ELIZA, FROM SCRATCH

A scheduling complication shakes up the life of Korean American senior Eliza Park.

Overachiever Eliza is horrified that she’s been placed in Culinary Arts instead of AP Physics. At wealthy and competitive Highland Hills, this unweighted course may threaten her projected salutatorian status, especially since Eliza has no experience in the kitchen. Used to being the best, she’s immediately riled up by her assigned partner, experienced foodie Wesley Ruengsomboon, who’s Thai American. But perhaps Eliza’s exploration of recipes left by her recently passed halmeoni will help her reconnect with her grieving mother. Culinary Arts sets Eliza on a humbling journey of growth, not only in how she thinks about academics but also in her approach to relationships with family, friends, and Wesley, who becomes less annoying as she gets to know him. Debut author Lee beautifully explores these themes and more with humor and heart. Eliza is a charming narrator; she’s realistically flawed, and her self-awareness and efforts to improve are compelling. Through cooking lessons with her mom, Eliza begins to think deeply about her mother’s life experiences and the realities of immigration, giving her an impetus to reflect on her conflicted connection to South Korea and the relatives there she’s spent little time with. Eliza develops insights into the importance of communication and mutual support among friends, and she and Wesley challenge each other’s perceptions, particularly about how to measure success.

Tender, balanced, and nuanced; a story to savor.