School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-Thirteen-year old Evie Carson loves to cook, which is fitting for the daughter of a renowned celebrity chef. Now that her parents have divorced and her father is living with his new wife on the other side of town, Evie spends a lot of time in the kitchen, and her mom has even signed her up for summer cooking classes at the rec center. It's been a year since her dad moved out and took their dog with him, but now there are twins on the way, her stepmother is trying to be her friend, and her mother is going on her first date since the divorce, so Evie is feeling just a little bit out of sorts. Although she and her mom have finally begun to fill the empty places left by her father's departure, it takes a crotchety neighbor, a handsome cooking partner, some rescued animals, and a lot of recipes to make the future seem as inviting as the past. Each chapter is headed by a quote from a celebrity chef that portends the events to come and concludes with a recipe for whatever Evie is preparing. Spot illustrations appear throughout. This is an appealing book with an authentic voice, particularly when discussing the upheaval and discomfort caused by divorce, as well as the effort and good will required to smooth the transition.-Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
When her mom enrolls her in a summer cooking class, Evie is determined to impress her celebrity chef father and his new wife with a delicious home-cooked meal. Issues of divorce and stepfamilies, along with budding unexpected friendships, are sensitively explored. Occasional spot illustrations decorate the pages, and each chapter concludes with one of Evie's favorite recipes. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
After her father moves to a condo and marries a younger woman, 13-year-old Evie fills the void by cooking. When her dad went, he took the dog and all traces of their family with him, leaving Evie and her mom to "fit into all those empty corners of the house." Evie's dad writes cookbooks and hosts a food-channel show, so cooking is the "little piece of him" she can keep. As she worries about her mother, who's starting to date, her new stepmother, who's pregnant with twins, and her elderly neighbor, whose cat has died, Evie therapeutically bakes souffls, brownies and biscuits. In a summer cooking class taught by an ex-hippie, Evie discovers that if she follows the right recipe, life will work out. Evie tells her story with a pinch of humor and a dash of vulnerability, sifting together the people in her life and blending them into a surprising new family. The cooking motif cleverly extends throughout with quotes from famous chefs, Evie's recipes and culinary spot art. Sweet and savory. (bibliography of kitchen wisdom) (Fiction. 8-12)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
A year after her father moved out, taking the family dog with him, Evie's parents are divorced, her father has remarried, and he and his new wife are expecting a baby. Evie and her mother still keenly miss her father (not to mention the dog), but change is in the air. As the summer goes on, Evie develops a promising relationship with her cooking-class partner, begins to feel more comfortable with her stepmother, and even comes to appreciate her grumpy next-door neighbor. As narrator, Evie shows herself to be an astute observer of the people around her, and throughout the summer, she becomes increasingly aware of the adults as individuals with their own worries. Each of the 16 chapters ends with a recipe and a cooking tip. Since Evie's father is a celebrity chef and she shares his interest in food, there's plenty of culinary talk throughout the story, but relationships are at the heart of this appealing, illustrated chapter book.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist
