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All Four Stars #3
Stars So Sweet
Joan Bauer meets Ruth Reichl in this charming middle grade foodie series.
As the summer winds down and Gladys Gatsby prepares to start middle school, she is nervous about juggling schoolwork and looming deadlines from her secret job as the New York Standard’s youngest restaurant critic. When her editor pushes for a face-to-face meeting to discuss more opportunities with the paper, Gladys knows she must finally come clean to her parents. But her perfectly planned reveal is put on hold when her parents arrive home with a surprise: her Aunt Lydia, one of the only adults who knows her secret, fresh off the plane from Paris. Gladys and Aunt Lydia try one last ruse to fool her editor at the Standard, but even with her aunt’s help, Gladys just can’t manage the drama of middle school and a secret life. It’s time for Gladys to be true to herself and honest with her friends and family, regardless of what those around her think.
As the summer winds down and Gladys Gatsby prepares to start middle school, she is nervous about juggling schoolwork and looming deadlines from her secret job as the New York Standard’s youngest restaurant critic. When her editor pushes for a face-to-face meeting to discuss more opportunities with the paper, Gladys knows she must finally come clean to her parents. But her perfectly planned reveal is put on hold when her parents arrive home with a surprise: her Aunt Lydia, one of the only adults who knows her secret, fresh off the plane from Paris. Gladys and Aunt Lydia try one last ruse to fool her editor at the Standard, but even with her aunt’s help, Gladys just can’t manage the drama of middle school and a secret life. It’s time for Gladys to be true to herself and honest with her friends and family, regardless of what those around her think.
278 pages, Hardcover
First published July 19, 2016
35 people are currently reading
778 people want to read
About the author
Tara Dairman
8 books212 followersTara Dairman writes books for kids and teens with strong passions and big questions about the world. Tara’s books include The Girl from Earth’s End, the All Four Stars series, The Great Hibernation, Go, Baby, Go! (illustrated by Olivia Amoah) and Desert Girl, Monsoon Boy (illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan). These titles have been named to best-of-the-year lists by A Mighty Girl, School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, and more. Tara's debut young adult novel will be published in 2027.
“She/her” or “they/them” are great pronouns to use when referring to Tara.
Representation: Ammi-Joan Paquette of Aevitas Creative Management.
Website: taradairman.com
Facebook: facebook.com/TaraDairmanAuthor
Instagram: instagram.com/allfourstars
Bluesky: taradairman.bsky.social
Author photo credit: Laura Wynkoop
“She/her” or “they/them” are great pronouns to use when referring to Tara.
Representation: Ammi-Joan Paquette of Aevitas Creative Management.
Website: taradairman.com
Facebook: facebook.com/TaraDairmanAuthor
Instagram: instagram.com/allfourstars
Bluesky: taradairman.bsky.social
Author photo credit: Laura Wynkoop
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
January 26, 2018
Overall this was a satisfying end to the trilogy. Gladys is such a spunky protagonist and it was gratifying to see her working through some of the unsolved problems in the earlier books. I am taking off one star for a couple of rather lame "knots" tied up in the end. They don't really match up with the rest of the overall story and seemed to be thrown in at the last minute.
March 21, 2017
Creatively written and in great step with the previous 2 books of the series. Still fun to read. I still love the foodie aspect - original idea compared to other MG books. Disappointed with the slight twist of 1 character at the end - the detail was unnecessary and a book spoiler, especially when this series started out more delightful than other MG books.
June 16, 2021
بخشی از کتاب:
یادت باشه. قدم به قدم جلو برو. اگه به همۀ کارهایی که باید انجام بدی فکر کنی، خیلی راحت از پا در میای. ولی اگه ذره ذره به سمت هدف بری، شانس خوبی برای موفقیت داری.
یادت باشه. قدم به قدم جلو برو. اگه به همۀ کارهایی که باید انجام بدی فکر کنی، خیلی راحت از پا در میای. ولی اگه ذره ذره به سمت هدف بری، شانس خوبی برای موفقیت داری.
February 3, 2016
This review is from my fifth grade daughter...
The book was like my moms super delicious brownies. The suspense and conflict was the books sugar and butter. I finished it in one day it was so good. Tara Dairmen's third book was even better than Mrs. Anderson's infamous brownies.
The book was like my moms super delicious brownies. The suspense and conflict was the books sugar and butter. I finished it in one day it was so good. Tara Dairmen's third book was even better than Mrs. Anderson's infamous brownies.
Want to read
September 22, 2018decided to go through the reviews before starting it and most of the 1/2 star ones are homophobic af. going to report all of them but goodreads doesn't really take any action about this stuff (have previous experience with this.) :|
January 5, 2016
Another wonderful, funny, heartwarming book in this fantastic series! I loved following our lovable heroine Gladys on her foodie adventures... this time, as she navigates middle school. I feel so much fondness for the characters, both familiar and new, and I loved seeing them grow and change and rise to meet life's challenges. My favorite part about this latest book is the French influence... French food, French club, cool Francophile aunt. So much mouth-watering fun!
September 23, 2016
Liked book very much overall. Did not like twist taken by one character at end.
July 12, 2016
What I Loved:
-Gladys’s passion for cooking and all things foodie is front and center in the narrative, as it has been in the last two books.
-Her diverse group of friends and their differing personalities and quirks are part of the action as welll—you’ll find appearances by Parm, Charissa, and Sandy. I assure you—you’ll definitely be laughing throughout the book, just as you probably were with the first two.
-The story features different cuisines and ingredients some readers may have never heard of before! Whether Gladys is browsing Mr. Eng’s specialty food shop or creating Salvadoran pancakes, she is sure to introduce readers to something new in the culinary world. At one point Gladys, Aunt Lydia, and Charissa attend a foodie trade show and sample foods such as biltong (South African beef jerky), antelope meats, yak meat, and even horse-meat bites!
-The rich themes of friendship and becoming comfortable in your own identity (something that can be quite challenging in Middle School) are appreciated and embedded in the narrative without being preachy. I love the way Tara illuminates important and relevant aspects of friendship in her storyline.
-The resolution of all the loose ends, especially regarding Gladys’s top secret job of restaurant reviewer for The New York Standard. The conclusion of STARS SO SWEET is stunning, and everything I had hoped for in the ending to this fantastic trilogy. I know this series will continue to be a popular one in my school library. I already have many students who have been waiting avidly for the last installment in the series. It’s true: Young readers love these foodie books!
My full review can be found on my blog, Bookish Illuminations.
-Gladys’s passion for cooking and all things foodie is front and center in the narrative, as it has been in the last two books.
-Her diverse group of friends and their differing personalities and quirks are part of the action as welll—you’ll find appearances by Parm, Charissa, and Sandy. I assure you—you’ll definitely be laughing throughout the book, just as you probably were with the first two.
