Hot Lunch

by Alex Bradley

Molly Ollinger can't stand perky Cassie Birchmeyer. When they are forced to collaborate on a school project, their bickering escalates into a food fight in the Sunshine Day School cafeteria. But because Sunshine Day isn't your average high school, the girls' punishment isn't detention it's to work in the cafeteria as lunch ladies. Ewww. They will have to cook up a way to get along in order to get themselves out of the kitchen. Seasoned with hilarious original songs, slams on traditional school-lunch menus, not to mention downright tasty recipes, Hot Lunch is the best thing to hit school lunch since Tater Tots.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Teen, Fiction, Contemporary, Food

276 pages, Hardcover

First published August 16, 2007

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice modern crime story, dinged for the unnecessary cliffhanger tacked on to the end.

[Sage · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hot lunch is about two girls that start out as arch-rivals for some unspoken reason, then bond through a hot lunch program. They are opposites in every aspect except for their hate for each other.

This book was kinda bad. You don't go from hating someone enough to write a hate-fic about them to being bffls. Even if you cook 1000 lunches together that doesn't happen in real life. Maybe it's just because all the good books I've read have sad endings *cough*No.6*cough* but I'm starting to dislike books with happy-sugar-coated-endings.(does this mean that I'm happy the book is over?)I think the best part of the book was the fact that it included recipes. That's pretty cool.

And end-of-book kisses are cliche.

[Elena A. D. · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rivalry is usually fun, but I absolutely HATE when the characters stereotypically become best friends because they get to know each other and stuff. It was funny at first, but then it took a turn for the worse. The chick lit I read is because I like to make fun of stereotypical characters, but books like this are completely unrealistic, and definitely overdone.

If you like books that are cliche, read this. If not, avoid.

[Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really good. In the beginning, it was literally SO funny. the girl Molly is very relatable for me! it all flows very well, the point comes quickly, it is funny and I love the relationship between Molly and Cassie! Definitely, I recommend.

[Laura Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost everyone has eaten a cafeteria hot lunch. Almost everyone who’s eaten a hot lunch has regretted eating a hot lunch. I’ve graduated past the days of dining in the cafeteria; yet by some strange quirk in the universe have found myself on the other side of the line, dishing out food to my kids and their classmates at their school cafeteria. Even though I only perform this duty once or twice a month, I always have visions of hairnets and lumpy mashed potatoes the morning before I go. Thankfully the days of hairnets are gone, but I am required to wear a cap when I volunteer. Which is bizarre - if I’m volunteering, why am I being punished? Okay, because nobody wants hair in their food. So, I opt for my U2 black, military cap and keep my fingers crossed that I won’t be serving Salisbury steak.

Maybe that’s why Alex Bradley’s book, Hot Lunch, made me laugh so hard.

Alex Bradley dives into the head of a blue-haired sophomore, Molly, with a chip on her shoulder and a defense mechanism of total sarcasm to keep her from relationships and friendships of any kind, which she believes shelters her from being hurt. What headphone-wearing Molly doesn’t expect her sarcasm will get her is a catfight with a classmate in the cafeteria, resulting in a food fight, resulting in the ultimate punishment – lunchroom duty.

Although I’ve failed in the department of learning much while topping tater tots on trays, except for maybe some school gossip, Molly learns a lot about herself, others and the importance of fresh ingredients to make actual, edible, nutritious food.

Except for a few minor profanities throughout the halls of high school, Hot Lunch is a funny, tasty treat of a book with plenty for your mind and mouth to snack on (including a few simple recipes for the non-cooks in the audience).

What’s the worst (or best) thing you’ve ever been served on a cafeteria tray?

