“Kemp’s evocative writing weaves a tender love story set in a tightknit working-class neighborhood that vibrates with life despite local businesses’ ongoing struggles with El Martillo, a dangerous loan shark. Fans of Elizabeth Acevedo’s With the Fire on High (2019) will cherish Xander and Pen’s love story and Pen’s passion for food. This stellar debut offers a cathartic take on a relationship between a father and daughter. Authentic flavor inside and out.”
“Told in the protagonists’ alternating, refreshingly candid voices (“So I have to decide what’s scarier: living a life that doesn’t belong to me, or losing the one I love”), Kemp’s novel serves up finely rendered, stirring character arcs for both, as well as an intimate portrait of two teens grappling with mental health, complicated family relationships, and newfound love. Much like Elizabeth Acevedo’s With the Fire on High, Kemp has created a truly special combination of deliciously described food, expressive prose, and dreamy romance.”
“A powerful, genuine, and touching read, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN BITTER AND SWEET is a thought-provoking YA contemporary fiction that is positively unputdownable.”
“Secondary characters are well developed and the plot is a balance of tension, humor, romance, and fear. Lush imagery celebrates Mexican culture and depicts how food can bring people together. VERDICT This #OwnVoices YA contemporary debut is not to be missed; recommended for most collections.”
“Students will enjoy the food descriptions and community culture that lend the story a sense of authenticity and believability. This book would be of interest to Hispanic students as well as those who wish to read about the Mexican American community. This story explores the topics of passion, identity, mental health, undocumented immigration, and family expectations. It is recommended for high school libraries.”
