Review by Booklist Review
Tess has a knife in her gut. Not started-a-new-school-for-eighth-grade nerves or misses-her-late-dad emotions but a sharp pain that sends Tess fleeing to the toilet at the most inopportune moments. Tess is a skilled baker, a former finalist in the Jubilee Flour Junior Baker West Coast Competition, and a contender for their tenth anniversary Best of the Best Bake-off. Unfortunately, even her best ginger layer cake can't quiet wry Tess' digestive turmoil and "the Knife," as Tess calls it, which ultimately lands her in the hospital with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease. Debut author Wyatt lends personal insight about living with Crohn's and writes seamlessly with coauthor (and Newbery Honor Book winner) Larson. Baking plays a huge role in Tess' story and frames the plot's empathetic climax, making this a good match for fans of food competition tales like Lily LaMotte's Measuring Up (2020) and a natural pairing for Jake Maia Arlow's The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet (2023). A frank, sensitive window into life with inflammatory bowel disease and a welcome representation of chronic illness.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Eighth grader Tess Medina is wrestling with the death of her father three years prior. She throws herself into baking, hoping it will keep her close to him, since he taught her everything she knows. Maybe it will even score her some friends. When she's invited to compete in the Jubilee Flour 10th Anniversary Junior Baker West Coast competition, though, Tess hesitates. Money is tight enough as it is without trying to afford practice ingredients and other preparation necessities, her grades are so poor her mother might not let her go anyway, and the last time she participated in the competition, her dad died during the event. Complicating matters more is the sharp pain in her stomach that causes Tess discomfort and prompts frequent trips to the bathroom. Bolstered by new friends, Tess starts a dog-walking job and begins preparing for the competition. But as the physical pain worsens, she struggles to continue pretending that everything is okay. Larson (the Shermy and Shake series) and debut author Wyatt depict Tess's eventual Crohn's disease diagnosis with empathy and insight inspired by Wyatt's own experiences. Tess's engaging and humorous voice tempers melancholy explorations of grief, as when Tess texts her dad's old phone even as she hides her sadness from her family. Tess defaults to white; supporting characters are racially diverse. Ages 8--12. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary. (Mar.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3--7--Larson revealed in an SLJ guest post she needed 10 years of convincing by daughter Wyatt to write this book; she eventually agreed only if they worked together. The duo transform Wyatt's Crohn's disease experience into a richly layered story far beyond an excruciating diagnosis. Versatile Taylor warmly imbues the memorable cast with vibrantly distinct personalities (though we'll pretend she didn't garble Simon Nguyen's name twice). Tess's first-person narration allows Taylor to channel her protagonist's expansive emotional growth. Being the new kid in eighth grade is hard; to feel less alone, Tess sends her late father texts. She's an accomplished baker--"Dad 2.0"--but lately, most foods feel like knives shredding her insides. Learning she has Crohn's is devastating, but family and friends--particularly new bestie Elly--help Tess live, laugh, and bake delectably. VERDICT Readers with physical disabilities will find instant resonance here; any teen or tween reader will also likely appreciate.
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Review by Horn Book Review
Tess's family just moved, and she is happy to start eighth grade in a school where no one knows her dad passed away three years ago. Sharing homemade treats -- her dad taught her how to bake -- helps win friends, and she's invited to return to a youth baking competition that holds both positive and painful memories. But worsening stomachaches since the move have forced her to create a lengthy "do-not-eat" list. The pain in her gut that she first compares to a woodpecker rapidly upgrades to a porcupine ("with laser-sharp quills") and then to "the Knife." Tess is sure her can-do attitude and sense of humor will pull her through, but when competition preparation wears her out so much that she passes out in school, she must finally fess up to family and friends about her stomach issues to enlist their help. The story offers a realistic and often funny portrayal of middle school life and treats grief and chronic illness sensitively and with a light touch. Tess is an endearing character with an equally likable support network. The appended "Letter from Kirby and Quinn" explains how the mother-and-daughter team were careful to include accurate details about living with Crohn's disease based on Wyatt's own experience with the illness. Monica de los ReyesMay/June 2024 p.145 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A young baker battles inflammatory bowel disease in this collaboration between debut author Wyatt, who has Crohn's disease, and her mother, award-winning author Larson. Tess Medina, who's starting eighth grade at a new school, is grieving the loss of her father, who owned a bakery and inspired her: "I am Dad 2.0." While she finds comfort in the kitchen, her loneliness grows alongside her recent, increasingly severe, gastrointestinal pain, which feels like there's a woodpecker or porcupine in her abdomen. Fortunately, Tess' baking skills help her find a new group of quirky friends, helping to soothe memories of lost friendships from the "before-time." A scary, mortifying bathroom emergency leads to a diagnosis of Crohn's disease, which Tess cannot bear to reveal to her friends. A few plot threads feel unresolved once the story switches to focus on Tess as she enters a prestigious junior baking competition. As the high-pressure action builds, her urgent trips to the bathroom continue. Though Dad died three years ago, he remains a strong guiding presence in Tess' life; her mom demonstrates steady concern and support. New friend Elly reminds Tess, "The thing is, everyone has something wonky, right? …You can't be human without being messed up in some way." The book's message is clear: It takes courage to reveal your weaknesses, and it takes kindness to accept them in others. Tess reads white; names cue ethnic diversity in the supporting cast. A compassionate exploration of living with chronic illness. (authors' note) (Fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