[AnnaMay · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been awhile since I've read a book, as I've been busy with other stuff. Thus, I was hesitant to begin this one....after all, if I'm going to read, it had better be a good book and I'm wary of some teenage book called 'Hot Lunch' with a blue-hair-girl on the cover. Wary, but curious. My crusade begins.
I read it in my usual time....a few days. Wow, I'm still chuckling and giggling about some parts. I loved it! Sure, there is some 'teen language' of the world, but not enough to bother ME...such is life.
My favorite part is the character development. I really really like the themes this book presents, like 'not building walls to keep people out of your life' and 'people aren't whom they appear to be' and 'it's fun to have good friends and be liked for who you are' and 'it's good to stand up for good things' and 'people can make change for good when they're united' and 'there's a right way and a wrong way to go about accomplishing things.' Yep, this book is a keeper, because Bradley presents these themes in such a witty, fun way that the reader finds herself nodding and enjoying reading on and on and on. Yeah!
I guess this book brought out the 'youth' in me and helped me feel more in touch with the humor of the Young Women with whom I serve in church. During the first of the book, my thoughts were, "This is tedious....unreal.....youth don't really think or talk or interact this way...." but by the end, I just got soaked in to the characters and things became believable.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts with two girls bickering and pretty much making fools of themselves. Molly is a somewhat sullen teenager who makes it her mission in life to keep others as far away from her as possible. When she is paired up with a new girl on a school project she does her best to push the girl away until they each decide to do their own project. Since this was not the assignment they get poor grades and get into a big fight in the lunchroom. This leads to a punishment of serving lunches for two weeks. Unfortunately, they fail to improve their behavior and in a bizarre turn of events end up having to run the entire lunchroom until the students vote for five days in a row that their food is better than the previous lunch lady’s. While there are several reasons why I believe something like this would never happen in a high school, it was a very funny concept. The two main characters, Molly and Cassie, represent a group of high school students who don’t feel they belong anywhere. Together they learn a lot about the groups that make up high school while at the same time learning about leadership, nutrition, cooking, and friendship. Students will enjoy the humor and might look at food and nutrition differently after reading this book.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I thought the main character was a sulky brat, the storyline was great. A pair of teenage girls are unable to work together on a school project and get in a food fight at school. The principal decides the punishment must fit the crime, and assign them to lunch duty in the kitchen. The girls don't take it seriously, and play pranks on each other that spoil the food prepared by the kitchen staff. Eventually, they upset the head cook so much that she decides to announce her retirement, and takes a number of kitchen staff with her. Since the school is left without enough people to work in the kitchen, the principal puts the girls in charge of the kitchen. They have to work together (and recruit some friends) in order to achieve a kitchen that works and is able to put out decent cafeteria food.

I especially liked the way this story highlighted the atrocious state of the pre-packaged, highly processed food that characterizes cafeterias across the nation. The emphasis on the importance of teamwork and persistence was also something worthy of sharing with teens. Overall, a good book.

[Noah Kraus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was pretty well written. The reason I didn't rate this book higher is because it was a little to elementary. It didn't have an adult plot for me. I really didn't like the ending. SPOILER (it was to much of a happy ending, and everyone ended how you expected. I really like the conflict resolution between Casey and Mollie, from hating each other to being best friends. The same with Clide, she went from hating him to really liking him).

[Stephanie A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bit heavy-handed on cafeteria reform near the end, but surprisingly entertaining -- and with delicious recipes indeed!

[Carol Jones-Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a hoot this book is. If you've read Alex Bradley's before, you will now see the girl's matured and grow up, and their touch growing up is starting to bloom. I just loved it. Hadn't read a Bradley in ages but found some in Gallup, NM, but to find them in my area here has been a complete joy.

So you read the words HOT LUNCH, and guessing by the words, you will find that the Hot lunch means that the girls and growing up and it's fun to see how they are developing.

Molly Ollinger can’t stand perky Cassie Birchmeyer. When they are forced to collaborate on a school project, their bickering escalates into a food fight in the Sunshine Day School cafeteria. But because Sunshine Day isn’t your average high school, the girls’ punishment isn’t detention—it’s to work in the cafeteria as lunch ladies. Ewww. They’ll have to cook up a way to get along in order to get themselves out of the kitchen. Seasoned with hilarious original songs, slams on traditional school-lunch menus, not to mention downright tasty recipes, Hot Lunch is the best thing to hit school lunch since Tater Tots. Enjoy and have fun reading!!!