-The story features different cuisines and ingredients some readers may have never heard of before! Whether Gladys is browsing Mr. Eng’s specialty food shop or creating Salvadoran pancakes, she is sure to introduce readers to something new in the culinary world. At one point Gladys, Aunt Lydia, and Charissa attend a foodie trade show and sample foods such as biltong (South African beef jerky), antelope meats, yak meat, and even horse-meat bites!
-The rich themes of friendship and becoming comfortable in your own identity (something that can be quite challenging in Middle School) are appreciated and embedded in the narrative without being preachy. I love the way Tara illuminates important and relevant aspects of friendship in her storyline.
-The resolution of all the loose ends, especially regarding Gladys’s top secret job of restaurant reviewer for The New York Standard. The conclusion of STARS SO SWEET is stunning, and everything I had hoped for in the ending to this fantastic trilogy. I know this series will continue to be a popular one in my school library. I already have many students who have been waiting avidly for the last installment in the series. It’s true: Young readers love these foodie books!
My full review can be found on my blog, Bookish Illuminations.
April 22, 2017
As with the other entries in the series, I'm rounding up a half star from my true opinion. I do think there's a lot of appeal and good values in these for kids. I found them to be repetitious & wordy and am glad I'm done. And I did have to keep telling myself "suspend disbelief; read it like a fairy tale." Very glad of the satisfying ending to the trilogy.
But there were random problems, too. Too much romance, imo, for 12 yo seventh-graders. A random snarky comment about Rolanda learning a lot about Shakespeare only because she joined Drama Club... but wait, isn't that how it's *supposed* to work? Gladys complaining because she "only" has three good friends bothered me, too.
I won't read on if Dairman decides to keep going, unless she completely changes the pov to that of Charissa, Parm, or Sandy.
ETA - I looked at some of the other reviews. The ppl who gave this few stars had a problem with one of the characters being revealed as lesbian. Um, lady, that girl is not the evil one; you are. And to think you're poisoning your children with that view. How very sad.
But there were random problems, too. Too much romance, imo, for 12 yo seventh-graders. A random snarky comment about Rolanda learning a lot about Shakespeare only because she joined Drama Club... but wait, isn't that how it's *supposed* to work? Gladys complaining because she "only" has three good friends bothered me, too.
I won't read on if Dairman decides to keep going, unless she completely changes the pov to that of Charissa, Parm, or Sandy.
ETA - I looked at some of the other reviews. The ppl who gave this few stars had a problem with one of the characters being revealed as lesbian. Um, lady, that girl is not the evil one; you are. And to think you're poisoning your children with that view. How very sad.
May 19, 2017
Pretty big changes. Lots of truth telling. My favorite was when Gladys gets to confer with her 6th grade teacher again. I'm rather upset with the author's choice to make one character gay. They're in 7th grade and this comes way out of the blue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2019
I didn't love this third book in the series nearly as much as the other two. It felt disjointed and so much of it was unnecessary and just blah. And I wasn't feeling the foodie reviews at all. Those were so weak and so different from the past two books- so much so, it didn't even feel like the same writer. I'd tell future readers to stop at the second book, honestly. The first two were so sweet! This one was completely lackluster for me.
August 10, 2016
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She was trying to help her friends see the bright side – but at the same time, the pit of worry that had entered her stomach in the schoolyard now felt like it was sprouting into a full-grown tree of anxiety. Two classes with Charissa and none with Parm left a whole lot of classes with zero friends. Her parents would surely advise her to make new ones, but Gladys would rather tackle a hundred difficult new recipes than force herself to talk to one new person.
Goodbye, East Dumpsford Elementary. Hello, Dumpsford Township Middle School! As summer comes to a close and culinary wunderkind Gladys Gatsby prepares for the first day of seventh grade, a new school will soon be the least of her worries as Gladys contends with new clubs, new commitments, new friends (and enemies), new rules and new beginnings. With her plate increasingly full and her status as the New York Standard‘s preeminent restaurant critic still a carefully-guarded secret, Gladys will have to work harder than ever before as she faces her most difficult challenges yet.
…She couldn’t help but think back to the way her classmates (mostly girls) used to make fun of her love of arugula. And that was just a salad green! Now Sandy actually wanted to have a reputation at his school for eating gross foods?
Boys were weird.
Reading Tara Dairman’s Stars So Sweet, the third and final instalment in the author’s throughly enchanting All Four Stars middle grade series, was an incredibly bittersweet experience. For the last three years, a new release from Dairman has been one of the highlights of my summer, and while I was eager to embark on another adventure with Gladys Gatsby, I couldn’t help but grow sad that this novel would mark our final journey together. That said, as things heat up in and out of the kitchen, I can think of no better way to bid adieu to this scrumptious series than Stars So Sweet, a tasty morsel that’s good to the last bite and proves to be the author’s sweetest book yet.
Gladys sighed. It was great to have her talents appreciated, especially since it was a feeling she didn’t always get at home. But it didn’t feel so great to know Fiona’s admiration was still based on a big deception. If Fiona knew how truly unique Gladys’ voice was, would she still be so interested in having her at the paper full-time?
Over-committed and under a great deal of pressure, the stakes have never been higher for Gladys Gatsby as she is forced to juggle academic, personal and professional considerations. Faced with the prospect of a new assignment AND a potential promotion, Gladys’ unintentional deception and secret double life culminate in a taut, exciting adventure that will leave readers on the edge of their seat until the very last page. What will happen when Gladys tells her editor – and her parents! – the truth? Will her dreams be over before they ever truly begun? Only time will tell as Gladys is forced to use every ounce of her courage, creativity and tenacity to determine what the future holds. It is not what challenges Gladys faces, however, but how she faces them that truly define her. Even when she feels as though “a live fish was flopping around in her stomach” or “like a single chocolate chip drowning in a huge bowl of cookie batter”, Gladys never fails to meet each and every challenge head-on with careful, measured judgement and a little extra help and advice from her friends.
“Seeing your goals is the first step. But reaching them often requires taking many more.” She approached Gladys’ desk again. “The good news is that you don’t need to see the entire path clearly to set out on it; you just need to see a few feet ahead of you.”
Stars So Sweet also sees the return of some of the series’ most familiar and beloved secondary characters including Parm Singh, Sandy Anderson, Charissa Bentley, Fiona Inglethorpe, and everyone’s favourite literary prodigy and author of the best-selling novel, Zombietown, U.S.A., Hamilton Herbertson. One of the things readers can appreciate most about Dairman’s supporting cast is that each feels like the main character in their own right, with feelings, aspirations and desires independent of that of the protagonist. In Stars So Sweet, Sandy’s busy working on cementing his legacy as the Gross-Out King and “The Boy Who’ll Eat Anything” at St. Joseph’s Academy, Parm is struggling to raise enough money to allow the girls’ soccer team to attend the regional tournament in Pennsylvania, Charissa is attempting to balance one too many extracurricular activities and Hamilton is trying his best to live a more normal life. Perhaps best of all, much to my surprise and delight Stars So Sweet also includes LGBTQ content as Dairman explores how one of the secondary characters has a crush on another character of the same sex. This revelation is handled with a great deal of thought and sensitivity, and creates a wonderful opportunity for young readers to speak with their parents about the importance of inclusivity, diversity and the beauty of love in any form.
