Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

An aspiring young chef discovers her innate resourcefulness and the courage of her convictions.In this contemporary immigrant story, 12-year-old Cici moves from Taiwan to Seattle with her professional parents, who promote a straightforward formula for success: good grades, good college, good job. Cici, however, is sad to leave her grandmother and is determined to bring A-m to the United States for her 70th birthday. When a junior cooking contest presents the prospect of funding A-ms airfare, Cici, an able chef, aims to win and begins making American foods. Working with her in-contest partner Miranda, Cici learns to make porcini risotto, not to overcook pasta, and that she is a super taster. This revelation reminds readers of the secret spice mixture that A-m taught Cici when she was littlewill it help her win the contest? Similar hints of superhero identity lurk throughout this textured graphic novel filled with heart and humor, centering girls with budding ambitions, subverting tropes, and celebrating everyday heroesincluding the librarian who introduces Cici to Julia Child. Word to the wise: Readers should not pick up this book while hungry unless they have treats nearby such as Taiwanese minced pork over rice, or at least a bubble tea to go with that pineapple cake and zucchini chocolate cookie. Bold and nuanced, this intercultural cook book dishes up hearty morsels well worth savoring. (Graphic fiction. 9-13) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

In this encouraging -- and nourishing -- graphic novel, twelve-year-old Cici's family moves to Seattle from Taiwan, taking her away from her beloved A-ma, who has always nurtured Cici's interest in cooking. After starting at a new school and feeling lonely -- despite some well-meaning but culturally clueless new friends -- Cici enters a cooking competition for the prize money: she wants to buy A-ma a plane ticket to Seattle for her seventieth birthday. Her competition partner dismisses Cici's Taiwanese culinary expertise in favor of her own knowledge of Italian cuisine, but she comes to appreciate Cici's kitchen prowess, and they bond outside of the competition. The narration occasionally sounds stilted ("That drummer sure can jam") but becomes more natural as our protagonist grows more self-assured. Chapter-heading decorations slowly bloom into fully formed cherry blossoms, gently symbolizing Cici's development and newfound confidence and also hinting at an imminent reunion with her A-ma. Simple line art and minimal backgrounds are enlivened through expert coloring by Xu and Sunmi. The warmest images appear when Cici creates her dishes for the competition and deeply connects with friends and family. (c) Copyright 2023. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

An aspiring young chef discovers her innate resourcefulness and the courage of her convictions. In this contemporary immigrant story, 12-year-old Cici moves from Taiwan to Seattle with her professional parents, who promote a straightforward formula for success: “good grades, good college, good job.” Cici, however, is sad to leave her grandmother and is determined to bring A-má to the United States for her 70th birthday. When a junior cooking contest presents the prospect of funding A-má’s airfare, Cici, an able chef, aims to win and begins making “American” foods. Working with her in-contest partner Miranda, Cici learns to make porcini risotto, not to overcook pasta, and that she is a super taster. This revelation reminds readers of the secret spice mixture that A-má taught Cici when she was little—will it help her win the contest? Similar hints of superhero identity lurk throughout this textured graphic novel filled with heart and humor, centering girls with budding ambitions, subverting tropes, and celebrating everyday heroes—including the librarian who introduces Cici to Julia Child. Word to the wise: Readers should not pick up this book while hungry unless they have treats nearby such as Taiwanese minced pork over rice, or at least a bubble tea to go with that pineapple cake and zucchini chocolate cookie. Bold and nuanced, this intercultural “cook book” dishes up hearty morsels well worth savoring. (Graphic fiction. 9-13) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.