K10: FINLEY FLOWERS: ORIGINAL RECIPE by Jessica Young

The Kidliterati Ten is an interview series with young readers. We ask them about a favorite book and hope that you enjoy their answers.

Tell us a little about yourself: what is your first name, how old are you, and what is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

My name is Eva. I am 5 and three quarters old. Vanilla is my favorite ice cream!

What book did you read and why did you choose it?

I read Finley Flowers: Original Recipe. I read this one because it's the first one I picked out of my bookshelf. And I like to cook! My mommy read the book to me.

Can you describe this book in one word?

Capers! [Mom adds: You'll have to read the book to find out what this means!]

What was your favorite part of this story?

The chapter about the capers. Finley's little sister, Evie, put capers to Finley's recipe. It's really funny! I liked Evie a lot.

If you had a problem similar to the main character's problem, what would you do?

If I had to come up with a recipe for a cooking contest like Finley, I'd make a cake.

What would you say to your best friend to convince them to read this book?

I'd tell her that it's a really good story. And it's funny!

What do you think about the book's cover?

I like it. Finley looks like fun, and there are capers on the cover.

Would you want to read another book about these characters? Why or why not?

Yeah! I thought Evie was really funny. I hope she's in the next book.

Can you name another book that reminds you of this one?

No. I can't think of any!

If you could ask the author one question about this book what would it be?

Why are there capers in this book???

Author Jessica Young responded to Eva's question:

I sure wish I had a better answer for you. I don't remember how old I was when I found out that capers were pickled flower buds, but I remember being surprised. I like them, but they have a salty, distinctive taste that some might not appreciate, and they look kind of mysterious if you don't know what they are. When I was trying to think of ingredients for Finley to find in her fridge and mix together in her experimental recipes, I opened my own fridge, and there they were!

More about Finley Flowers: Original Recipe . . . 

Finley's best friend Henry is about to turn nine, and Finley has a major problem: she has no idea what to give him for his birthday. He already owns all of her best creations! The school cook-off might be the perfect solution. The grand prize is a year's worth of Flying Pie Pizza, Henry's favorite. But coming up with something original and tasty is harder than it looks. As one crazy concoction leads to another, Finley discovers that cooking is just like the rest of life - things don't always turn out as planned and that friendship is the real prize.