What a pleasure to read about Sara & Elizabeth’s struggles and rewards of friendship, & how cultural differences enhance our life not detract from it. Excellent MG story. ( )

This is a story where two people with different backgrounds and all the differences that accompany them. Sara and Elizabeth were two people they had never imagined themselves to be friends with. It started when Els took a cooking class specifically for South Asian cuisine and Sara who tag along her mother as a teacher in the cooking class. From there they started interacting.

Sara with the racist problems she has to face that makes her have a fortress that she builds because she's different, as well as financial problems that she thinks about (even though her mother and father have asked Sara not to worry about it because it is an 'adult' problem), then her love for art and her reluctance when cooking.

Elizabeth with family problems as well, a mother who feels deep sadness because her grandmother left in England, her father who is rarely home, also with her friendship with Maddy.

Sara and Elizabeth both have their own struggles, but in the middle they finally learn that they can find a friendship with each other, learn how their respective families are, and how they deal with each other's problems. Also apologizing and forgiving, character development for the better and learning from mistakes.

I think this novel is good, the narration is easy to digest, the word processing in the scene can make you emotional when reading it, as well as the warm feeling it conveys. Each character has its own portion. And there are some values ​​that can be applied in your daily life.

Like a quote from this book:

"... We shouldn't judge food until we try it. Just because it's different doesn't mean it's less delicious."

( )

Sweet gentle read of family and friendship. ( )

SO AWESOME! I love this book and it is one of my favorites. It i full of passion and love for friendship, and I read it over and over again.

AWESOMEEE!!!

Pakistani Muslim Sara and British-Jewish Elizabeth meet in a school cooking class where they gradually navigate friendship, family problems, and fitting in. A delicious blend of serious themes (racism, mental illness, financial insecurity) and classic sixth-grade angst, told in vivid alternating voices. (Sydney Taylor Middle Grade Notable Book) ( )