Sizzle

November 1, 2011

Gr 6-9-Linda Delgado, 14, lives with her aunt in Arizona. Together they run a restaurant that serves fresh, local Mexican food. When her aunt has a ministroke, Linda is sent to Pittsburgh to live with a relative she's never met. Aunt Pat is famous for her local TV program, Cooking from Cans, and she completely eschews fresh foods. She has seven kids through domestic and foreign adoptions, one foster child, and one biological teenage daughter, who resents the newcomer's presence. Linda's friendly narration is compelling and easy to read. Chapters are broken up with screen shots of her food blog. With a light but honest touch, this book addresses many serious matters. It explores the struggles and the triumphs of children from difficult backgrounds, food as comfort, the adolescent struggle to be true to oneself without hurting others, the value of culture, and the results of these issues being lost on a well-meaning but overwhelmed family-Amelia Jenkins, Juneau Public Library, AK

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