What was the pandemic of the century like at the start? Thisswift, gripping novelcaptures not only the uncertainty and panic when COVID first emerged in Wuhan, but also how a community banded together. Weaving in the tastes and sounds of the historic city,Wuhans comforting and distinctive cuisine comes to life as the reader follows13-year-old Mei who, through her love for cooking, makes a difference in her community.Written by an award-winning author originally from Wuhan.Grieving the death of her mother and an outcast at school, thirteen-year-old Mei finds solace in cooking and computer games. When her friends grandmother falls ill, Mei seeks out her father, a doctor, for help, and discovers the hospital is overcrowded. As the virus spreads, Mei finds herself alone in a locked-down city trying to find a way to help.Author Ying Chang Compestine draws on her own experiences growing up in Wuhan to illustrate that the darkest times can bring out the best in people, friendship can give one courage in frightening times, and most importantly, young people can make an impact on the world.Readers can follow Meis tantalizing recipes and cook them at home.

 

 

This book is aimed at children at US 3rd grade-7th grade.

This book has been graded for interest at 8-12 years.

There are 208 pages in this book. This book was published in 2022 by HarperCollins Publishers Inc .

Ying Chang Compestine was born and raised in China. She is a national authority on Chinese cuisine and culture and the author of three cookbooks for adults and eight picture books for children. She lives in California with her family. This is her first novel.