The Last Super Chef, Chris Negron - When Food and Family Collide

Summary: The Last Super Chef

Curtis Pith is a huge fan of the cooking show, Super Chef, and not just because he loves cooking. He has a huge secret: the host of the show, Lucas Taylor is his father. So when Chef Taylor announces a final season of the show, but for kids, Curtis knows he has to apply. Once he’s accepted and meets the four other kids, it’s straight to work. Between contests, homesickness, and figuring out how to keep his secret while observing Lucas Taylor’s changing behavior, Curtis has his hands full. But will he be The Last Super Chef?

The Good

I’m a HUGE FAN of the Masterchef cooking shows and the competition in this book was akin to those, so I loved every minute the kids were in the kitchen. Those moments and really all of the book is well written and fast-paced. The five kids chosen from different parts of the world form a great crew and I liked seeing the possible behind-the-scenes actions of cooking shows.

Curtis and his mother and sister don’t have a lot of money, so he has to be resourceful in the kitchen. I loved his relationship with Paige, his sister and the way they look out for each other. It was refreshing to have zero bullying throughout the story. As realistic as those are, the bullying plots give a me a lot of anxiety. Instead, with the kids, we get a glimpse of various family, school, and social challenges middle schoolers face.

Finally, Curtis and Chef Taylor have several interesting scenes together and as readers wait for the big reveal between them, it’ll definitely add a layer of suspense to the story.

The Not-So-Good

I loved this book, but I kept waiting for Curtis to get disciplined for breaking and entering into a neighbor’s house to record his audition video.

Overall: The Last Super Chef

The Last Super Chef is an entertaining middle grade book about food, family, and finding your tribe. Set in a cooking competition between five kids with the backdrop of an intriguing mystery surrounding Curtis and Chef Taylor, this story provides plenty of highs and lows and a seriously mouth-watering experience.