Rated of 5
by Linda S. (Burlingame, CA) The Kitchen Daughter
It took me a few chapters before I started enjoying this book about a young woman whose parents recently died. I felt manic reading the heroine's behaviour (Asperger's Syndrome) in the beginning but I finally realized this was how the character felt all the time. The parts with ghosts and magic realism were wonderful but they did not continue through the book which I would have wanted - because the mystery, to me, was never answered. Despite the quirks, the writer has a wonderful sense of humor and the ending was touching.
Rated of 5
by Cindy M. (W. Reading, PA) Comfort Food
Jael McHenry creates an unlikely heroine in a socially awkward younger sister who, after the death of her parents, needs to adapt to the new terms of life laid before her. As she and her sister sift through their parents possessions, she comes to understand them and herself in new ways. The conflicts that emerge forge new relationships with her sister and those around her. This is a magical and heartwarming coming-of-age story not without its sad moments. You will want to have a full pantry when you read this. McHenry's descriptions of cooking, the recipes, the scents, and preparation will lead you straight to your own kitchen.
Rated of 5
by Marcia F. (Batavia, IL) "The Kitchen Daughter"
"The Kitchen Daughter" is not a difficult read; as a matter of fact it can easily be read, completed and enjoyed in one sitting. However, I enjoyed it best by only reading several chapters at a time, thereby, savoring all that I had just read. I am an avid cook and really enjoyed everything described in food terms as well as the recipes (several I have made - delicious)! Being a Hospice volunteer, I related to Ginny's, Amanda's, David's and Gert's grief. This book will be an excellent read for Book Clubs as there are so many different directions the discussions can go. I really enjoyed reading "The Kitchen Daughter".
Rated of 5
by Paula F. (Atlanta, GA) Echoes of The Little Giant of Aberdeen County
The Kitchen Daughter is ultimately a story that questions what, or who, is normal and who has the right to make that determination. It suggests that all of us are wounded in one way or another. Ginny Selvaggio, a young woman with Asperger's Syndrome forced to deal with life after her sheltering parents die unexpectedly, reminds me of Truly Plaice, the title character in Tiffany Baker's The Little Giant of Aberdeen County. Both realize that they are different from others, both have more "normal" sisters, and both have mystical powers. The Kitchen Daughter is very well written and would make a good book club selection. I would also recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Little Giant.
Rated of 5
by Lynn R. (Dixon, IL) Review From a Foodie Librarian
I liked this book more for the subject than the quality of the writing. Expressing emotions through food and developing characters through recipes was very creative. The voice of the main character, Ginny, was inconsistent and sometimes not believable but she was an interesting character. This books reminds me of Jonathan Foer's quirky style.
Rated of 5
by Margot T. (Naples, Florida) Inside Asperger's
Is it medically possible for someone with Asperger's Syndrome to develop real insight into her condition and report it with such accuracy as does Ginny Selvaggio? That was the question that kept haunting me as I read this wonderfully realized story of a young woman caught in her own problem. This is a fascinating story. The characters are very well drawn and the drama of Ginny's life, limited as it is, is very well portrayed. I particularly enjoyed her relationship with David although it ended tragically and the way she learned to be involved in her sister's and nieces' lives.
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of 5
by Linda S. (Burlingame, CA) 
of 5
by Marcia F. (Batavia, IL) 