Light and tasty, this humorous confection is seasoned with just enough teen angst to keep things interesting. The alternative-school setting will be familiar to some readers, while others will find it adds spice to the humorous tale. Molly, a deliberately sullen blue-haired outcast, and chirpy Cassie, new in school, clash first over a shared assignment in sophomore English then act out their enmity in a food fight. Forced by their progressive principal to work together in the cafeteria, the two girls take quite a while to settle their differences. Well-realized supporting characters—nerdy Clyde, the freshman lunchroom attendant/aspiring pastry chef and Edmund, the tattooed 20-something slacker whose “help” in the kitchen isn’t quite what it seems—add to the fun. Bradley slips in an impassioned plea for taking food seriously and making good choices for ourselves and the planet, but he has laid the groundwork so solidly that this message emerges naturally from his characters’ growth and thus is perfectly palatable. Down to earth and satisfying, like the simple recipes it celebrates. Recommend!!!

[Margo · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was the most amazing book i ever read. it honestly changed my life. i came in to the book and my life was a mess: i was depressed and had osteoporosis and i had aids. after reading the first 10 pages not only was i cured of all these ailments, but i had 12 anurisms and stomach cancer. ever since i read hot lunch my outlook on life is totally changed. i am not vegan, and also a tibetan monk who lives alone on a mountain. i meditate on the true meaning of hot lunch 23 hours a day and i haven't seen another human in 23 years. hot lunch is my whole reason for living. i read it 3 times a day, sometimes 4. one day i hope to meet the author so i can inspire them to stay brave by punching them in the balls at full force. i would reccommend this book only to ages 18+. it might not be appropriate for kids, as it does get pretty spicy. I like the scene where thomas the tank engine fucks hot lunch right in the ass. I want to kill myself. if you are reading this please send help they have my wife and kids

[JamelleM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the book it was funny and had fun twists and sad twists.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this lighthearted young adult book about friendship.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My New Favorite Teen Book (for Today)

Kind of like the school lunches that Molly and Cassie are forced to prepare together--as punishment for their explosive inability to get along (which leads to a huge food fight)--this book gets better and better as it goes along.

I've been meaning to read Hot Lunch for a while now, and I feared as I started in that I might not like it--and oh, how I wanted to like it. The main character, Molly, is a little hard to take at first; she's downright prickly, and stubborn about it to boot. But there's enough to like about her from the get-go to keep you reading until you love her. Imagine my relief, since I had high hopes for this book (not that despicable characters can't be admired and even enjoyed for their sheer despicability, but in this case, the lead needed to be likeable).

This kind of story may not be everyone's cup of tea--it helps to be interested in food, and hey, aren't most people on some level?--but it is decidedly mine: a character-centered teen novel with an offbeat, snarky-but-not-vicious protagonist, set in a crunchy-granola high school founded and run by hippies, with plenty of humor, artsyness, and fantastic dialogue (and for the people who say that teenagers don't talk like this: maybe you didn't hang with the nerdy or slightly odd kids, but some of them did, and I'd wager, still do. Regardless, it's fun to read.).

Yes, there is a point at which the author's agenda (arguing for real, wholesome food and a renewed connection to our sources of it) intrudes, but in my humble view, it's a worthy agenda, and Mr. Bradley at least made a valiant attempt--and for the most part succeeded--at integrating it into his story and characters. I happen to share many of the food philosophies that emerge in the course of the story, and with a couple of mildly glaring exceptions, they're smoothly put across and don't overwhelm the narrative. Plus: that which sustains us deserves thought and respect, wouldn't you say?

Finally, Hot Lunch made me laugh--several wee snorts, many giggles, and a couple of outright guffaws. It's a fun, quick read that is fluffy, tart and sweet like the apple-cinnamon mousse that Clyde, the student who is a gifted pastry chef, whips up during Phase Four (the best phase) of his culinary career at Sunshine Day High School. But it's not just froth--there's substance here, too.

[Smaileh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blue-haired Mollie Ollinger is a bad-tempered brat. She has no friends and does not try to make any. She wears her oversized headphones every moment she possibly can in order to shut everyone out. When a teacher assigns a teamwork assignment and pairs Mollie with blond, perky Cassie, Mollie refuses to work on the assignment or even to talk to her. Bad feelings escalate between the two and after they have a food fight in the cafeteria, their punishment is to work in the cafeteria helping to prepare the school lunches. That doesn't stop their sniping at each other and before they know it, the cook quits and they are left totally in charge.

Mollie is really unlikeable at first, but not irredeemable. Slowly, she recognizes her own faults and begins to learn to open up and trust others. As one of her classmates tells her, she has been using her meanness as a shield to keep from being hurt. Once she begins to let her shield down she finds that she is much happier.