She had spent the afternoon at Rolanda’s house working on the mask cookies with the Drama Club. Several of the other members actually had baking experience, which should have made the undertaking go more smoothly – and it did for a while, until everyone started belting out show tunes from Phantom Of The Opera. Gladys left the house with both a splitting headache and an intense desire to send the chandelier in Rolanda’s dining room crashing down on every screeching, warbling Andrew Lloyd Webber fan there.
Over the course of the All Four Stars trilogy, Tara Dairman has fostered a greater awareness of and appreciation for the role food plays in our lives, encouraging young readers to be unafraid to expand their palate and be more adventuresome in their culinary choices. From exploring the intricacies of Salvadoran, Cuban and Peruvian cuisine to unusual dried meat delicacies like emu, camel, yak, kangaroo and alligator, Stars So Sweet continues this tradition, managing to both entertain and educate as Gladys is exposed to a wide variety of foodstuffs from around the world. As was the case with the previous instalments in the series, however, readers should be warned against devouring Stars So Sweet on an empty stomach as from grilled swordfish dressed with tomato and saffron coulis to rosewater flan, the author’s descriptions of the delectable dishes Gladys encounters on her adventures are as vivid and as mouthwatering as ever. Sparkling dialogue, clever chapter titles (“Lobster Lockdown”, “In Hot Water”, “Pie In The Sky”, “A Sour Note”) and creative twists on ubiquitous icons like Hell’s Kitchen and Shakespeare’s Macbeth ensure that the overall narrative voice is as charming, effervescent and fun as ever. Most importantly, Dairman never condescends to her audience, instead trusting them to pick up on the subtleties of the text, particularly the valuable lessons about honestly, responsibility and diversity Stars So Sweet so delicately touches upon.
She steeled herself. She could ace this test. She would ace this test. She would prove her identity – and, at the same time, prove to her doubting editor that kids could appreciate more than just chicken fingers and ketchup.
What can I possibly say about this wonderful, wondrous series that I haven’t said already? Stars So Sweet and its predecessors deserve all four stars and then some as Tara Dairman proves once and for all that there is no age limit on a truly exceptional story. Whether you’re young or young at heart, readers of all ages will be able to delight in the hijinks and hilarity of the adventures of Gladys Gatsby as she takes on everything from bake sales and middle school dances to journalistic integrity and entrepreneurial enterprises. In Gladys, accomplished middle grade author Tara Dairman has crafted a character as timeless, as delightful, and as loveable as any created for this (or any other) age group, and one that can stand proudly shoulder-to-shoulder with the Harriet M. Welschs and Sara Crewes of the world. Three cheers for Gladys Gatsby!
Please Note: All quotations included in this review have been taken from an advance reader copy and therefore might be subject to change.
She was trying to help her friends see the bright side – but at the same time, the pit of worry that had entered her stomach in the schoolyard now felt like it was sprouting into a full-grown tree of anxiety. Two classes with Charissa and none with Parm left a whole lot of classes with zero friends. Her parents would surely advise her to make new ones, but Gladys would rather tackle a hundred difficult new recipes than force herself to talk to one new person.
Goodbye, East Dumpsford Elementary. Hello, Dumpsford Township Middle School! As summer comes to a close and culinary wunderkind Gladys Gatsby prepares for the first day of seventh grade, a new school will soon be the least of her worries as Gladys contends with new clubs, new commitments, new friends (and enemies), new rules and new beginnings. With her plate increasingly full and her status as the New York Standard‘s preeminent restaurant critic still a carefully-guarded secret, Gladys will have to work harder than ever before as she faces her most difficult challenges yet.
…She couldn’t help but think back to the way her classmates (mostly girls) used to make fun of her love of arugula. And that was just a salad green! Now Sandy actually wanted to have a reputation at his school for eating gross foods?
Boys were weird.
Reading Tara Dairman’s Stars So Sweet, the third and final instalment in the author’s throughly enchanting All Four Stars middle grade series, was an incredibly bittersweet experience. For the last three years, a new release from Dairman has been one of the highlights of my summer, and while I was eager to embark on another adventure with Gladys Gatsby, I couldn’t help but grow sad that this novel would mark our final journey together. That said, as things heat up in and out of the kitchen, I can think of no better way to bid adieu to this scrumptious series than Stars So Sweet, a tasty morsel that’s good to the last bite and proves to be the author’s sweetest book yet.
Gladys sighed. It was great to have her talents appreciated, especially since it was a feeling she didn’t always get at home. But it didn’t feel so great to know Fiona’s admiration was still based on a big deception. If Fiona knew how truly unique Gladys’ voice was, would she still be so interested in having her at the paper full-time?
Over-committed and under a great deal of pressure, the stakes have never been higher for Gladys Gatsby as she is forced to juggle academic, personal and professional considerations. Faced with the prospect of a new assignment AND a potential promotion, Gladys’ unintentional deception and secret double life culminate in a taut, exciting adventure that will leave readers on the edge of their seat until the very last page. What will happen when Gladys tells her editor – and her parents! – the truth? Will her dreams be over before they ever truly begun? Only time will tell as Gladys is forced to use every ounce of her courage, creativity and tenacity to determine what the future holds. It is not what challenges Gladys faces, however, but how she faces them that truly define her. Even when she feels as though “a live fish was flopping around in her stomach” or “like a single chocolate chip drowning in a huge bowl of cookie batter”, Gladys never fails to meet each and every challenge head-on with careful, measured judgement and a little extra help and advice from her friends.
“Seeing your goals is the first step. But reaching them often requires taking many more.” She approached Gladys’ desk again. “The good news is that you don’t need to see the entire path clearly to set out on it; you just need to see a few feet ahead of you.”
Stars So Sweet also sees the return of some of the series’ most familiar and beloved secondary characters including Parm Singh, Sandy Anderson, Charissa Bentley, Fiona Inglethorpe, and everyone’s favourite literary prodigy and author of the best-selling novel, Zombietown, U.S.A., Hamilton Herbertson. One of the things readers can appreciate most about Dairman’s supporting cast is that each feels like the main character in their own right, with feelings, aspirations and desires independent of that of the protagonist. In Stars So Sweet, Sandy’s busy working on cementing his legacy as the Gross-Out King and “The Boy Who’ll Eat Anything” at St. Joseph’s Academy, Parm is struggling to raise enough money to allow the girls’ soccer team to attend the regional tournament in Pennsylvania, Charissa is attempting to balance one too many extracurricular activities and Hamilton is trying his best to live a more normal life. Perhaps best of all, much to my surprise and delight Stars So Sweet also includes LGBTQ content as Dairman explores how one of the secondary characters has a crush on another character of the same sex. This revelation is handled with a great deal of thought and sensitivity, and creates a wonderful opportunity for young readers to speak with their parents about the importance of inclusivity, diversity and the beauty of love in any form.
