Money problems have always plagued the Pith family - mom, Curtis, 11, and fourth grade sister, Paige. Curtis, who is the family cook and wants to be a chef when he grows up, creatively makes due with whatever food they can afford, but it just never seems to be enough.
Naturally, Curtis' favorite TV show is Super Chef, starring world renowned chef Lucas Taylor. Not only is Chef Taylor an amazing cook, but Curtis is also convinced that he is his father, thanks to a causal remark his mother made when he was in 2nd grade and asked about his absent, unknown father.
Now, Curtis' mom has been fired, their greedy landlord is after the rent money owed him and it is announced that once the new cooking champ is crowned that will be the end of Super Chef. BUT, a culinary contest called The Last Super Chef is announced and this show will feature only five kid competitors instead of adults. And the winner will receive $250,000 with which to do anything they want.
Curtis is determined to become a competitor, but how can he make the required video submission of himself demonstrating his unique cooking talents when the Pith family has so little in the way of food and a kitchen that leave much to be desired? There is only one thing to do - sneak into the landlord's super stocked, fully equipped kitchen and have his best friend Tre record him.
But when Curtis finds himself one of the five kid competitors, he discovers that there is more to cooking and life than he ever expected to experience. Staying in a set up high above the television studio, the kid competitors - Kiko Tanaka from Japan, Pepper Carmichael from Boston, Joey Modestino from Chicago, and Bo Agosto from Mexico, and of course, Curtis- are isolated from family and the rest of the world.
The Last Super Chef isn't a weekly elimination contest. Instead, the kids will accrue points and the one with the greatest number of points will be the winner, to be announced on Thanksgiving. Additionally, each week, one competitor meets with Chef Taylor, who takes them to various New York restaurants to get to know them better. Things don't go well for Curtis, who is upset and angry that Taylor won't acknowledge that he is his father, causing Curtis to have a hard time controlling his anxiety and his feeling of resentment that Chef Taylor had the means to help the Pith family out and just ignored them. Curtis, it turns out, has much to learn about himself, who he really is and what he really wants out of life.
The Last Super Chef is kind of a fun book that tackles some serious issues. Curtis' yearning for a father who can help his family out is understandable, and so is his fixation of Chef Taylor to fill that spot. His anger at the chef may be misplaced, but is also understandable until the truth comes out. Yet, Curtis manages to grow emotionally despite the disappointments and setbacks he faces. His experiences aren't without their positive aspects, however. And, of course, there is the reason why Chef Taylor is retiring at the top of his game. Even though Chef Taylor is hero status is in flux for Curtis, can he help the Chef face his own future after learning the reason for the sudden retirement plans?
This novel has a nice premise to it and is perfect for kids who like cooking, cooking shows, and/or characters they can easily relate to.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was gratefully received from the author.
Sounds like fun! I also like books about kids who love to cook and the inclusion of some more serious topics makes me think I should check this one out.
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