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A review by msbedelia
Recipe for Disaster by Aimee Lucido
5.0
What a fantastic middle-grade book about a 12 year-old girl figuring out her Jewish identity! 5 stars. Recipe for Disaster is charming and age-appropriate, but deals effectively with difficult real-world topics and doesn't shy away from complexity. It was both entertaining to me as an adult and a fulfilling exploration of this subject- and again, somehow still age-appropriate! That's a lot to accomplish in one little book.
It was also so much fun to read. Our protagonist Hannah is full of life; she's passionate about baking, loves her friends and family, and feels a tug toward her Jewish roots that she wants to explore. I enjoyed spending time with Hannah in all her imperfection. She remained likeable even as she made some significant missteps with friends that required sincere apologies, a skill that at twelve, she is still mastering. (We do get a Recipe for an Apology that we would all do well to follow, and which nicely ties in with the Jewish themes.)
Some of the people in Hannah's life - Grandma Mimi being a wonderful exception- are struggling themselves in their own relationship to Judaism and having a "Jew-ish" friend or child. This drives the plot forward. It is also painful; one Good Reads reviewer called out many of the characters for being narrow, wrong, and even anger-inducing. To which I say: Yes! That is the point of the book. Even Hannah herself is sometimes narrow and wrong and needs to apologize. Sadly, I did find these adults (and children) to be realistic. These are real perspectives that the Jewish community wrestles with and that real people often fumble; even I found myself having reactions that I'm not necessarily proud of. To me, these are all strengths of this novel and proof of its relevance. I would also add that the resolutions may not be perfect- just as real-life resolutions are rarely perfect- but they are heartfelt and authentic, and marked by real learning and growth, which was satisfying to me as a reader. I truly hope that many people, especially Jewish children, find their way to this book and find sustenance in it.
But this review has gone on too long without acknowledging one of the biggest strengths of the novel: The creative formatting. Aimee Lucido keeps her plot zipping along quickly, utilizing recipes (both for food and for life), verse, prose, and bits of Torah portions to tell her story. It's beautiful, fun, and oh so effective. The recipes are a real-highlight! They made me want to try to bake. But I especially loved the use of Torah portions and how the main character's study gave her the opportunity to reflect and learn in ways that weren't immediately obvious from the portion itself. It mirrored the way Torah study is taught in many b'nei mitzvah classes and felt authentic, and added depth to the novel. (Hannah's pull toward Judaism also was well-rendered.)
Aimee Lucido is really a masterful writer. I will have to check out her first novel, the acclaimed Emmy in the Key of Code, and keep up with her, even if I am no longer a middle grader myself.
It was also so much fun to read. Our protagonist Hannah is full of life; she's passionate about baking, loves her friends and family, and feels a tug toward her Jewish roots that she wants to explore. I enjoyed spending time with Hannah in all her imperfection. She remained likeable even as she made some significant missteps with friends that required sincere apologies, a skill that at twelve, she is still mastering. (We do get a Recipe for an Apology that we would all do well to follow, and which nicely ties in with the Jewish themes.)
Some of the people in Hannah's life - Grandma Mimi being a wonderful exception- are struggling themselves in their own relationship to Judaism and having a "Jew-ish" friend or child. This drives the plot forward. It is also painful; one Good Reads reviewer called out many of the characters for being narrow, wrong, and even anger-inducing. To which I say: Yes! That is the point of the book. Even Hannah herself is sometimes narrow and wrong and needs to apologize. Sadly, I did find these adults (and children) to be realistic. These are real perspectives that the Jewish community wrestles with and that real people often fumble; even I found myself having reactions that I'm not necessarily proud of. To me, these are all strengths of this novel and proof of its relevance. I would also add that the resolutions may not be perfect- just as real-life resolutions are rarely perfect- but they are heartfelt and authentic, and marked by real learning and growth, which was satisfying to me as a reader. I truly hope that many people, especially Jewish children, find their way to this book and find sustenance in it.
But this review has gone on too long without acknowledging one of the biggest strengths of the novel: The creative formatting. Aimee Lucido keeps her plot zipping along quickly, utilizing recipes (both for food and for life), verse, prose, and bits of Torah portions to tell her story. It's beautiful, fun, and oh so effective. The recipes are a real-highlight! They made me want to try to bake. But I especially loved the use of Torah portions and how the main character's study gave her the opportunity to reflect and learn in ways that weren't immediately obvious from the portion itself. It mirrored the way Torah study is taught in many b'nei mitzvah classes and felt authentic, and added depth to the novel. (Hannah's pull toward Judaism also was well-rendered.)
Aimee Lucido is really a masterful writer. I will have to check out her first novel, the acclaimed Emmy in the Key of Code, and keep up with her, even if I am no longer a middle grader myself.