Interspersed in the story are some simple recipes to try--I'm looking forward to trying the tomato soup, but I'm not sure about the cream puffs.

[Dlora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, if it left me smiling and feeling good it must be a five-star book, right? I really enjoyed this story about a rebellious teen named Molly who ends up on kitchen duty at her liberal private school with new-girl normal Cassie as a solution (not punishment) for a stupendous food fight they got into over an English assignment. I enjoyed the humor and the cooking in the kitchen as Molly and Cassie get into further trouble, causing the head cook to quit, so the girls now are running the kitchen duty permanently until they can cook lunches that the majority of the kids vote as better than Mrs. Ketz's lunches for five consequtive days. If you like cooking shows, you'll enjoy the cooking problems in the book (the book includes recipes), And I loved the family relationships, I loved the quirky kids, and I loved the smart-mouthed, blue-haired Molly who learns a lot about herself and what she wants in life. I think you'll love this non-vampire, non-paranormal teen story with a bit of a soapbox about the importance of food and the role of the kitchen in our lives.

[Kstewart5362 · Rating 5 out of 5]

HS sophomore Molly is having a hard time—she and her former best friend are no longer speaking, and now nothing is right. Things get worse after she and Sunshine Day School classmate Cassie are thrown together to work on a lame group project (“You and Cassie are on opposite sides of a river…you have a knife, a can of beans, etc. to survive…”) and not only get a bad grade for not properly completing the project, but end up fighting--as in, food fight--in the cafeteria, culminating in the long-time lunch lady, Mrs. Zetz, resigning on the spot. As punishment--er, "a solution," their hippie principal, Dr. John, puts them in charge of lunch. The way out: their fellow students have to vote their food as being better than Mrs. Zetz’s. It’s going to be a long year…
LOVE this book. Laugh-out-loud funny, with quirky characters and details about food, Hot Lunch, with Molly’s sardonic wit front and center, is pure pleasure.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast and dirty fun brain candy type of book. Two girls are assigned to work on a flash assignment together. They don’t so much get on, and end up doing the assignment on their own. The D’s they receive for the assignment don’t sit too well with one of them, and she tries to persuade the other to redo the assignment as per the teacher’s original instructions so they can get a good grade. This leads to a really nasty food-fight in the cafeteria of the hippie-like private school they attend. The consequences are hilarious. Do the girls ever learn to cooperate? What do you think? I liked it, not the least for the photo of the blue-haired girl on the cover, seeing as how I always wanted to have purple hair. Hmmmm. I wonder what they’d say at work if I showed up with grape jelly coloured tresses one day.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There must be some kind of trend nowadays for novels to include recipes...

Anyway! I thought this book was interesting, unique, and revolutionary (in that it incites action about a relevant issue). How sad that most teens are reading total brain fluff with no actual intellectual rewards or socially redeeming value.

Some of the book was a tad predictable (perhaps because I'm 25 and have read too many young adult books?) but I came out feeling fulfilled.

As far as being motivating, I liken it to Janet Tashjian's Vote for Larry.

Other random thought -- it was interesting that so many of the characters had somewhat old-fashioned names like Molly, Cassie, Clyde, and Patty. Maybe they're all named after country singers.

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

hilarious novel about friends, food fights and love.

Blue haired sophomore Molly can’t stand most of her classmates at her hippie-run high school. When she’s forced to collaborate with Cassie (who’s too perky & normal) their bickering escalates into a food fight in the cafeteria. Because Sunshine Day isn’t your average high school the girls’ punishment isn’t detention - it’s working in the cafeteria as lunch ladies.

Through this experience Cassie & Molly slowly become friends and other amusing characters pop in to help. There’s also a minor plot line involving romance.

This was a quick, enjoyable read and also, at the end contained a message about making school lunches more nutritious. Reminded me of “Vote for Larry” by Janet Tashijean.

[Ashleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. It certainly wasn't the greatest, or the worst, but it was okay. It started off very slow, and it went on slow through pretty much the middle of the book, intersting parts coming up only here and there. And the results were somewhat predictable, because you know Cassie and Molly are going to end up becoming friends and love working in the school Kitchen. But what saved this book, was the way the suprise twists came in. Like when i found out who spoiled the food , that was somewhat a bit of the shock because i thought it was all accidental,and Mrs. Zetz coming back, i didn't really expect and Molly's new relationships with patty and Pete were the cherry on top to a book worth reading.