She had spent the afternoon at Rolanda’s house working on the mask cookies with the Drama Club. Several of the other members actually had baking experience, which should have made the undertaking go more smoothly – and it did for a while, until everyone started belting out show tunes from Phantom Of The Opera. Gladys left the house with both a splitting headache and an intense desire to send the chandelier in Rolanda’s dining room crashing down on every screeching, warbling Andrew Lloyd Webber fan there.
Over the course of the All Four Stars trilogy, Tara Dairman has fostered a greater awareness of and appreciation for the role food plays in our lives, encouraging young readers to be unafraid to expand their palate and be more adventuresome in their culinary choices. From exploring the intricacies of Salvadoran, Cuban and Peruvian cuisine to unusual dried meat delicacies like emu, camel, yak, kangaroo and alligator, Stars So Sweet continues this tradition, managing to both entertain and educate as Gladys is exposed to a wide variety of foodstuffs from around the world. As was the case with the previous instalments in the series, however, readers should be warned against devouring Stars So Sweet on an empty stomach as from grilled swordfish dressed with tomato and saffron coulis to rosewater flan, the author’s descriptions of the delectable dishes Gladys encounters on her adventures are as vivid and as mouthwatering as ever. Sparkling dialogue, clever chapter titles (“Lobster Lockdown”, “In Hot Water”, “Pie In The Sky”, “A Sour Note”) and creative twists on ubiquitous icons like Hell’s Kitchen and Shakespeare’s Macbeth ensure that the overall narrative voice is as charming, effervescent and fun as ever. Most importantly, Dairman never condescends to her audience, instead trusting them to pick up on the subtleties of the text, particularly the valuable lessons about honestly, responsibility and diversity Stars So Sweet so delicately touches upon.
She steeled herself. She could ace this test. She would ace this test. She would prove her identity – and, at the same time, prove to her doubting editor that kids could appreciate more than just chicken fingers and ketchup.
What can I possibly say about this wonderful, wondrous series that I haven’t said already? Stars So Sweet and its predecessors deserve all four stars and then some as Tara Dairman proves once and for all that there is no age limit on a truly exceptional story. Whether you’re young or young at heart, readers of all ages will be able to delight in the hijinks and hilarity of the adventures of Gladys Gatsby as she takes on everything from bake sales and middle school dances to journalistic integrity and entrepreneurial enterprises. In Gladys, accomplished middle grade author Tara Dairman has crafted a character as timeless, as delightful, and as loveable as any created for this (or any other) age group, and one that can stand proudly shoulder-to-shoulder with the Harriet M. Welschs and Sara Crewes of the world. Three cheers for Gladys Gatsby!
Please Note: All quotations included in this review have been taken from an advance reader copy and therefore might be subject to change.
Read
June 22, 2017I was disappointed with this conclusion to the series. I guess maybe only Indiana Jones is best in the third installment. :)
While most of the book was enjoyable enough, a few things stuck with me after finishing.
For me, far too much focus on romantic relationships for a book starring 12-year-olds.
Secondly, and most importantly, the consequences of the MC keeping a HUGE secret from her parents for months were very mild and glib--and those other adults keeping her secret? I don't know...it made me feel uncomfortable. I want my kids to know that they can tell me anything, and I'd hope the other adults in their life would never encourage them to keep serious secrets.
And I admit I'm really tired of authors giving into stereotypes about homeschoolers. (For the record, these stereotypes were also present in Book 2, but they were only magnified here.) Please, please, authors, talk to a bunch of homeschoolers before inserting them as convenient characters in your books. Just because you assume something must be true doesn't mean it is, and we don't appreciate misrepresentation more than any other underrepresented category. I'm not trying to sound mean here, really, but it's starting to seem true what they say about squeaky wheels...
While most of the book was enjoyable enough, a few things stuck with me after finishing.
For me, far too much focus on romantic relationships for a book starring 12-year-olds.
Secondly, and most importantly, the consequences of the MC keeping a HUGE secret from her parents for months were very mild and glib--and those other adults keeping her secret? I don't know...it made me feel uncomfortable. I want my kids to know that they can tell me anything, and I'd hope the other adults in their life would never encourage them to keep serious secrets.
And I admit I'm really tired of authors giving into stereotypes about homeschoolers. (For the record, these stereotypes were also present in Book 2, but they were only magnified here.) Please, please, authors, talk to a bunch of homeschoolers before inserting them as convenient characters in your books. Just because you assume something must be true doesn't mean it is, and we don't appreciate misrepresentation more than any other underrepresented category. I'm not trying to sound mean here, really, but it's starting to seem true what they say about squeaky wheels...
February 10, 2023
3.5 stars! A couple days ago, I read almost the entirety of the second book in this series on my phone while waiting for a concert to start (lol). The next day, when I finished the last bit of the book, I had to go straight to the next, since I wanted to see what would happen if Gladys came clean to her parents! Which, of course, did not happen right away, as she had planned. So, I had no choice but to read the entire book, naturally.
This was a cute series that I had a fun time reading. I'm sad this is the last book? I was so excited that in this book one of Gladys's friends had a baby gay crush on another friend?! This is the first time I've seen that in a middle grade book that wasn't specifically about LGBT issues. Unfortunately, the way it pans out leaves much to be resolved. (But even more disappointing: the fact that some reviewers I just saw elsewhere considered the inclusion of this crush to ruin the book. Yikes.)
This was a cute series that I had a fun time reading. I'm sad this is the last book? I was so excited that in this book one of Gladys's friends had a baby gay crush on another friend?! This is the first time I've seen that in a middle grade book that wasn't specifically about LGBT issues. Unfortunately, the way it pans out leaves much to be resolved. (But even more disappointing: the fact that some reviewers I just saw elsewhere considered the inclusion of this crush to ruin the book. Yikes.)
February 25, 2023
gladys has more emotional and in general maturity in her one thumb than most adults have in their own person. i felt the handling of her secret identity was pretty unrealistic, but it was otherwise a good time c:
March 22, 2025
My favorite of the three!
Narrator: Kathleen McInerny
4.5 stars
Narrator: Kathleen McInerny
4.5 stars
July 13, 2016
Originally posted at Log Cabin Library
Opening line: "Glady Gatsby felt like a fish was flopping around in her stomach."
