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Sassy

The Dazzle Disaster Dinner Party
by Sharon M. Draper
140p. 978-0-54507-154-3.
COPY ISBN
Gr 3—5—Sassy's fourth-grade class has an assignment to research a topic and experience it, then present it to their fellow students. The whole school is intrigued when a mysterious limo appears, bringing a shy and sad-looking new girl, Lillian. When Sassy and her friends welcome her, she begins to emerge from her shell, and Sassy decides to research recipes and throw a dazzling dinner party at her house. She succeeds in talking her mom into it by promising that nothing she makes will involve cooking. She invites her entire class and must combat her brother's sock- and food-eating dog; an electricity outage that threatens her frozen foods; a purple kitchen; and the possible disappearance of Lillian. As in the earlier tales, the protagonist's sparkly "Sassy sack" contains everything she needs to counter any dilemma. Themes of loyalty and friendship run throughout as Lillian finds a place she can belong, and Sassy and her family realize their strong family bonds. Young foodies will revel in Sassy's recipes as each of them is appended, along with child-friendly instructions. Draper has whipped up another delicious tale sure to please followers of Sassy and anyone looking for a fun chapter book.—Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA
Fourth-grader Sassy plans to reach out to the shy new girl and simultaneously complete a class project by learning to cook and hosting a dinner party. Easier said than done, though, when neither recipes nor guests cooperate. In her fourth book, Sassy's sunny personality--which, predictably, saves the day, as usual--may inspire readers to try their own hands at the included recipes.
Reviewed by Michele Shaw , Jan 01, 2011

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