The Sweet Life of Stella Madison

July 1, 2009
Gr 9 Up-When Stella Madisons boyfriend says he loves her, those words are not what the 17-year-old wants to hear. Max is adorable, sure; its just that commitment is not really her thing, and she has a lot on her plate. The daughter of a famous chef and a restaurateur, Stella has a paid summer internship at the local newspaper, and she is sneakily swooning over Kitchens irresistible new intern, Jeremy. Juggling Max, Jeremy, work, semi-separated parents, and friends is not easy, and Stella learns that you cant make an omelet without breaking some eggs. "Sweet Life" is brimming with teen appeal. Zeises has created a refreshing protagonist sure to captivate readers, who will enjoy following along as she learns about romance through food, and vice versa."Emily Chornomaz, Brooklyn Public Library, NY"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2009
Grades 8-11 Even though her father is a famous French chef and her mother runs a demonstration kitchen, where chefs cook for an audience, Stella is insistent that she never will be a foodie. Then she lands an internship at Baltimores Daily Journal. Her beat? Restaurant reviews. Luckily, her mothers gorgeous new assistant, Jeremy, seems willing to help guide her through her first assignments, and soon Stella is trying to reconcile her huge crush on Jeremy with her growing ambivalence about Max, her adoring boyfriend. Adding to Stellas confusion, her parents, still married but long separated, begin new romances of their own. With the exception of a few implausible points (Would a newspaper really give a high-school intern so much responsibility?), this novel, both poignant and funny, offers plenty of rich substance beneath the surface froth of summer romance. The specifics of foodie culture add satisfying texture, but its Zeises precise grasp of everyday teen concerns, from the headaches of negotiating rides to the excitement of discovering ones talents, that young readers will appreciate most.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)