The Truth about Twinkie Pie

by Kat Yeh

Overview

In this quirky, heartwarming coming-of-age novel, two sisters have their lives changed after winning a national cooking contest that takes them to a new town filled with new adventures—and challenges.

Take two sisters making it on their own: brainy twelve-year-old GiGi and junior-high-dropout-turned-hairstylist DiDi. Add a million dollars in prize money from a national cooking contest and a move from the trailer parks of South Carolina to the North Shore of Long Island. Mix in a fancy new school, a first crush, new friends and enemies, and a generous sprinkling of family secrets.

That's the recipe for The Truth About Twinkie Pie, a voice-driven middle-grade debut about the true meaning of family and friendship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316236591
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	01/27/2015
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Lexile:	730L (what's this?)
File size:	894 KB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Kat Yeh is the author of the critically acclaimed middle grade novels The Truth About Twinkie Pie and The Way to Bea. She grew up reading, writing, and dreaming in Westtown, Pennsylvania. She currently lives with her family on Long Island. Learn more about Kat at katyeh.com.

Editorial Reviews

10/01/2014
Gr 6 Up—GiGi (short for Galileo Galilei, a name given in the hope that she would one day become a scientist) moves in with her sister DiDi (short for Delta Dawn) after DiDi wins one million dollars in a cooking show contest. DiDi, who, in the aftermath of their Mama's death, functions as a mother figure for GiGi, is a school drop-out hairstylist. She wants the best for GiGi, so she pulls up their trailer park roots and replants them in expensive New York where brainy GiGi can go to the best private school. GiGi expects to be out of her element in this new environment, until she literally trips her way into a friendship with the coolest boy in school. Trouble is, that friendship also earns her the enmity of mean girl Mace. But when Mace hits it off with DiDi better than GiGi ever has, it's confusing. Then there's the fact that Mama may not be dead after all. While the ending may not exactly surprise, getting there is a delight. GiGi's voice keeps the story light and humorous, in spite of seventh-grade drama and misperceptions. Sprinkled with comfort food recipes for Twinkie Pie, Madder'n Heck Smashed Potatoes, and Tangled-Up Pie (made with spaghetti), and down-home commentary, the plot moves at a steady pace. Endearing characters will keep readers engaged throughout as more than one character learns the true meanng of family and friendship. Recommended for middle school and YA collections.—Katherine Koenig, The Ellis School, PA

School Library Journal

*"Yeh's characters are full of heart and she perfectly captures the middle school parent-child dynamic."
—Library Media Connection (starred review)

"The bouncy voice of protagonist Gigi—aka Galileo Galilei, aka Leia—makes her tale of a move, friendship, crushes, and a mystery about her identity a very easy one to get caught up in."
—Booklist

"Filled with enough characters and plot for two novels, Yeh's nimbly voiced, combination fish-out-of-water, personal transformation and emotional family tale is also stuffed with charm."
—Kirkus Reviews

"This story will tug at your heart strings and make you hungry at the same time."
—VOYA

"Endearing characters will keep readers engaged throughout as more than one character learns the true meaning of family and friendship."
—School Library Journal

From the Publisher