From the Publisher
"Food descriptions and attention to preparatory details pop as Negron serves up a toothsome tale filled with insight into the unseen obstacles even idols face, accented by commentary on poverty and different forms that family can assume." — Publishers Weekly
"With a winning concept, and full of humor and hijinks, middle grade readers are going to eat up THE LAST SUPER CHEF. A truly delightful read that is packed with so much heart." — Jasmine Warga, New York Times bestselling author of Other Words for Home
“This book had me grinning ear to ear from page one to the very end. There might have been a tear or two shed as well. Chris Negron is fast becoming one of my favorite voices in middle grades fiction.” — Greg Howard, author of The Whispers
"Perfect for fans of Chopped Junior." — Kirkus Reviews
PRAISE FOR DAN UNMASKED: “Dan Unmasked is a grand slam of a debut: timeless, moving, and filled to the brim with heart. I can’t stop thinking about it.”
— Becky Albertalli, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
"Dan Unmasked is about sports and comics but also about the complicated nature of guilt and grief and the healing power of community. A beautiful new addition to the middle grade canon."
— Aisha Saeed, New York Times bestselling author of Amal Unbound
"Stirringly hits every despairing low and thrilling high of a sports movie."
— Kirkus Reviews
Aisha Saeed
"Dan Unmasked is about sports and comics but also about the complicated nature of guilt and grief and the healing power of community. A beautiful new addition to the middle grade canon."
Greg Howard
This book had me grinning ear to ear from page one to the very end. There might have been a tear or two shed as well. Chris Negron is fast becoming one of my favorite voices in middle grades fiction.
Jasmine Warga
"With a winning concept, and full of humor and hijinks, middle grade readers are going to eat up THE LAST SUPER CHEF. A truly delightful read that is packed with so much heart."
Becky Albertalli
PRAISE FOR DAN UNMASKED: “Dan Unmasked is a grand slam of a debut: timeless, moving, and filled to the brim with heart. I can’t stop thinking about it.”
Kirkus Reviews
2021-04-30
A fifth grader hopes that winning a cooking competition will provide for his mother and connect him to his father.
Curtis Pith has been obsessed with Lucas Taylor, TV’s Super Chef, ever since the day his beleaguered mother hinted that the man was actually Curtis’ father. It’s always been just the three of them—Curtis, his mom, and his little sister, Paige—struggling to make ends meet while his mom works a series of low-end jobs. Curtis already uses his impressive culinary skills, selling cupcakes to help them make rent. When the Super Chef announces he’s closing his career with a contest to crown a kid in a show entitled The Last Super Chef, Curtis finds himself in a televised competition with four other young chefs: Kiko from Japan; Bo from Mexico; Pepper from Boston, who is cued as Black; and another White boy, Joey, from Chicago. But his biggest competition may be himself, as the emotional impact of his father’s neglect overwhelms him at the worst possible times. Curtis is an appealing narrator, and both his kitchen dexterity and family relationships ring true. The supporting cast isn’t as finely drawn, however, and certain scenes—such as Curtis filming his audition video in his landlord’s kitchen—veer toward farce in a way that weakens the book’s emotional impact. It’s awfully wordy, as well—trimming the fat would have improved the overall meal.
Perfect for fans of Chopped Junior. (Fiction. 8-12)
