Gr 4-7 Twelve-year old Thomas Gagné hasn't seen his mother since his fifth birthday, and he has many unanswered questions. Why did she leave? Why was she crying that last night when she made poutine (a traditional French Canadian dish with french fries, fresh cheese curds, and gravy) and sang "Happy Birthday" as she stuck five pine green candles in the middle of the plate? Thomas decides to make the biggest poutine in the world and set a new record in The Guinness Book of World Records . Surely that will bring his mother back. What follows is a poignant story about a boy who wants desperately to be noticed, not just by his absent mother but by a father who refuses to even mention her. Along the way, readers are introduced to a fun cast of characters who participate in the poutine project, including Sam, Thomas's best friend; Elie Ladouceur, whose mom owns a cheese shop; "Fat Frank," who sells french fries from his truck; and the wacky mayor Thérèse Tartatcheff, who doesn't want a giant poutine created in the city arena, because it is considered unhealthy food. Readers will delight in chapters where Thomas, Elie, and Sam "borrow" the mayor's beloved parrot in an effort to win her sympathy and support for their project. The novel offers a solid introduction to French Canadian culture and is peppered with equal amounts of prose (including text and email communications between characters) and illustrations. As the story progresses, the mystery surrounding Thomas's mother is slowly revealed and readers will celebrate Thomas's success. VERDICT Guaranteed to make youngsters crave a bite of poutine, this is a funny and tender coming-of-age story. Anne Jung-Mathews, Plymouth State University, NH