THIS IS HOW I ROLL: A WISH NOVEL, by Debbi Michiko Florence, Scholastic Inc., Jan. 3, 2023, Paperback, $7.99 (ages 8-12)
A girl chases her dreams of becoming a famous chef in This Is How I Roll, a middle-grade novel by Debbi Michiko Florence.
Susannah Mikami dreams of becoming a famous sushi chef like her dad. And this summer, she plans to learn everything about his traditional kitchen. Only he refuses to teach her, and won’t tell her why. Is it because he doesn’t want her to embarrass him in front of the documentary crew filming at his restaurant? Or worse, because she’s a girl? Either way, Sana decides he’s not the only one who can keep secrets.
So when she meets Koji, a cute boy who wants to help her cook up some trouble in the kitchen — and film online tutorials to show the world her mad skills — Sana is all in. But sneaking around means lying to her parents, something Sana’s never done before. Can she take the heat, or will she get out of the kitchen for good? —Synopsis provided by Scholastic Inc.
This Is How I Roll is a sweet, fast-moving novel that has a lot of heart. It’s perfect for middle readers who are drawn to stories about friendships and crushes against the backdrop of family dynamics.
At the center of the story is Sana, the daughter of a famous sushi chef who loves to be in the kitchen and wants to be just like her dad. But no matter what she does, he seems less than taken with her work. Sana is smart, bright and full of energy. She’s a likeable character with a strong supporting cast.
This Is How I Roll is a fun read for tweens. It’s a strong bridge into young adult.
*This Is How I Roll is a Cybils-nominated book. This review is my opinion and not the opinion of the middle-grade fiction panel as a whole.
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