Sunday, February 28, 2010

Hot Lunch by Alex Bradley

Title: Hot Lunch
Author: Alex Bradley
Year of Publication: 2007
Genre: YA
Pages: 276
First Line: "True, there was a moment, right after Ms. Valeri had explained the assignment and announced that everyone should select a writing partner, when I knew I should pay attention and at least try to find a partner who I didn't hate."
Summary: Got lunch? If you don't, you'll have to eat the hot lunch, and that's risky business these days with the new additions int he kitchen: Molly and Cassie are cooking.

Molly is a blue-haired sophomore who can't stand most of her classmates at her hippie-run high school, Sunshine Day. She especially can't stand Cassie, mostly because Cassie is blond and perky and just too normal. When Molly and Cassie are forced to collaborate on a school project, however, their bickering escalates into a FOOD FIGHT in the cafeteria. But because Sunshine Day isn't your average high school, the girls' punishment isn't detention--it's to work in the cafeteria as lunch ladies.

Their only hope of escape is to actually cook good food and earn their way out. But they'll also have to cook up a way to get along in order to get themselves out of the kitchen.

Source: Back of book



Review: This book wasn't great but it wasn't awful. Some parts were pretty good and a certain aspect of the book was fairly unpredictable. Half-way through I realized it might have been a little bit better if Maureen Johnson had written it, but I enjoyed the "hands-on" reading because it included four recipes, one of which I plan on trying out at some point. The plot was pretty original, except for the Molly-Cassie relationship, which was fairly generic. A little bit preachy but not to the point where it was overly annoying. Worth a look if you've got a slow day.

Worst part: Something was missing from the book. I'm not quite sure what, but I felt like that throughout.

Best part: I really liked the Patty Cable situation. It was similar to a lot of other books, but it seemed totally fresh.

Grade: C+

Other Books by This Author: 24 Girls in 7 Days.

Other Notes: - Alex Bradley is the pseudonym for Jeremy Jackson
- His Alex Bradley blog is pretty funny. There are only three posts but you can find it by searching Alex Bradley on Google.
- He looks a little bit like John Green.






14 / 50 books. 28% done!

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