Reviewed by: Kate, Age 13 from Indiana

Rating:

This is the 3rd book of a series that is mostly from the point of veiw of Cassandra with some from her friends Max-Ernest and Yo-Yoji. Cass is the descendent of the Joker, who knew the secret to everlasting life. Cass and her friend are part of the society the Joker started: the Terces society that battles the Midnight Sun, who know the secret to long life. Cass’ mom is kidnapped by one of them, a half-blind cook who is searching for the recipe for the chocolate of time. Cass is captured too when she tries to save her mom, and they make her try the partialy done recipe, and she goes back in time to see the Joker but is brought back to present time before she can find out what the secret is.

Featured in "Get In My Belly!"

It falls on Max-Ernest to save them – with a samurai, for Yo-Yoji’s mind has transformed into one of his ancestors.
That’s it for now – I don’t want to spoil too much.

What are you favorite foods or food-related stories?

Submitted by Hahaha me:

Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is my one of my favorite things about Thanksgiving. So you can imagine how furious I was when I kept on falling asleep in the middle of it. Tissues were piled up next to my spot on the floor, right in front of the TV. You’d think that I would be a bit cheered by the smell of squash and turkey drifting into the living room.

But it was just as much of a challenge to smell anything than it was to stay awake.

I was sick on Thanksgiving! Whenever I had to blow my nose I would wince and mutter. “Why of all the days do I have to be sick on Thanksgiving? Maybe I have mono…”

Fortunately, I didn’t, but when we went up to my grandmother’s house to “celebrate” I was stranded on the couch. Hours later I dizzily stumbled over to the table, and tried to eat what had remained. of the meal. It hurt to open my mouth and swallow. “I can’t even eat!” I complained.

The next day I still couldn’t eat. And still the next! Finally, I recovered. Sadly, the leftovers of the Thanksgiving meal was already devoured by then. I tried not to think of it. But when I had to return to school I wore my favorite jeans and realized I had to wear a belt with it because I had gotten skinny from not eating. “I’m supposed to get fatter Thanksgiving break, not thinner!” I moaned. How had I let the yummy once-a-year feast slip through my hands?

Take 1 part mouth-watering food descriptions, stir in 2 parts compelling story-telling, and let simmer. What do you get? Some delicious books involving food (in no particular order):

1. Blue Moose by Daniel Pinkwater (Karen’s pick)
2. The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling (Nancy’s pick)
3. Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath
4. Granny Torrelli Makes Soup by Sharon Creech
5. Chocolate Fever by Robert Kimmel Smith
6. This Book Is Not Good for You by Pseudonymous Bosch
7. Dish series by Diane Muldrow
8. Madame Pamplemousse and Her Incredible Edibles by Rupert Kingfisher
9. My Chocolate Year by Charlotte Herman
10. The Search for Delicious by Natalie Babbitt

If you’ve read any of these, send in your book review. Or send in a review of your favorite book involving food!

UPDATE 3/2/10: We revealed the answer to our Food Mystery Book Theater in the “Get In My Belly” Podcast, so take a listen if you want to know the answer. Or just tune in if you want to hear Karen all but sing (yes, sing) about food.