The Truth About Twinkie Pie

Twelve-year-old Galileo Galilei Barnes (shortened to GiGi, for obvious reasons) has been raised by her older sister, DiDi, ever since their mother died. After DiDi wins a million dollars in a cooking contest, the two girls move from a South Carolina trailer park to a wealthy town in Long Island to get GiGi the best education possible. Hoping to make the most of her new school, GiGi has put together a “Recipe for Success,” with items that include making real friends for the first time and being “the girl Mama would be if she were here. Friendly. Funny. Confident.” A cute boy at school and a mean girl who is jealous of her initially appear to be familiar types, but they, along with DiDi, have major surprises in store for GiGi and readers; in her first novel, picture book author Yeh (The Magic Brush) skillfully builds toward a breathless, emotional conclusion. Recipes are scattered throughout, emphasizing the way food connects GiGi to her family—even when she learns her family isn’t quite what she thought it was. Ages 8–12. Agent: Sarah Davies, Greenhouse Literary Agency. (Jan.)