Death by Eggplant

Death by Eggplant introduces Bertie Hooks, an eighth-grader with a secret passion for cooking and a big dream of becoming a world-class chef. He fears being labeled 'nerdy' and keeps his aspirations hidden, particularly from his school rival, Nick Dekker. The story takes a humorous turn when Bertie and Nick are assigned a 'flour-sack baby' project, adding another layer of complication to Bertie's already challenging social life. This chapter book is a funny and heartwarming exploration of self-acceptance, peer pressure, and the courage to pursue one's true calling, even when it feels unconventional. It's perfect for late elementary and middle school readers navigating their own identities and social anxieties.

Eighth-grader Bertie Hooks has to keep his dream of becoming a world-class chef a secret, especially from his mortal enemy, Nick Dekker, and when they both get "flour-sack babies" to take care of for a week, things become even more complicated for Bertie. "It was last-period math, with summer vacation close enough to touch. My daydream was just getting to the part where the cute cooking groupies show me around Stockholm after the Nobel Prize awards dinner. Then Mrs. Menendez 's voice went up a notch, and the groupies vanished. Algebra could scare anyone away." All Bertie wants to do is become a Certified Master Chef, host his own prime-time cooking show, own a four-star restaurant, and write a best-selling cookbook. But first, he has to pass eighth grade! Bertie Hooks has to keep his dream of becoming a world-class chef - how nerdy is that? - a secret, especially from Nick Dekker, his mortal enemy. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll beg for cupcakes, as this hilarious journey to self-confidence takes a few detours along the way.