My Fine Fellow by Jennieke Cohen 
Published: 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Culinary
Audience: Grades 7-12
Content Warnings: Discrimination
Reviewer: Heather Kent
Book Cover Summary:
Culinary delights abound, romance lingers in the air, and plans go terribly, wonderfully astray in this historical tale.
It’s 1830s England, and Culinarians—doyens who consult with society’s elite to create gorgeous food and confections—are the crème de la crème of high society.
Helena Higgins, top of her class at the Royal Academy, has a sharp demeanor and an even sharper palate—and knows stardom awaits her if she can produce greatness in her final year.
Penelope Pickering is going to prove the value of non-European cuisine to all of England. Her contemporaries may scorn her Filipina heritage and her dishes, but with her flawless social graces and culinary talents, Penelope is set to prove them wrong.
Elijah Little has nothing to his name but a truly excellent instinct for flavors. London merchants won’t allow a Jewish boy to own a shop, so he hawks his pasties for a shilling a piece to passersby—but he knows with training he can break into the highest echelon of society.
When Penelope and Helena meet Elijah, a golden opportunity arises: to pull off a project never seen before, and turn Elijah from a street vendor to a gentleman chef.
But Elijah’s transformation will have a greater impact on this trio than they originally realize—and mayhem, unseemly faux pas, and a little romance will all be a part of the delicious recipe.
Review
"My Fine Fellow" by Jennieke Cohen is a delightful and imaginative young adult novel set in 19th-century England. The story follows two aspiring culinarians, Helena Higgins and Penelope Pickering, who take on the challenge of transforming a street vendor, Elijah Little, into a gentleman chef capable of impressing high society. Cohen's novel is a blend of historical fiction, romance, and culinary arts. Helena is ambitious and controlling, while Penelope is compassionate and resourceful, creating a dynamic duo whose friendship forms the heart of the story. Elijah is a captivating character whose transformation is both entertaining and thought-provoking. This novel explores the themes of class, ambition, and the meaning of friendship.
0 Comments.