Nixie Ness: Cooking Star (After-School Superstars #1)

In the sugar-dusted opening scene of this engaging series debut, Nixie Ness observes that "the only thing better than baking cupcakes was baking cupcakes on a Friday afternoon with your best friend in the whole world." Mills (the Franklin School Friends series) spices things up with a turn of events that rocks Nixie's sweet world. Her mother starts a new job, and her best friend Grace (whose parents work outside the home) is now spending afternoons not with Nixie, but at the house of another third grader, Elyse (who has an adorable new pet). Nixie's response to this news captures her theatrical flair: "Elyse's house? With Elyse and her kitten?" Nixie begrudgingly attends an after-school cooking camp, where she masterminds botched plans to win Grace back. Mitigating that drama is Nixie's deepening rapport with three fellow cooking campers--perfectionist Vera, brainy Nolan, and cut-up Boogie--who expand her definition of friendship and her appreciation of differences. Zong's (Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas) fetching cover illustration of sloppy chef Nixie is an auspicious foreshadowing of the final interior art, not seen by PW. A recipe concludes. Ages 7-10. (June)

Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 2-5—Third grade comes to an abrupt halt when Nixie Ness is forced to attend the after-school program because her mother is going back to work. What will happen to all the memorable afternoons Nixie was going to spend with her BFF Grace? Unfortunately, Grace cannot attend the after-school program, and, to Nixie's dismay, she will be spending time with another classmate, Elyse, and her cuddly kitten. Although Nixie attends the program reluctantly, she eventually finds she is capable of making new friends. Cooking Camp turns out to be a blast, and Nixie surprises herself by opening up to new possibilities. Vera, Boogie Bass, and Nolan turn out to be reliable friends, ones Nixie would probably not have bothered to get to know if she hadn't been a part of the camp. Nixie also realizes that Elyse is not out to steal Grace away from her and finds contentment in knowing that friendship comes in many varieties. VERDICT Young readers will easily relate to this wholesome look at early friendships and conflicts.—Martha Rico, Yselta ISD, TX

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Likable Nixie creates a terrific recipe for winning back old friends and making lots of new ones."—Kirkus Reviews

"Young readers will easily relate to this wholesome look at early friendships and conflicts." —School Library Journal

"Claudia Mills handles the tricky subject of friendship gracefully. Young readers will relate well to the feelings Nixie experiences while figuring out what friendship is and how to keep it." —School Library Connection

"Humorous vignettes from cooking class lighten the story, with the kids Nixie meets there gently helping her to both figure out how to broaden her friend group and discover the power of apologies, grand gestures, and honest conversation. Expressive black-and-white illustrations give newer chapter-book readers time to pause and process the events and maybe consider their own friendship dramas." —The Horn Book