An Best Book of the Month: July 2014
An Editors’ Pick for Middle Grade Summer Reading
“A scrumptious gem of a story!”—Jennifer A. Nielsen, New York Times bestselling author of The False Prince
Meet Gladys Gatsby: New York’s toughest restaurant critic.(Just don’t tell anyone that she’s in sixth grade.)
Gladys Gatsby has been cooking gourmet dishes since the age of seven, only her fast-food-loving parents have no idea! Now she’s eleven, and after a crème brûlée accident (just a small fire), Gladys is cut off from the kitchen (and her allowance). She’s devastated but soon finds just the right opportunity to pay her parents back when she’s mistakenly contacted to write a restaurant review for one of the largest newspapers in the world.
But in order to meet her deadline and keep her dream job, Gladys must cook her way into the heart of her sixth-grade archenemy and sneak into New York City—all while keeping her identity a secret! Easy as pie, right?
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
A Scrumpdelicious Story!
By Betsy Kipnis
This book is for picky eaters, budding foodies, home alone kids, introverts, creatives, and people who genuinely enjoy witnessing the success of others. Young Gladys Gatsby lives in East Dumpsford, New York, and she is an only child of two working parents, one of whom is a Tax Accountant for the IRS. Gladys loves to cook and bake.In the opening moment of the story, Gladys is blow-torching her Creme Brulee with an actual blow torch. This sets into motion a fire that burns into the conflict of the story. Gladys, a secret chef, has parents who are fast food junkies with terrible palates and no patience for culinary artistry. Due to the fire, Gladys is grounded from her passion--cooking and reviewing her creations until her birthday which is about how long it will take to restore the damages from her Creme Brulee.During her time in culinary exile, Gladys is encouraged to behave like "normal" kids per her parents' request. During this time, Gladys befriends her neighbor Sandy who attends a private school and has a single mother who has a spectacular cookbook collection. There are wonderful excursions with her Aunt Lydia who visits from Paris and together they taste real food from New York's finest fare. It is Aunt Lydia who gives Gladys a journal and permission to keep her passion burning. Gladys frequents Mr. Eng's Gourmet Grocery and learns of exotic cinnamons and varieties of nuts and becomes his penniless patron. Gladys sidles up to Charissa Bentley, the town heiress, and whose exclusive birthday party is quickly approaching. Most importantly, Mrs. Quincy, a new teacher arrives and blows the dust off on the New York Standard Essay Contest in which students write about something that they feel passionate about.Being a passionate educator, Mrs. Quincy is onto Gladys' quality yet fraudulent response to the task. Mrs. Quincy encourages Gladys to write about something true to her. Of course Gladys writes about being a Restaurant Reviewer. The essay, written as a letter seeking employment in the Dining Section lands on a Food Editor's desk. When a door closes, a window opens, and Gladys is offered a job reviewing restaurants by Fiona Inglethorpe Food Editor for the New York Standard.Gladys is in a quandry! She is forbidden from working with or talking about food by her parents. She is too young to head to New York City on her own. Gladys is faced with many obstacles and wants that job so she can pay back her parents and prove to them that she is serious and worthy of pursuing her passion.Gladys schemes with various people a plan to get to NYC to review Classy Cakes. One scheme includes shadowing her father, the Tax Accountant while he is auditing companies in the City. She figures she can finish the day with dessert, sample for free and write in cognito. No deal! Refusing to go to the New York Standard Headquarters for an audit, she is foiled by Fiona Inglethorpe, Food Editor when they arrive to the lobby. Gladys does not wish to be seen because who wouldn't remember a child who attended a Tax audit?Continuing with her scheming, Gladys concocts sumptuous sweets to entice Charissa Bentley to bring Gladys to her party in New York City during which time Gladys could steal away, sample everything and return all during a bathroom and intermission break of a Broadway show.Will Gladys get to Classy Cakes? Will she review it by deadline? Will her parents find out? You will just have to read to find out!"All Four Stars" by Tara Dairman made me hungry while reading this book. Because of this book, I found myself lingering longer at the grocery and our daughter, who read the book first, began mixing up all sorts of unusual combinations. I give it 5 stars and hope that you will too!
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful.This book was so much fun! I was laughing all the way through
By Jeannette Tanaka
I'm giving all FIVE stars to ALL FOUR STARS! This book was so much fun! I was laughing all the way through. The odd things that happen to get Gladys into her predicaments, and the funny and clever ways she gets out of them are very amusing, and yet believable. All and all, a fun read, and one that I think middle school kids are going to gobble up! This book only just hit the shelves, and already I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful.Engaging Story for Middle School Readers
By Felicia
I purchased this book for my sixth grade reluctant reader. She found it to be a wonderful page-turner from Chapter 1. The character development of Gladys Gatsby and her best friend is excellent. The description of Glady's predicament at the beginning of the story was perfect for my budding chef who loves to cook on her own and ask questions later. The author does a great job of relating to the feelings, fears and interest of her Middle School audience. The overall message regarding the power of being a great writer, a smart young woman and following your interests in spite of setbacks is subtle, but strong. This book is highly recommended!