It's the first day of school and time for Gladys to catch up with her best friends, Parm and Charrisa. Moving up to middle school means lots of changes, like having to meet new people when you no longer share any classes with your two best friends. At the same time, Gladys has been struggling with feeling guilty and being a little dishonest for not revealing her secret job as a food critic to her parents yet, but she's really trying to come up with a plan to break it to them gently. Things become increasingly complicated when Gladys editor wants to meet with her face to face and maybe now is the time to be honest with Fiona too. Yet when Fiona backs her into a corner, Gladys' Aunt Lydia offers to help, despite her own string of bad luck, and Gladys finds out that Fiona has an offer for Gladys that is pretty hard to refuse. I've always had a fondness for Gladys ever since I've met her in All Four Stars. I will never forget the beginning of the series, or "the creme brulee incident." Ever since I've adored this "secret agent critics" passion for cooking and loved reading her reviews for the Dining section of the New York Standard. In Stars So Sweet, Gladys was beginning to broaden her horizons joining some school clubs (Mathlete's, Chess Club, and French Club). It's funny how Gladys believed she had everything under control, even though she keeps adding more and more things to her plate. But where would the fun be if things didn't become overwhelming for Gladys when she overcommits herself to helping run the bake sale fundraisers for all her clubs from school, even a few she's not even a member of? Despite the chaos erupting around her, Gladys always stays true to her passions (cooking and writing food critic reviews). I adore her creative spirit and love for fine foods. This time around we're introduced to Salvadoran, Peruvian, and Cuban cuisines, along with some delectable references to treats like buñuelo's, soccer ball-shaped cookies and macarons. This is the kind of book that you want to read with your favorite dessert handy, cause I guarantee you'll get hungry. Dairman has a knack for making cooking sound so fun and trying dishes from many different cultures exciting. Her own passion for cooking really shines through, and any future foodies would be inspired as well. Stars So Sweet wraps up everything from the series nicely, there's even a visit to Gladys former teacher, Ms. Quincy, for some sound advice about Gladys being honest with herself, and we find out why Gladys hasn't heard from Hamilton in a long while. Although Gladys never made it to France, I was happy to see that Aunt Lydia gets to have a more prominent role in the series. Do I hope there will be more books in the future, most definitely, but I am also very happy with the way things ended? Yep, even the surprise that was revealed at the very end, which I didn't see coming by the way. Bittersweet to see the end of yet another beloved series, but now I have The Great Hibernation of St. Polonius on the Fjord to look forward to.
* A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review for a blog tour*
Opening line: "Glady Gatsby felt like a fish was flopping around in her stomach."
It's the first day of school and time for Gladys to catch up with her best friends, Parm and Charrisa. Moving up to middle school means lots of changes, like having to meet new people when you no longer share any classes with your two best friends. At the same time, Gladys has been struggling with feeling guilty and being a little dishonest for not revealing her secret job as a food critic to her parents yet, but she's really trying to come up with a plan to break it to them gently. Things become increasingly complicated when Gladys editor wants to meet with her face to face and maybe now is the time to be honest with Fiona too. Yet when Fiona backs her into a corner, Gladys' Aunt Lydia offers to help, despite her own string of bad luck, and Gladys finds out that Fiona has an offer for Gladys that is pretty hard to refuse. I've always had a fondness for Gladys ever since I've met her in All Four Stars. I will never forget the beginning of the series, or "the creme brulee incident." Ever since I've adored this "secret agent critics" passion for cooking and loved reading her reviews for the Dining section of the New York Standard. In Stars So Sweet, Gladys was beginning to broaden her horizons joining some school clubs (Mathlete's, Chess Club, and French Club). It's funny how Gladys believed she had everything under control, even though she keeps adding more and more things to her plate. But where would the fun be if things didn't become overwhelming for Gladys when she overcommits herself to helping run the bake sale fundraisers for all her clubs from school, even a few she's not even a member of? Despite the chaos erupting around her, Gladys always stays true to her passions (cooking and writing food critic reviews). I adore her creative spirit and love for fine foods. This time around we're introduced to Salvadoran, Peruvian, and Cuban cuisines, along with some delectable references to treats like buñuelo's, soccer ball-shaped cookies and macarons. This is the kind of book that you want to read with your favorite dessert handy, cause I guarantee you'll get hungry. Dairman has a knack for making cooking sound so fun and trying dishes from many different cultures exciting. Her own passion for cooking really shines through, and any future foodies would be inspired as well. Stars So Sweet wraps up everything from the series nicely, there's even a visit to Gladys former teacher, Ms. Quincy, for some sound advice about Gladys being honest with herself, and we find out why Gladys hasn't heard from Hamilton in a long while. Although Gladys never made it to France, I was happy to see that Aunt Lydia gets to have a more prominent role in the series. Do I hope there will be more books in the future, most definitely, but I am also very happy with the way things ended? Yep, even the surprise that was revealed at the very end, which I didn't see coming by the way. Bittersweet to see the end of yet another beloved series, but now I have The Great Hibernation of St. Polonius on the Fjord to look forward to.
* A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review for a blog tour*
October 16, 2016
Gladys is nervous about starting middle school. With Charissa and Parm there with her, Gladys feels she can handle anything - until school starts; the friends are separated, the school newspaper editor seems to have it out for Gladys and every club wants her help for a fundraising bake sale. This is on top of pressure from her parents to join a club, regular school work and her restaurant reviews. Then her editor, Fiona, has a major proposition for her and the stakes get a lot higher. With her friends by her side and help from her Aunt Lydia, Gladys comes up with a plan to solve that problem. If only navigating middle school was as easy. Finally, she has a big decision to make that could change her future.
This final volume in the series revolves around an atypical girl with very modern problems. Kids today are so crazy busy and Gladys has the extra responsibility of writing her anonymous restaurant reviews. I wasn't thrilled with the middle school plot- is middle school EVER fun for anyone? I really liked the bake sale creativity -finally Gladys makes something I eat and am into. The biggest complaint I have about the whole series is the clueless adults. Adults are not that stupid, despite what kids may think. Fiona has to be the most idiotic adult and her cluelessness is rather unrealistic.
Though I didn't like the middle school plot, I liked the character development. Gladys is not the only one to have gone through a long journey in the last 6 months. She's mature beyond her years but she's also mellowed and become a bit more tween-like now she has friends. Parm finally gets her day. She grows a little bit by the end of the book. She's my favorite character because I identify with her eating habits, however, what kid doesn't love ice cream and cookies?! What is WRONG with her?! Charissa has come the farthest since the first book. She's always been self-confident around other kids but now she's nicer about it. Her vibrant personality is an asset in winning true friends who can't help but love her for her enthusiasm. I wasn't surprised at the identity of the person she LIKES but felt what happened was more realistic than just about anything else she's done.
Gladys's friend Sandy has a subplot of his own. Since this involves eating gross foods it wasn't appealing to me but I think boys will like the book because of it. Boys are weird. He adds a lot of humor to the story. He's immature but he's a boy and acts like a a normal 11 year old boy.
Her parents remain clueless as usual. I liked what happened with them at the end though. They are weird but mean well.
The only new major character here is Aunt Lydia. Her constant infusion of French words and puns on Gladys's name got on my nerves. I also didn't like how Gladys took on the role of adult but I can see why this would appeal to middle schoolers.
I enjoyed this series and I can't wait to share it with my nieces and nephews when they're older. One niece is interested in cooking/baking, the other and her little brother are picky eaters so I know this book will appeal to the three older kids.
