With this unusual memoir, a young chef and restaurateur offers readers a look at his creative process.In a nod to René Magritte's The Treachery of Images, each chapter title begins with the phrase "This Is Not." McGarry, 24, focuses on spaces and objects-among them his bedroom, a beet, and a spoon-he has used in unconventional ways. At 10, he fell in love with food after coming across cookbooks from the French Laundry, Alinea, and Noma. By 13, he had migrated movable countertop tables into his bedroom to work on recipes. As his enthusiasm morphed into all-consuming passion, McGarry's mother elected to home-school him. This path allowed him to help out in a neighborhood cafe and experience a professional kitchen. From hosting lavish dinners in his San Fernando Valley home as a young teen to opening New York City's Gem at 19, McGarry has moved through the world with singular purpose. Vibrant illustrations bring to life McGarry's unique perspective; Dara comically creates a beet-bodied cow as the author describes his beet wellington recipe and a vegetable forest as he discusses foraging. The veggie Mona Lisa sums up his approach to food as art, and while he admits he is a perfectionist, he takes a chapter to remind readers that there is also great beauty in imperfection. McGarry and his family present White in the illustrations; characters of color are also depicted.Like a well-plated meal, this whimsical book will find its reader, who will savor it to its last morsel. (Nonfiction. 10-14)

Gr 5–8— McGarry discovered a love of cooking when he decided to update his family's dinner repertoire. Anecdotal stories of turning his bedroom into a kitchen and creating visual masterpieces pepper this part-memoir/part-inspirational guide. He walks fellow dreamers through the hurdles of following one's passion and embracing creative thinking. A seeming nod to Ren&3; Magritte, each chapter is titled "This is not&30;" and focuses on a specific aspect of cooking that relates to a bigger message about innovation and creative thinking. While the underlying messages, including the need to think outside the box and embrace mistakes, are valuable to young people, there seems to be a lack of awareness of McGarry's general privilege, which might be frustrating for some readers. For example, his parents were entirely supportive of his ventures and helped fund his journey, even allowing him to become homeschooled in pursuit of his dream. Still, one of the most successful chapters discusses the importance of community, partnership, and a diverse team in support of his vision. Dara's illustrations bring the pages to life, with vivid and cheeky scenes such as a combination of beet and cow. And while, as the title states, it is not a traditional cookbook, Flynn includes some recipes for aspiring chefs. VERDICT Overall a cute work, this might still be best suited where cookbooks and food writing among young readers are popular.— Kaitlin Malixi