’s two-year-old daughter. She was born in August, right before Emoni started her sophomore year of high school. In the present, Babygirl is just beginning to attend daycare… read analysis of Babygirl/Emma

Malachi Johnson

Malachi is a new student in Emoni’s grade from Newark; he quickly becomes her love interest. Though Malachi is tall and adorable, Emoni is initially unwilling to get close to him or give him… read analysis of Malachi Johnson

Angelica

Angelica is Emoni’s best friend. She’s beautiful, with her hair often done in colorful styles, impeccable makeup, and on-trend clothes. Since coming out to Emoni several years ago and the rest of Schomburg Charter… read analysis of Angelica

Tyrone

Tyrone is Babygirl’s father. He and Emoni dated briefly when Emoni was a freshman (he’s a year older), had sex a handful of times, and then broke off their romantic relationship not far into… read analysis of Tyrone

Julio/Emoni’s Dad

Julio is Emoni’s dad. He lives in Puerto Rico, where he works as a barber and is also a heavily involved community organizer. Emoni’s relationship with him is fraught: after Emoni’s mom died giving… read analysis of Julio/Emoni’s Dad

Aunt Sarah

Aunt Sarah is Emoni’s aunt; she was Emoni’s mom’s sister and lives in North Carolina. Though Emoni has never met Aunt Sarah, the two began exchanging emails a few years before the novel… read analysis of Aunt Sarah

Emoni’s Mom

Emoni’s mom died giving birth to Emoni, but she nevertheless looms large over the novel. Emoni thinks often about what kind of person her mom was, and what her mom would want for Emoni… read analysis of Emoni’s Mom

Chef Ayden

Chef Ayden is Emoni’s culinary arts instructor; she describes him as a Black man with a belly and perfectly smooth skin. At first, Emoni finds Chef Ayden insufferable: he demands obedience and perfection, and… read analysis of Chef Ayden

Ms. Fuentes

Ms. Fuentes is Emoni’s Advisory (homeroom) teacher. She’s young, hip, and is generally well-liked among the students, Emoni included. Emoni appreciates Ms. Fuentes because Ms. Fuentes is so supportive and encouraging—she was a huge… read analysis of Ms. Fuentes

The Chef/Chef Lisa Williams

Chef Williams is the executive chef at Café Sorrel, an upscale restaurant in Philadelphia. Until Emoni learns her name, she simply refers to her as “the chef.” Emoni first meets Chef Williams when ’Buela takes… read analysis of The Chef/Chef Lisa Williams

Chef Amadí

Chef Amadí is the chef whom Emoni apprentices with while on her class trip to Spain. She’s a young woman, only in her late 20s, and she believes in using instinct and a sort of… read analysis of Chef Amadí

Pretty Leslie

Pretty Leslie is one of Emoni’s classmates. She’s one of only three kids from Emoni’s neighborhood to get into Schomburg Charter, but she and Emoni aren’t friends—in fact, Pretty Leslie is cold and mean… read analysis of Pretty Leslie

Mrs. Palmer/Tyrone’s Mom

Tyrone’s mom, Mrs. Palmer, is an antagonist of sorts. She’s never liked Emoni. When Emoni was pregnant with Babygirl, for instance, Mrs. Palmer wanted Emoni to get an abortion and demanded (unsuccessfully)… read analysis of Mrs. Palmer/Tyrone’s Mom

Steve

Steve is Emoni’s manager at the Burger Joint. A middle-aged white man who does very little work himself, he makes work very difficult for several employees, including Emoni. He resents having to schedule her… read analysis of Steve

Mr. Jagoda

’Buela initially introduces Mr. Jagoda as a friend and acquaintance from her doctor’s office, but she later reveals that he’s her boyfriend and, depending on whether she agrees to marry him, her fiancé. A Polish… read analysis of Mr. Jagoda

Amanda

Amanda is one of Emoni’s Culinary Arts classmates; they’re in the same cooking group along with Richard for much of the school year. In Spain, Amanda apprentices with a baker—meaning she starts work very… read analysis of Amanda

Minor Characters

Laura

Laura is Angelica’s girlfriend; they met at a summer arts workshop for teens. She attends a different school and is heavily involved in her school’s theater program. Though Laura appears only briefly in the novel, Emoni appreciates Laura for how giddy and happy she makes Angelica.

Richard

Richard is one of Emoni’s Culinary Arts classmates; they’re in the same cooking group with Amanda for much of the school year. He’s a tall, burly Polish boy who often takes charge during class, though Emoni knows he’s softhearted and a true Philly boy.

Auntie Jordyn

Auntie Jordyn is Malachi’s maternal aunt and his caregiver in Philadelphia. She’s a tiny woman who works at the Wells Fargo Arena, where she’s able to get Disney on Ice tickets for Malachi and his friends.

Señorita Mariana

Señorita Mariana is Emoni and Pretty Leslie’s house mother in Spain. She’s a bit younger than ‘Buela and lives alone above an old music shop. Though Emoni sees little of Mariana while in Spain, Mariana does introduce Emoni to the Spanish word duende, which refers to inspiration and passion.

Principal Holderness

Principal Holderness is the principal of Schomburg Charter. He seldom appears in the novel, and Emoni has little to say about him—except that when she got pregnant, he wanted her to transfer to a program for pregnant teens.

Mamá Clara

Mamá Clara runs the daycare that Babygirl attends.

Don Alberto

Don Alberto is a patron at Chef Amadí’s restaurant in Spain. He tells Emoni that her chicken dish brought back happy childhood memories of his aunt.

With the Fire on High Characters