ALA Booklist (Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2020)

Newly transplanted to Seattle, 12-year-old Cici does her best to blend in at her new middle school, even though she misses her beloved A-má, her paternal grandmother who she left back in Taiwan. Cici is desperate to bring her grandmother to America for a visit, but how to pay for it? A local cooking contest with a $1,000 grand prize might be the answer, but will her favorite Taiwanese dishes be enough to win over the judges? This sweet, family-oriented graphic novel celebrates cultural traditions and new beginnings in equal measure. Cici is good at making friends and adjusting to American culture, but she also celebrates her Taiwanese roots, finding joy and balance in both. First-time author LaMotte brings an obvious love of food and cooking to a positive story that aspiring young chefs will devour. Xu's manga-influenced full-color illustrations set a gentle tone to this highly appealing story of new beginnings.

Horn Book (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

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. Niki Marion

Kirkus Reviews

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)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Twelve-year-old Cici-s life in Taiwan is upended when her parents decide to immigrate to Seattle in this full-color contemporary graphic novel debut. Saying goodbye to her friends is difficult, but leaving her beloved caretaker, cook, and paternal grandmother, A-Má, is much worse. Determined to bring A-Má over to celebrate her 70th birthday, Cici decides to enter Platinum Jr. Chef, a six-round Saturday cooking competition at a local cooking store with a $1,000 prize. Tensions arise as Cici struggles to navigate American-style cooking, new friendships, and her schoolwork, but encouragement from A-Má via video chats (and from Julia Child, via a recommendation from Cici-s favorite librarian) keeps her focused. LaMotte-s accessible writing resonates in sketching a diaspora experience (-When people see us, no matter how American we become, they always see someone who-s not like them. We always have to prove ourselves first-), and Xu-s simple, inviting illustrations will charm young readers. Familiar ingredients-the lunch box moment, disagreements over grades and goals, and cultural alienation scenes-make an appearance, but in LaMotte and Xu-s capable hands, the result is heartwarming fare that will appeal to all. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. Author-s agents: Laura Rennert, Andrea Brown Literary. Illustrator-s agent: Susan Graham, Einstein Literary. (Oct.)