This final volume in the series revolves around an atypical girl with very modern problems. Kids today are so crazy busy and Gladys has the extra responsibility of writing her anonymous restaurant reviews. I wasn't thrilled with the middle school plot- is middle school EVER fun for anyone? I really liked the bake sale creativity -finally Gladys makes something I eat and am into. The biggest complaint I have about the whole series is the clueless adults. Adults are not that stupid, despite what kids may think. Fiona has to be the most idiotic adult and her cluelessness is rather unrealistic.
Though I didn't like the middle school plot, I liked the character development. Gladys is not the only one to have gone through a long journey in the last 6 months. She's mature beyond her years but she's also mellowed and become a bit more tween-like now she has friends. Parm finally gets her day. She grows a little bit by the end of the book. She's my favorite character because I identify with her eating habits, however, what kid doesn't love ice cream and cookies?! What is WRONG with her?! Charissa has come the farthest since the first book. She's always been self-confident around other kids but now she's nicer about it. Her vibrant personality is an asset in winning true friends who can't help but love her for her enthusiasm. I wasn't surprised at the identity of the person she LIKES but felt what happened was more realistic than just about anything else she's done.
Gladys's friend Sandy has a subplot of his own. Since this involves eating gross foods it wasn't appealing to me but I think boys will like the book because of it. Boys are weird. He adds a lot of humor to the story. He's immature but he's a boy and acts like a a normal 11 year old boy.
Her parents remain clueless as usual. I liked what happened with them at the end though. They are weird but mean well.
The only new major character here is Aunt Lydia. Her constant infusion of French words and puns on Gladys's name got on my nerves. I also didn't like how Gladys took on the role of adult but I can see why this would appeal to middle schoolers.
I enjoyed this series and I can't wait to share it with my nieces and nephews when they're older. One niece is interested in cooking/baking, the other and her little brother are picky eaters so I know this book will appeal to the three older kids.
September 9, 2016
Original (and full) review posted on kitchen frolic.
(Note: I was sent an ARC from the publisher in order to do a review)
When I was told I'd be getting a copy of Stars So Sweet to review, I must say, I had a major case of the bittersweets – on one hand, I was super excited to dive into another Gladys Gatsby adventure … but on the other hand, I knew it was the final book in this fun little trilogy, which meant that it was the LAST Gladys Gatsby adventure.
In this last instalment, Gladys, our intrepid young food-lover and restaurant critic, decides that it’s time to admit to her parents and her editor that she’s the real ‘G. Gatsby’ behind the well-received restaurant reviews that have been published in the country’s biggest newsppaper, the New York Standard.
However, Gladys’ plans to come clean get sidetracked when her beloved aunt Lydia arrives from Paris with a crisis of her own. Gladys must now deal with confessing her parents, helping Aunt Lydia with her personal problems, holding off a face-to-face meeting with her editor, PLUS navigating the intimidating new world of middle school.
To make matters worse, her parents have limited her kitchen time to once a week AND her kind-of crush, Hamilton Herbertson (who just happens to be a best-selling author) hasn’t even bothered to email or call her since their date. What’s a girl to do?
Although it sounds like Gladys is dealing with A LOT, our little heroine plucks her way through with only a mis-step (or two). Don’t get me wrong, it’s not always smooth sailing (I was kind of glad to see she struggles with baking macarons in the kitchen too!) and it definitely reminds me of how confusing and intimidating middle school can be!
The usual cast of characters are all back for this last book – her reliable friends (Parm, Charissa and Sandy), her parents (who are finally trying out more than take-out and microwave dinners), her crush Herbert and the other adults in Gladys’ world (her editor Fiona, the gourmet grocer Mr. Eng and of course, her aunt Lydia).
Book three wraps up most of the storylines – Will Gladys come clean as the Standard’s popular restaurant critic? Will Aunt Lydia stay in New York? – but also sets up some gentle open-ended questions to leave the reader imagining what the rest of Gladys’ school years will be like – Will Herbert become her boyfriend? Will her parents let her back into the kitchen regularly? Will Charissa’s unrequited crush ever find out?
So, there it is – the final book in the All Four Stars trilogy. To say I’m sad about waving goodbye to Gladys Gatsby is a bit of an understatement. Even though these books are technically for the middle-school crowd, I definitely enjoyed them immensely and highly recommend them to all young foodies and young-at-heart foodies alike.
(Note: I was sent an ARC from the publisher in order to do a review)
When I was told I'd be getting a copy of Stars So Sweet to review, I must say, I had a major case of the bittersweets – on one hand, I was super excited to dive into another Gladys Gatsby adventure … but on the other hand, I knew it was the final book in this fun little trilogy, which meant that it was the LAST Gladys Gatsby adventure.
In this last instalment, Gladys, our intrepid young food-lover and restaurant critic, decides that it’s time to admit to her parents and her editor that she’s the real ‘G. Gatsby’ behind the well-received restaurant reviews that have been published in the country’s biggest newsppaper, the New York Standard.
However, Gladys’ plans to come clean get sidetracked when her beloved aunt Lydia arrives from Paris with a crisis of her own. Gladys must now deal with confessing her parents, helping Aunt Lydia with her personal problems, holding off a face-to-face meeting with her editor, PLUS navigating the intimidating new world of middle school.
To make matters worse, her parents have limited her kitchen time to once a week AND her kind-of crush, Hamilton Herbertson (who just happens to be a best-selling author) hasn’t even bothered to email or call her since their date. What’s a girl to do?
Although it sounds like Gladys is dealing with A LOT, our little heroine plucks her way through with only a mis-step (or two). Don’t get me wrong, it’s not always smooth sailing (I was kind of glad to see she struggles with baking macarons in the kitchen too!) and it definitely reminds me of how confusing and intimidating middle school can be!
The usual cast of characters are all back for this last book – her reliable friends (Parm, Charissa and Sandy), her parents (who are finally trying out more than take-out and microwave dinners), her crush Herbert and the other adults in Gladys’ world (her editor Fiona, the gourmet grocer Mr. Eng and of course, her aunt Lydia).
Book three wraps up most of the storylines – Will Gladys come clean as the Standard’s popular restaurant critic? Will Aunt Lydia stay in New York? – but also sets up some gentle open-ended questions to leave the reader imagining what the rest of Gladys’ school years will be like – Will Herbert become her boyfriend? Will her parents let her back into the kitchen regularly? Will Charissa’s unrequited crush ever find out?
So, there it is – the final book in the All Four Stars trilogy. To say I’m sad about waving goodbye to Gladys Gatsby is a bit of an understatement. Even though these books are technically for the middle-school crowd, I definitely enjoyed them immensely and highly recommend them to all young foodies and young-at-heart foodies alike.
September 4, 2016
This was a cute one. I liked how Gladys managed to face middle school, find a way to fit in and join as her parents are always after her for. Gladys also managed to come clean about her job. I thought she did that in a good way, one that would let her keep her foot in the door and do what she loved.
July 7, 2018
I LOVE this series! Easy reads now but still really good.
