LEAVE THE COOKING TO ME

by Judie Angell ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 1, 1990

A sunny book about a hard-working teen and the trust she builds with her overly anxious single mother. Shirley, 15, has long been the chief cook in her family; she gets little help from Mom, a hotshot lawyer, or her wisecracking younger sister. When her best friend Evelyn's mother needs a catered meal for a business dinner, Shirley steps in--with results that lead to her own small catering business. Evelyn pitches in; so do other teen-agers in need of summer work, including a handsome boy named Terry who flatters Shirley's clients. One hitch: Shirley must keep her growing business a secret from her domineering mother, who would otherwise interfere with her plans. She also must keep her identity as business-owner a secret from the clients, who would probably have reservations about a teen-ager catering their affairs. All is revealed one evening, however, when Shirley caters a meal at which her mother is a guest. The sort of easygoing, good-natured read many young adult readers seek in paperback series. Shirley never really has a moment's worry (and neither do readers), but whatever the breezy story lacks in suspense it makes up for in menus.

Pub Date: Feb. 1, 1990

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 192

Publisher: Bantam

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1990

Categories: CHILDREN'S