[Medina]

The book was ok it had an agenda more than a plot. I will say that after reading it I am more upset than ever about or schools hot lunch program. It is terrible it is not healthy at all. I feel terrible for the children that have no choice but to eat it. I don't eat it ever. Luckily I have that choice. If I forget my lunch which happens more than I want to admit i can go without knowing that I will have food at home but they do't have a choice for some of them school food is the only food that they will have all day. It is heartbreaking. I know I am not the only person that feels this way about the school lunch but I haven't done a thing about it. I know though that a healthy meal would mean that they are more likely to learn throughout the day.

[Zach Edelman · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is alright. It is basically about two girls that absolutely hate each other. Then they fight so much, that they are forced to be on kitchen duty! At first, all the students think that the food they cook stinks! But in the end they actually think its really good. This book is definitely hilarious, and a pretty easy read. It combines the idea of the troubles of being a high-school teen. With the troubles of hating someone. The book then makes the problems they have to face very funny. They also together are in a group of kids that dont exactly fit in. But they then learn the social groups of the school, and also in a way kind of come together. I would maybe recommend this book its funny, but not that good of a book overall.

[Adam Hoffman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought that this book was a very accurate depiction of how two high-school girls go from enemies to the best of friends. It starts off with a school project where Molly and Casse are chosen as partners, but they don't exactly work as a team. The little arguments soon escalate into a full out food fight in the cafeteria. As punishment for this, the girls are sentenced to work as kitchen staff until they get a majority vote that their food was better than it was before they started working on a ballet that each student that orders lunch can fill out. This starts off as a chore and the girls want to get it over ASAP. Although as time goes on, the girls become friends and actually don't want to leave the kitchen.

[Sara ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although pretty far-fetched (it's called a food-handler's permit, people), this was a cute story about two girls who argue over a collaborative assignment for English class and end up getting into a food fight in the cafeteria, which causes most of the lunch ladies to quit.... And so for their punishment, Molly and Cassie are assigned lunchroom duty... as cooks. They don't know anything about cooking, and nearly starve the student population, but eventually they learn to cook and, more importantly, get along! I loved the supporting characters—Edmund, Clyde, Seth (ha!), and Pete... :) Good times!

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story with some great characters populating a Minierva, MN private highschool. Cassie and Molly, after a disasterous team assignment, continue to needle one another until a food fight ensues. The principal's idea of punishment is for them to work off their time in the lunchroom. The girls continue to needle one another, resulting in the walkout of three of the kitchen staff. Molly and Cassie then become real lunch ladies, trying to choose menus the student body will eat. It's a fun story about becoming friends and there are plenty of sub-stories to keep things interesting.

[Additeenlibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Molly doesn't like school or anybody in it. When she's assigned to do a project with too-blonde, too-tall Cassie, she refuses. It all leads to a food fight and the resignation of the Lunch Lady. Molly and Cassie must now make lunch for the entire school, every day. How long, and how many disasterous and disgusting lunches, will it take for Molly and Cassie to learn to get along?

This is kind of a goofy book, a little bit unbelievable in places, but so what? Molly is a believable character and the problems they have creating an edible meal are quite funny. A nice, entertaining read.

[Katie K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I liked this book. I liked the premise and Molly was a complicated girl whose character arch was interesting and believable. However, I did have some issues with the book. Sometimes, the whole "school lunch is bad" message felt very preachy and the recipes included seemed a little random and out of the blue. (Maybe there should have been more recipes?) There were also a lot of characters in this book and some (okay, many) seemed stereotypical and only around to move the plot forward. I had read Alex Bradley's 24 Girls in 7 Days and came across the same thing.

[Librariann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ages 11+ (one 'shit')

If you like Meg Cabot et al. At Sunshine Day High School, things aren't always done the normal way. Take the lunchroom - after two couldn't-be-more-opposite girls provoke a food fight, the hippie principal sentences them to lunch duty until a majority of the student body judges their food to be better than their quit-in-a-fit predecessor's, Mrs. Zetz. Of course, the girls learn to get along in the end, but not without some sabotage, horrific meals (and fantastic desserts) on the way. Hilarious and fun. Includes recipes!