The Sweetest Thing

Gr 7 Up—Sheridan Wells, aka "Cake Girl," would rather spend Friday nights decorating her tasty creations at her grandmother's bakery than going to parties. Content behind the counter, the Michigan teen's junior year is turned upside down when her chef and restaurateur dad lands his own cooking show on ExtremeCuisine TV. Now she's expected to move to New York City and maybe even spend time in front of the camera herself. More importantly, however, that means she won't be in her hometown if and when her long-absent mother finally decides to return. Self-absorbed and melodramatic, Sheridan is believable, but only mildly likable. Her romantic interests are less realistic and behave more like 40-year-old men than teenage boys. Nonetheless, there is plenty of family and relationship drama, and the goings-on might appeal to nondiscriminating teens.—Richelle Roth, Boone County Public Library, KY