Julia's Kitchen by Brenda A. Ferber

Man, do I love books about food. And even better, about cookies! Unfortunately most cookies in my house have chocolate in them so therefore I can only resort to smelling them as they are being eaten. So, with a picture of a big cookie on the front cover, made this dachshund salivate like I was one of Pavlov's pets. However, upon reading this book, cookies were far from the subject of importance.
Julia's Kitchen is about young eleven year old Cara who came up with the name of her mother's catering business, Julia's Kitchen. Cara's mother and sister are tragically killed in a house fire while she was spending the night as a friend's house, only her father survived. Cara is forced not only to cope with the loss of half her family, but also the way that everyone around her is dealing with the loss as well. Her father goes into a sort of depression and begins to ignore Julia and if it wasn't for the help of her best friend, Marlee, Cara may have slipped into a depression as well. This story is about makng the most out of life and making sure that it continues even in the face of such a tragedy. Along with grieving, Cara blames herself for not being home and is desperately wanting answers from her father as to why he was the only survivor. As part of her coping techniques, Cara decides to continue the catering business that her mother was so successful .
In Ferber's first novel, she takes us into the details and thoughts of the main character, Cara. The author seems to make an emphasis on all those people who are around to support those coping with a loss. Cara is constantly surrounded by very loving and caring people although she doesn't realize it at the time. Although at times, the characters seemed to separate themselves from each other due to the loss, it was the loss that brings them closer than ever.
Throughout the novel, the Jewish religion in integrated nicely. Often times children's literature skirts around the idea, but this novel uses the religion as some what of a teaching tool or introduction to some customs associated with it. There is a nice glossary at the back of the book to help give more detail to each Hebrew word. It shows us that religion is a part of a child's life and their thoughts, questions, and in Cara's case, doubts, about it are abundant.
I am giving Brenda Ferber's debut novel

I am very impressed with her rookie effort and although there were no references to dogs in the story only a couple of cats, one of which also died in the fire. I think students will be interested and will feel sorry for Cara and her situation. I highly recommend this novel to young readers.

Now, let me see if I can sneak some cookies.

-The Happy (and Hungry) Dachshund

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux (2006)
ISBN: 978-0-374-39932-0
Price: $16.00

* 2008 William Allen White Master List - Elementary