About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when their child is navigating the messy, often painful complexities of middle-grade friendships, particularly feelings of jealousy or the sting of being left out. It is a gentle yet profound guide for children who are struggling to balance a deep, long-term bond with the new social pressures that arise as they grow up. The story focuses on twelve-year-old Rosie and her best friend Bailey, who is blind, as they navigate a rift caused by a new girl in school. Through the rhythmic process of making soup and pasta with her Italian grandmother, Rosie learns that friendship is like a recipe that requires patience and the right ingredients. Granny Torrelli shares stories from her own past to help Rosie process her possessiveness and anger without ever being preachy. It is a warm, kitchen-table read that models how to move past hurt feelings and apologize with sincerity. The book is perfectly suited for ages 8 to 12, offering a safe space to discuss how to keep old friendships strong while making room for new ones.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
None. The book deals with interpersonal conflict and typical childhood jealousy in a very safe, supportive environment.
Ideal Reader
An 11-year-old who is experiencing the first 'cracks' in a childhood friendship and needs a gentle way to process feelings of possessiveness or exclusion.
Parent Prep
This is a safe 'read cold' book. Parents might want to have soup ingredients on hand, as the sensory descriptions of cooking are very evocative and likely to inspire a kitchen session. A child coming home from school saying, 'I don't have a best friend anymore,' or showing uncharacteristic anger toward a long-time playmate.
Age Experience
Younger readers (8-9) will focus on the 'how-to' of the friendship fight and the fun of the cooking. Older readers (11-12) will better grasp the nuance of Granny's stories and the subtle shifts in Rosie's emotional maturity.
What Makes It Special
Sharon Creech uses a unique, sparse, and rhythmic prose style that feels like a conversation. The integration of food as a vehicle for reflection makes the emotional processing feel accessible and comforting.
Read plot summary
Rosie and Bailey have been inseparable neighbors for years. Bailey is blind, and Rosie has always felt a sense of protective ownership over him. When a new girl enters the picture and shows interest in Bailey, Rosie's jealousy flares, leading to a significant rift. Rosie retreats to her grandmother's kitchen, where Granny Torrelli uses the sensory experience of cooking traditional Italian food to draw out Rosie's feelings. Through parallel stories of Granny's own childhood friendships in Italy, Rosie gains the perspective needed to reconcile with Bailey and understand that their bond is resilient enough to include others.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Granny Torrelli says, 'I'm not just making soup, I'm making memories.' How does the act of cooking help Rosie talk about things that are hard to say?
2
Why does Rosie feel so angry when Pringle tries to help Bailey? Is her anger really about Pringle, or is it about something else?
3
Granny Torrelli tells stories about her friend Pardo from when she was a girl in Italy. How do these stories help Rosie see her own situation with Bailey differently?
4
In the book, Rosie and Bailey have a 'secret language.' Why is it important for friends to have things that only they understand, and what happens when that feels threatened?
5
Think about the scene where they finally make the pasta together. How does working on a task together help them fix their friendship?
