What are the essential ingredients that make a family? Eleven-year-old Mo is making up her own recipe in this unforgettable story that’s a little sweet, a little sour, and totally delicious. Nan was all the family Mo ever needed. But suddenly she’s gone, and Mo finds herself in foster care after her uncle decides she’s not worth sticking around for. Nan left her a notebook and advised her to get a hobby, like ferret racing or palm reading. But how could a hobby fix anything in her newly topsy-turvy life Then Mo finds a handmade cookbook filled with someone else’s family recipes. Even though Nan never cooked, Mo can’t tear her eyes away. Not so much from the recipes, but the stories attached to them. Though, when she makes herself a pot of soup, it is every bit as comforting as the recipe notes said. Soon Mo finds herself asking everyone she meets for their family recipes. Teaching herself to make them. Collecting the stories behind them. Building a website to share them. And, okay, secretly hoping that a long-lost relative will find her and give her a family recipe all her own. But when everything starts to unravel again, Mo realizes that if she wants a family recipe—or a real family—she’s going to have to make it up herself.
Awards
A Junior Library Guild Selection ● ALSC Notable Book ● 2023 Golden Poppy Award Finalist ● New York Public Library 2023 Best Book of the Year ● 2023 OWL Awards Middle School Winner ● 2023 Earphones Award Winner ● Pennslyvania “Best of 2023” List ● 2024 Capitol Choices Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens ● 2024-2025 Nebraska Golden Sower Award Nominee ● 2025 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award Nominee ● 2024-2025 Iowa Children's Choice Award Nominee ● 2024-2025 Maine Student Book Award Nominee ● 2024-2025 Vermont Golden Dome Book Award Nominee ● 2025 North Dakota Flicker Tale Book Award Finalist
Reviews
★ “Readers will laugh, cry, and embrace Mo completely as they rejoice at the wonderful twist that leads to a happy new beginning for her. Deeply moving and tender.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ “Mo’s pitch-perfect voice vividly portrays her metropolitan past life with her quirky, vibrant grandmother; her own messy and layered feelings; and her established and growing relationships with others. Watching Mo develop new bonds and begin to feel like she has a place in the world is extremely satisfying.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Mo, imperfections and all, is a winning heroine. To be read with snacks at hand, and perhaps also some tissues.” —The Horn Book
“Will pull at the heart strings of all readers.” —School Library Journal
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