MY CUP RUNNETH OVER

A short look at the life of Angel, a chatty new English voice à la Georgia Nicolson, which focuses on weight, food, friendship, and the all-important subject of BOYS. Liberal use of capital letters, funny commentary, and line-sketch illustrations every few pages make this an enjoyably easy read, with eight real recipes sprinkled throughout to tempt first-time cooks. Angel moans and worries over her size, which is bigger than that of her three loving best friends (each of whom has her own insecurities); Mother’s snide comments about “gallumphing” don’t help, and sweet but crazy father, Potty, is unconditionally supportive but too, well, potty to really help. What’s the solution? An all-cabbage diet? But Angel relishes food and wants to be a chef. This fast-moving first-person tale, descended at least partly from Eloise, leaves diets in the dust and wonders, just maybe, could the answer lie in a really good bra? (recipes) (Fiction. 10-14)