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mehsi's review
4.0
A fun graphic novel about a girl moving to America and her love for cooking.
Cici was such a fun and delightful character and I loved what she did for her father and her grandmother. Joining a cooking competition in the hopes to win enough money for a plane ticket is just the sweetest!
I loved seeing Cici cook and I loved the cooking competition and all that was made during the show. She never gave up, kept practising, kept working hard, kept finding recipes to try out and studying hard to get them perfectly right. The cooking show was really extensive, we see the kids bake/cook, we see what everyone made, and we see them present it to the judges and get the judges to tell what they thought. At times it was a bit too long for me and I would have just liked to see their thoughts on Cici (and in the beginning Miranda). But I guess this did make it feel more a cooking show like you see on TV.
Next to that we see her adjust to school, correct people who call her Chinese or her food Thai. We see her try to make lunch that doesn’t smell to her classmates (which I just found sad to be honest as I would have rather seen her just do her own thing). We see her become friends and learn new things, but also find out that they have a lot in common.
Miranda (her partner in the first rounds of the competition) was an interesting girl. On the one hand I really liked her and loved how she was a magician with knives and cooking, loved how she had something else that she wanted to do and was finding the courage to tell her dad. But on the other hand she was really bossy.
I loved the video calls with grandma, while it also made me sad, because hello, they can only see each other this way, but I am also happy that they got this at least. In another time they would have had to write letters or call via phone and just hear each other.
The ending was super sweet and just had me smiling in happiness. The cooking competition, well it was no surprise who won, that is all I will say.
The only issue was the parents and how hard they pushed her to study and to get even better grades. I understand why, but come on, be a bit less harsh.
The art was great, I really like the style.
All in all, I had fun reading this one! Would recommend it if you love cooking and kids finding a place to belong.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Cici was such a fun and delightful character and I loved what she did for her father and her grandmother. Joining a cooking competition in the hopes to win enough money for a plane ticket is just the sweetest!
I loved seeing Cici cook and I loved the cooking competition and all that was made during the show. She never gave up, kept practising, kept working hard, kept finding recipes to try out and studying hard to get them perfectly right. The cooking show was really extensive, we see the kids bake/cook, we see what everyone made, and we see them present it to the judges and get the judges to tell what they thought. At times it was a bit too long for me and I would have just liked to see their thoughts on Cici (and in the beginning Miranda). But I guess this did make it feel more a cooking show like you see on TV.
Next to that we see her adjust to school, correct people who call her Chinese or her food Thai. We see her try to make lunch that doesn’t smell to her classmates (which I just found sad to be honest as I would have rather seen her just do her own thing). We see her become friends and learn new things, but also find out that they have a lot in common.
Miranda (her partner in the first rounds of the competition) was an interesting girl. On the one hand I really liked her and loved how she was a magician with knives and cooking, loved how she had something else that she wanted to do and was finding the courage to tell her dad. But on the other hand she was really bossy.
I loved the video calls with grandma, while it also made me sad, because hello, they can only see each other this way, but I am also happy that they got this at least. In another time they would have had to write letters or call via phone and just hear each other.
The ending was super sweet and just had me smiling in happiness. The cooking competition, well it was no surprise who won, that is all I will say.
The only issue was the parents and how hard they pushed her to study and to get even better grades. I understand why, but come on, be a bit less harsh.
The art was great, I really like the style.
All in all, I had fun reading this one! Would recommend it if you love cooking and kids finding a place to belong.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
jujucoop's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
whendles's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
goldenprose's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
dilly_daleyza's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
aikothebookworm's review
4.0
this is probably my favourite graphic novel(theyre not my favourite things) cause it’s not like action, action, action and since I love reading books about cooking competitions.
rai913's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
zabcia's review
4.0
85%
This is a great multi-faceted graphic novel that covered many complex emotions in a relatable manner. Since the cooking competition is the primary plotline feelings of inadequacy in knowledge, uncertainty in your abilities, and building confidence through education are at the forefront. Feelings of loneliness in a new culture, loss of a loved one separated by distance, and addressing conflicting desires in a parent-child relationship are also covered. And the author manages to do all this without making it feel clunky and confusing!
I do think that a book so heavily invested in cooking/baking would've benefited from the inclusion of some recipes mentioned in the book; you get kinda hungry by the end of it, and I think that anyone who is inspired to learn how to cook would greatly appreciate a starting-off point.
This is a great multi-faceted graphic novel that covered many complex emotions in a relatable manner. Since the cooking competition is the primary plotline feelings of inadequacy in knowledge, uncertainty in your abilities, and building confidence through education are at the forefront. Feelings of loneliness in a new culture, loss of a loved one separated by distance, and addressing conflicting desires in a parent-child relationship are also covered. And the author manages to do all this without making it feel clunky and confusing!
I do think that a book so heavily invested in cooking/baking would've benefited from the inclusion of some recipes mentioned in the book; you get kinda hungry by the end of it, and I think that anyone who is inspired to learn how to cook would greatly appreciate a starting-off point.
bravelass85's review
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An inspiring story with sometimes choppy text transitions