Where There's a Whisk

by Sarah J. Schmitt

Overview

Life is what you bake it.

Peyton Sinclaire wants nothing more than to escape her life as a diner waitress in her small, North Florida town and attend culinary school. Top Teen Chef, Food TV's new show that pairs reality TV drama with a fast-paced culinary competition, is her ticket out of her boring future. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make her dreams come true and Peyton is determined to prove to herself, and the world, that where you're born does not determine where you can go. However, once on the show, Peyton quickly discovers that there is more to the competition than just a well-seasoned dish. 

As things start to heat up on and off the set, Peyton will have to prove to the judges that she deserves to win while trying to untangle what is real and what is scripted drama, and decide what she is willing to risk to win before her dreams end up on the chopping block.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780762496815
Publisher:	Running Press Book Publishers
Publication date:	10/12/2021
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 5.60(h) x 1.50(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Sarah Schmitt is a former K-8 school librarian and Youth Service Professional for Teens at a public library who enjoys teaching writing to teens through interactive school visits. She lives near Indianapolis with her husband, two kidlets, and a Houdini-esque pup named Sadie.

Editorial Reviews

"Absolutely delicious! With a dash of humor, a pinch of romance, and a dollop of self-discovery, Sarah J. Schmitt has perfected the recipe for foodie YA. Where There’s a Whisk will leave readers hungry for more from Schmitt!"—Stephanie Kate Strohm, Love à la Mode

"Where There’s A Whisk has all the heart, tension, and drama of a real reality TV cooking show, with an extra heap of lasting friendship on top. My only complaint is that it didn’t come with dessert!"
 —Francesca Zappia, author of Eliza and Her Monsters and Now Entering Addamsville

“Where There’s a Whisk is a fun-filled tale of a teen cooking competition with heaps of tantalizing food and a side helping of drama. You’ll be rooting for Peyton from the get go.”

 —Casie Bazay, author of Not Our Summer

“Set against the simmering backdrop of a reality TV cooking show and featuring a lovable cast of rivals, Where There's A Whisk is unputdownable. I adored the layers of friendship, hope, and behind-the-scenes drama. This book has all the zesty sweetness of the perfect key lime pie.”—Akemi Dawn Bowman, author of Starfish and The Infinity Courts

"A small-town girl with big-city dreams, a cut-throat competition where nothing is what it seems, all mixed together with a sweet romance . . . Where There's A Whisk serves up delicious drama that teen readers will devour."
 —Lisa Maxwell, author of The Last Magician series

Praise for Sarah J. Schmitt and It's a Wonderful Death


"Fun, funny, and full of life."
—Kirkus

"Told in RJ's snarky voice, this delightful debut encompasses elements of A Christmas Carol, It's a Wonderful Life, and Gayle Foreman's If I Stay (2009), while still being unique. . . . The message of standing up to opposition — whether for yourself or for others — is an important life lesson that readers learn alongside RJ. Her story compellingly demonstrates that significance comes from the quality (not quantity) of one's life."—Booklist

"Schmitt's smart, funny novel will keep readers entertained as they follow R.J. on her redemptive path from 'self-absorbed princess' to someone more capable of kindness, while perhaps contemplating their own actions and choices. R.J.'s sarcastic sense of humor sharply counterbalances touching moments as she learns how to live more generously."
—Publishers Weekly

"Full of snark and morality, RJ is a teen girl that many readers will relate to and enjoy getting to know. It is a story of the ultimate takedown of a popular mean girl, but it is then incredibly encouraging. Readers will love RJ's sarcasm and will laugh out loud at some of the depictions of the afterworld. (Who knew Death Himself would be kind of cute?) A book that could have easily become preachy gives just the right amount of redemption. Even though most readers will be dissatisfied with the ending, it is a great addition to any library serving teens."—VOYA

From the Publisher

2021-08-18
A teen reality television cooking competition has as much drama off camera as on.

Peyton Sinclaire leaves small-town Florida for New York City to compete on Top Teen Chef. At stake is the chance to win a full-ride scholarship to the American Culinary Institute, and Peyton plans on using her baking skills to win the top spot. As with any reality show, the castmates eventually realize that what people see on screen is largely manufactured and that they have roles to play. The cast is diverse, including competitors who are Black, Hawaiian, and of Cuban, Italian, and Indian descent—along with Peyton, a White girl who lives in a trailer park. The contestants openly acknowledge that they are being prompted by the producers to fulfill stereotypical roles, but unfortunately the characterization is thin, not going much beyond their surface characteristics. Fans of cooking shows will enjoy the challenges that come with a good dose of accessible foodie lingo. However, rather like the reality TV genre it’s describing, much of the plot lacks substance; there’s not a lot of meat to sink your teeth into in any of the characters’ storylines. Perhaps that’s the point: These shows always have an angle, with little room for originality or spontaneity, and the novel unfortunately does not go much further.

Familiar ingredients that make for bland fare. (Fiction. 13-17)

Kirkus Reviews