This Is How I Roll (Wish)

Gr 5-7--Susannah "Sana" Mikami wants to learn to cook great Japanese food, but her father--the chef and owner of a popular sushi restaurant--actively discourages her interest. The 12-year-old finds another resource: one "C.A.B." (cute Asian boy) named Koji Yamada, whose mother gives Sana home-style cooking lessons. But food isn't the only draw for Sana--her crush on Koji grows as the pair spend summer afternoons together making how-to videos featuring her adorable animal sushi rolls. Misunderstandings, half-truths, and lies pile up as Sana evades her mother's questions about her new friends and hides her identity as the daughter of a renowned chef from the Yamadas. Written in a clear, straightforward style, the story includes mouth-watering descriptions of Japanese food, with some Japanese words and phrases woven into the text. Sana and Koji's tween romance includes handholding, planning a date, and a first kiss. Sana enjoys a surprising amount of independence and a decided lack of oversight from her otherwise protective and caring parents, but the family's heartfelt commitment to greater honesty in the future creates a satisfying and believable conclusion. VERDICT Young foodies will enjoy meeting a 12-year-old chef determined to master the art of Japanese cooking in this light tween romance.--Jenny Andrus

Following a surprise move from San Francisco to Piper Bay, 12-year-old Susannah "Sana" Mikami is still adjusting to small-town life. She was hopeful that the move would mean that she and her family would have more time to connect; in the city, her successful parents were often too busy for her. But nothing has changed since the move, especially now that her father runs his own sushi restaurant and a production crew is filming a documentary. Sana wants to be a sushi chef like him, but he discourages her efforts after a past kitchen mishap. While longing for her dad's attention, Sana also crushes on Koji Yamada, a local boy who's resentful of Sana's father's perceived fame. Keeping her connection to her father secret, Sana befriends Koji and his mother, who teaches her Japanese cooking. But the arrival of Koji's friend Haley threatens his and Sana's budding relationship, and Sana fears that her lie will push Koji away for good. Florence (Sweet and Sour) knowledgeably renders tween obsession with Japanese kawaii culture via this sweet, low-conflict story line with a genial, appealing cast. Most characters are Japanese American; Haley cues as white. Ages 8-12. Agent: Tricia Lawrence, Erin Murphy Literary. (Jan.)