June 8, 2017
Did Tara Dairman stop loving food?
Her character Gladys has. Her parents let her in the kitchen only once a week, and she's mad but shows no sign of suffering through the meals she can't cook.
She doesn't seem to be studying recipies for fun or reading food writing any more. When she eats good things, I don't feel the enthusiam, just the documenting of fact.
She cooks, but it's out of a sense of duty and a charitable desire to fundraise for clubs through her bake sales. She doesn't seem to tease through recipies with breathless anticipation. She doesn't try a dozen of them, and is thrilled when one is what she wants. She doesn't ask other kids to go with her ideas and have to argue them into it.
She presents fully formed ideas, the other kids love it, and under her guidance execute them flawlessly on the first try, after which all the other kids in school (except her friend Parm) without exception adore them. No matter what they are. Or what went into them.
She goes to review three more restaurants. I feel like I missed them. All the attention at each is on the personal drama of whichever friend she brought, with bare glances spared for the food. Afterward, there's a paragraph of her review, which she apparently whipped up with no thought.
Gladys doesn't care, so I don't care.
Hamilton is a frustrating background figure. A pity, since I wanted to see him develop as a person. More attention was given to the dubious friendship of Charissa and Parm (both girls), and Charissa's dawning crush on Parm, who mercifully is unaware and uninterested. It's painfully unbelievable.
Charissa does makeovers, student leadership, math, summer camps, activities like ballet and horseback riding, exotic food, and glittering social events. She hates sports, grunge, dull food, people who won't dress up, and unsocial people. Gladys was her first friend out of her box...because Gladys turned out to have class, enjoy social events, and was really wonderful with the exotic food.
Parm loves sports, comfy and grungy clothes, and being a loner. She scorns dressing up, makeovers, and glittering social events. She hates exotic food, preppy activities like ballet and horseback riding, and things like student leadership.
Both are exactly what the other one most looks down on and hates to have to be around. I like that Gladys can manage to be friends with both. But Parm and Charissa, in their more narrow outlooks, are completely unbelievable as friends -- much less as a crush, much less from Charissa to Parm. I've known a number of girls like Charissa, and I didn't know one who didn't have serious standards where romance was concerned.
Generally, the book was dull and forced. The humor was mostly gone, as was all of the sparkle. There was a certain amount of drama that felt stuck in "to give the readers something to care about to get them through the book".
It is nice that Gladys finally got to tell the truth to her parents and her editor. It's sad that she's been nerfed down to a part time junior writer with a column for kids. Oh, well. At least we'll always still have the first book.
Her character Gladys has. Her parents let her in the kitchen only once a week, and she's mad but shows no sign of suffering through the meals she can't cook.
She doesn't seem to be studying recipies for fun or reading food writing any more. When she eats good things, I don't feel the enthusiam, just the documenting of fact.
She cooks, but it's out of a sense of duty and a charitable desire to fundraise for clubs through her bake sales. She doesn't seem to tease through recipies with breathless anticipation. She doesn't try a dozen of them, and is thrilled when one is what she wants. She doesn't ask other kids to go with her ideas and have to argue them into it.
She presents fully formed ideas, the other kids love it, and under her guidance execute them flawlessly on the first try, after which all the other kids in school (except her friend Parm) without exception adore them. No matter what they are. Or what went into them.
She goes to review three more restaurants. I feel like I missed them. All the attention at each is on the personal drama of whichever friend she brought, with bare glances spared for the food. Afterward, there's a paragraph of her review, which she apparently whipped up with no thought.
Gladys doesn't care, so I don't care.
Hamilton is a frustrating background figure. A pity, since I wanted to see him develop as a person. More attention was given to the dubious friendship of Charissa and Parm (both girls), and Charissa's dawning crush on Parm, who mercifully is unaware and uninterested. It's painfully unbelievable.
Charissa does makeovers, student leadership, math, summer camps, activities like ballet and horseback riding, exotic food, and glittering social events. She hates sports, grunge, dull food, people who won't dress up, and unsocial people. Gladys was her first friend out of her box...because Gladys turned out to have class, enjoy social events, and was really wonderful with the exotic food.
Parm loves sports, comfy and grungy clothes, and being a loner. She scorns dressing up, makeovers, and glittering social events. She hates exotic food, preppy activities like ballet and horseback riding, and things like student leadership.
Both are exactly what the other one most looks down on and hates to have to be around. I like that Gladys can manage to be friends with both. But Parm and Charissa, in their more narrow outlooks, are completely unbelievable as friends -- much less as a crush, much less from Charissa to Parm. I've known a number of girls like Charissa, and I didn't know one who didn't have serious standards where romance was concerned.
Generally, the book was dull and forced. The humor was mostly gone, as was all of the sparkle. There was a certain amount of drama that felt stuck in "to give the readers something to care about to get them through the book".
It is nice that Gladys finally got to tell the truth to her parents and her editor. It's sad that she's been nerfed down to a part time junior writer with a column for kids. Oh, well. At least we'll always still have the first book.
December 31, 2016
There’s so much potential in a story about a junior-high girl who masquerades as a restaurant critic, but I continue to be disappointed by Gladys Gatsby and her lukewarm tales.
Stars So Sweet is too, too full of different subplots, like a dish made by a cook who doesn’t understand that with seasoning, sometimes less is more. If the subplots were intriguing or tied together, I would be more onboard with such a crowded novel. Plus, a couple of them required that eye-rolling crutch of adults being totally inept in order to make Gladys look that much more amazing. As someone who hated that trope even when I was the target audience (it’s so much more fun when kids outsmart smart adults!), I found it even more obnoxious when the child in question is supposedly some food critic prodigy.
As the book opens, Gladys is stressing about her parents not knowing about her secret career and a whole bunch of other stuff. Rather unkindly, I several times had the thought: No, Gladys, I rather understand why you don’t have a lot of friends, because you seem like one of those quiet types who is actually an exhausting drama queen.
I say this next part from personal experience: the quiet drama queens are always the worst.
As a child, I loved cooking. Adored it. And I was a bookworm. I would have been the prime audience for this book, but I doubt I would have made it beyond the first entry into this series.
There are some many creative, funny MG novels out there with interesting protagonists and thrilling conflicts that this one is a pass for me. Not recommended.
Stars So Sweet is too, too full of different subplots, like a dish made by a cook who doesn’t understand that with seasoning, sometimes less is more. If the subplots were intriguing or tied together, I would be more onboard with such a crowded novel. Plus, a couple of them required that eye-rolling crutch of adults being totally inept in order to make Gladys look that much more amazing. As someone who hated that trope even when I was the target audience (it’s so much more fun when kids outsmart smart adults!), I found it even more obnoxious when the child in question is supposedly some food critic prodigy.
As the book opens, Gladys is stressing about her parents not knowing about her secret career and a whole bunch of other stuff. Rather unkindly, I several times had the thought: No, Gladys, I rather understand why you don’t have a lot of friends, because you seem like one of those quiet types who is actually an exhausting drama queen.
