by Rupert Kingfisher
ages: 8-12
First sentence: “In the city of Paris, on the banks of the river, tucked away from the main street down a narrow winding alley, there is a shop.”
ARC sent by the publisher.

Madeline is the niece of Monsieur Lard, the owner of The Squealing Pig, a (not-so-respected) restaurant in Paris. Lard would love to be a world-renowned chef, famous for his delicacies. Unfortunately, his cooking is, well… bad. Horrible. Awful. And, on top (since it has to be this way), he’s a horrible, awful, bad person as well, treating his dear, sweet niece as a servant in his restaurant. She’s the dishwasher, one that’s often forgotten and much abused. Except, she (in her heart of hearts) would love to be a chef, too.

One day, the restaurant runs out of Monsieur Lard’s favorite (albeit horrible) pâté, Madeline is the only person free to go to the market to get new pâté. She doesn’t go to the market, though; she ends up at Madame Pampelmousse’s shop, a dark, dingy, out-of-the-way place that somehow holds the key to all edible delights. Madeline brings back some new pâté, which infuriates her uncle, until it’s served. It immediately becomes a sensation, and The Squealing Pig the hottest spot in Paris. Except Lard is unhappy with this turn of events, and he’s determined to get the recipe, so he sends Madeline in as a (unwilling) spy. What she discovers, there, is a whole new world, as well as a new way of cooking.

It’s a very cute story and a very cute book — from the way the story is told as well as the illustrations. I loved the touch of magical realism, how the food is magic, but only just-so, and only for those who truly deserve it. It was fun to read; funny in some parts, but mostly just smile-inducing. The book made me happy.

I kept wondering, though, who would read this. I’m not sure it would appeal to an eight year old — there are difficult words (how many third graders know pâté?), as well as the occasional “damn” that might put parents off, not to mention an odd (if cute) sort of storyline. But, it’s too spare and simple for an older reader; M had no interest in reading it, and not just because she goes in for food books. And it’s almost too bad that it has no built-in audience. Because it’s truly a little gem.