Dear Julia

This book is fabulous -- the best young adult novel I've read in 10 years. In her customer review, Ms. Horn shows that she doesn't understand the difference between an intervening narrator and authorial voice. Realism is a poor yardstick for judging a farcical novel, but perhaps it is the only one Ms. Horn knows how to use. I found this book hilarious from start to finish, and so did my daughter. And all the major reviews have raved about the writing. I'm sure the makers of the new Julia Child movie would be thrilled to get reviews as good as those that this book has garnered.

I loved this book! From the quirky characters, to the details about French cooking, to the irreverent portrayal of everything from high school dramatics to national politics. It's a book that completely draws you into its world and doesn't let go until the last paragraph. I will remember Elaine Hamilton and Lucida Sans for a long time--and may even invest in a copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking!

This is one of the most delightful, enjoyable, laugh-out-loud, feel-good books I've read in a long time. I read it in one sitting - kept thinking I'd put it down, but couldn't. If you enjoy a winning heroine, a zany and loveable cast of supporting characters, and/or lots of mouth-watering descriptions of food and food preparation, stop wasting your time reading this review and go read this book instead!! Highly and heartily recommended. You won't be sorry.

Elaine Hamilton's greatest desire is to be a chef like Julia Child. She practices her French cooking skills every evening at dinner, and has recipes memorized. She teaches her younger brothers about slicing and peeling. She even writes letters to Julia Child about her cooking, but has been too afraid to send any of them. Most of Elaine's family loves her cooking, but her congresswoman mother has high hopes for her shy daughter and they don't include anything in the kitchen. Isadora Wilhelminetta Fischburger, who has re-named herself Lucida Sans after the font, wishes to be famous. The problem is Lucida doesn't have any stand out talents. Lucida is known around school as the girl in the crazy costumes and wigs who is always trying to be famous. When these two girls meet, the shy Elaine and quirky Lucida quickly become unlikely friends. After hearing about an upcoming contest for a cable access show, Lucida gets the idea that the two should enter with a cooking show, using Elaine's cooking skills and Lucida's ease of being in front of a camera. With the help of Elaine's brothers, the girls set off to fill their deepest ambitions. But they'll battle egotistical boys, idealistic mothers, cooking contests, and the dreaded omelet along the way. Will they get their own cooking show? Will Elaine's mother ever let her be a chef? And will Lucida ever be famous for anything? DEAR JULIA is a charming, fast-paced, feel-good, laugh-out-loud read. The cast of characters are eccentric and fun, including a cross-dressing brother, yoga-practicing father, and a stuck on himself too-handsome actor, who Lucida continually refers to as "her weakness." Elaine is a girl you can't help but cheer for as she learns to stand up for herself and have confidence. Lucida provides immense comic relief, yet also adds depth to the story. Fans of The Food Network will eat this one up. Be sure to add this one to your must-read pile -- just don't read while you're hungry! Reviewed by: Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen

Elaine Hamilton is a wallflower. She's shy, awkward, and desperately doesn't want to go to her mother's alma matar Dartmouth. What she does want is to quietly perfect every recipe in Mastering the Art of French Cooking, attend Smith College, and eventually study at the Cordon Bleu in Paris -- just like her hero Julia Child. A lofty set of ambitions to say the least, but Elaine's mother, a consummate feminist and politician, thinks Elaine is absurd for wanting to "stay at home and slave over a burner." Undeterred, Elaine continues to churn out mouthwatering and complex dishes on a daily basis for her parents and five rambunctious brothers. Until Elaine meets the notorious Lucida Sans (yes, like the font) her only real excitement stemmed from writing unsent letters to Julia documenting her cooking missteps and accomplishments, and marketing trips to local specialty food stores for Parail de Brebis and glacéed fruit. But where Lucida goes, drama and mayhem inevitably follow. Soon Elaine has more adventure in her life than she can possibly handle, including rescuing her eclectic friend from the treacherous clutches of a gorgeous bully, and undertaking the task of auditioning for a televised cooking show. Coming out of her comfort zone does wonders for Elaine and this charming young adult novel culminates in a very whirlwind and whimsical way that I found quite satisfying. I absolutely loved the detailed cooking scenes throughout the book. Admittedly, it did take me a few chapters to warm up to Elaine's verbose manner but eventually I found myself heartily rooting for her to stand up to her overbearing mother, break out of her shell, and succeed at her culinary dreams.