I say this next part from personal experience: the quiet drama queens are always the worst.
As a child, I loved cooking. Adored it. And I was a bookworm. I would have been the prime audience for this book, but I doubt I would have made it beyond the first entry into this series.
There are some many creative, funny MG novels out there with interesting protagonists and thrilling conflicts that this one is a pass for me. Not recommended.
May 24, 2017
"Stars So Sweet," the third installment in Tara Dairman's "All Four Stars" series, serves up a tasty mixture of humorous "foodie adventures" and relatable "school anecdotes," as experienced by the talented (and maturing!) Gladys Gatsby. Continuing the flavor profile of the first two books, Dairman skillfully incorporates meaningful life lessons and coming-of-age discoveries in a fresh and subtle way. Several half-baked details and plot twists come to fruition in this purported conclusion to the series, and readers are likely to feel satisfied (if not always surprised) by the resolution of various plot lines.
Unfortunately, Dairman may have taken this particular story "off the burner" a bit prematurely, as several episodes lack the depth and detailed descriptions found in books one and two. Dairman had all of the necessary ingredients to concoct a savory conclusion, but the overall taste of this installment seemed a bit bland...almost like a wonderful homemade sauce served before simmering. The unexpected revelation of a (somewhat secretive) homosexual crush by one of the main characters--within the last 25 pages--felt contrived and off-putting, like a spice carelessly thrown into the mix.
I had hoped this literary meal would end as superbly as it had started, but I suppose even talented chefs (and authors) have their "less-than-four-star" days.
Unfortunately, Dairman may have taken this particular story "off the burner" a bit prematurely, as several episodes lack the depth and detailed descriptions found in books one and two. Dairman had all of the necessary ingredients to concoct a savory conclusion, but the overall taste of this installment seemed a bit bland...almost like a wonderful homemade sauce served before simmering. The unexpected revelation of a (somewhat secretive) homosexual crush by one of the main characters--within the last 25 pages--felt contrived and off-putting, like a spice carelessly thrown into the mix.
I had hoped this literary meal would end as superbly as it had started, but I suppose even talented chefs (and authors) have their "less-than-four-star" days.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2018
I have waited a long time to read this book. My local library wouldn't get it so I had to wait 2 years to get it from another library. I was determined to find out how this story ended... And frankly, it was not a great as I had hoped.
I forget that Gladys is only 12 years old because I swear sometimes she behaves like she is 16 (was Tara wishing she was writing young adult?). Complaining that a boy has not made contact with her, you can contact him, my dear. And why do you want a phone to send this boy private messages? I like Hamilton and he doesn't seem like that kind of boy. However, glad she finally told her parents about what has been going on.
Also, Lydia is a grown woman, she should be handling her problems herself. I would be annoyed if I had a 12 year old offering to help solve my problems.
I agree with Elaine, you said you were busy (with what she was going to busy with I'm not sure) and then joined all these clubs ( even if it was just a chance to cook more). That wasn't cool.
By the end of the book Gladys had made lots of friends, I just don't think she realised it or chose to acknowledge it. I feel like this book wasn't about the food and when it was, it was about Sandy trying to gross out the kids at his school.
Glad I finished the series but this could have been better (again wondering if I am just too old to read these books)
I forget that Gladys is only 12 years old because I swear sometimes she behaves like she is 16 (was Tara wishing she was writing young adult?). Complaining that a boy has not made contact with her, you can contact him, my dear. And why do you want a phone to send this boy private messages? I like Hamilton and he doesn't seem like that kind of boy. However, glad she finally told her parents about what has been going on.
Also, Lydia is a grown woman, she should be handling her problems herself. I would be annoyed if I had a 12 year old offering to help solve my problems.
I agree with Elaine, you said you were busy (with what she was going to busy with I'm not sure) and then joined all these clubs ( even if it was just a chance to cook more). That wasn't cool.
By the end of the book Gladys had made lots of friends, I just don't think she realised it or chose to acknowledge it. I feel like this book wasn't about the food and when it was, it was about Sandy trying to gross out the kids at his school.
Glad I finished the series but this could have been better (again wondering if I am just too old to read these books)
March 6, 2018
I feel like a jerk for giving this book only 3 stars. I think I would have loved the book if I was in middle grade -- it was just a tad too predictable for an adult reader.
I loved the characters, though! A really excellent cast of secondary characters. Sad to see that some people are downvoting the book just because one of the characters comes out as gay. Spoiler alert, concerned parents of the world: some people are gay. Some children will grow up and discover they're gay. It's good to have books that tell those children that it's okay. Maybe some people should go back and re-read the entire series, especially the bits where Gladys stops the adults around her from behaving like close-minded fools.
I loved the characters, though! A really excellent cast of secondary characters. Sad to see that some people are downvoting the book just because one of the characters comes out as gay. Spoiler alert, concerned parents of the world: some people are gay. Some children will grow up and discover they're gay. It's good to have books that tell those children that it's okay. Maybe some people should go back and re-read the entire series, especially the bits where Gladys stops the adults around her from behaving like close-minded fools.
October 18, 2018
I have thoroughly enjoyed the authors way of simplifying complex tastes and emotions through out the series. I was happy to see an honest portrayal of the awkward years between childhood and being a teenager. I appreciated Gladys’s desire to make good kind decisions. I want more role models like her. And I appreciated the sapphic undertones of one of the characters, it was not blatant though the clues were there throughout the series. It’s nice for girls to identify with the characters and not make orientation the focal point of a characters development. I will be purchasing these book for all of my nieces to read!
January 26, 2021
I really loved the foodie focus of this series and the main character was so endearing. I enjoyed seeing how the plot lines resolved but was a bit disappointed in focus on dating in this book. It was frustrating since the other books blissfully didn't rely on middle school stereotypes of school life. One particular situation of a side character felt unnecessary but at least it was only a blip in the story. I loved the writers style and unique story so overall still a great series that I would highly recommend.
May 7, 2021
This was such a cute series. I read a big chunk of them aloud with my daughter, who also loves to bake and who is also the same age as the main character. She really connected with her. While I wouldn’t encourage huge secrets kept from your parents (preteen baker/chef/foodie Gladys Gatsby wins a contest and becomes a restaurant critic for a high profile NY newspaper, under the guise that she’s an adult! Ha!), I loved Gladys’s spirit, heart, and passion for her baking and cooking despite all odds.
April 26, 2025
Why oh why does a charming middle school book have to go "there". I loved All Four Stars and bought it for my grandaughter and niece. I read the Summer Stars and just picked up Stars so Sweet until I go to he page where one of the main characters has a crush on a girl.
This book was such an enjoyable read until page 170. Before I hear well this happens, yes I know but does not need to get in the head of Middle school girls or boys who are on their own life journey. WRONG
A disappointing read
This book was such an enjoyable read until page 170. Before I hear well this happens, yes I know but does not need to get in the head of Middle school girls or boys who are on their own life journey. WRONG
A disappointing read
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