Review by Booklist Review
Layne Green is a social media influencer and the head cook at a local restaurant. He dreams of being a contestant on Voyage de Gourmet, which tests competitors' culinary skills while combating the game show's crazy antics. He's ecstatic to be chosen, but to his astonishment, he's teamed up with Jang-Mi Pipper, his ex-friend. Jang-Mi and Layne had a falling out after Layne posted a personal video online of Jang-Mi to gain followers. Layne has always believed he did nothing wrong, but Jang-Mi begs to differ, and as the competition rages on, Layne begins to think he might have been in the wrong. This Survivor meets Iron Chef comic will resonate with readers who have an ever-growing obsession with social media and follower counts, not to mention food TV. Bold colors and stylized figure designs add to the lively tone, and each character is given the space to have a distinct personality and voice. This graphic novel highlights the importance of acknowledging your mistakes and apologizing to those you hurt.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 7 Up--The Amazing Race meets Top Chef in this graphic novel about friendship set within a reality show cooking competition that isn't afraid to throw its protagonists into the fire. Told primarily in the present time line of the show, this full-color graphic novel begins with a series of flashbacks to young Layne and Jang-Mi who were driven apart by Layne's choices on social media. Now they're both internet famous, partnered on the show, and put to the test in more ways than one. Through underwater pizza cooking, drone-delivery of burgers, blind-folded sandwich-making, and more, readers come to know not only the protagonists but also the diverse and wild cast of characters around them. As the adventures unfold, Jang-Mi must decide whether she can forgive Layne for what he did and find a way to be partners again, and even friends. VERDICT Full of hilarious challenges, action-packed arguments, and a relatable (if not exaggerated) friendship debacle, this graphic novel is perfect for fans of Batter Royale and Chef's Kiss.--Aryssa Damron
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Estranged friends paired up in a cooking competition get the chance to repair their relationship in Tobin's YA graphic novel. Layne Green and Jang-Mi Pipper discovered their love of cooking together as children. Now teenagers, they've each become social media stars with loads of followers. They're also no longer friends; Layne pulled a thoughtless stunt that severed their relationship. As luck would have it, the two wind up as a team on Voyage de Gourmet, a culinary show in which competitors vie for fame and a cash prize. Layne and Jang-Mi will face off against six other teams in challenges taking place around the world. The tasks are grueling, including scouring a Sumatran jungle for ingredients and cooking while blindfolded; if the former friends want a shot at winning, they'll have to rely on one another. Maybe Jang-Mi can learn to trust Layne again, if he can only find the right way to say he's sorry to the girl he betrayed. Tobin's exuberant story takes readers on a global trek. The contestants, who compete in such beautiful settings as Brussels and Huangshan City, hail from a variety of locales, from Japan to Australia. It's fun to follow the characters as they bond with others on opposing teams, although the easy-to-hate team that gets along with no one is equally entertaining ("Flip's dad is the CEO of the Red Range Cigarette Company; Flop's family made their fortune in plastic packaging"). The highlight of the story is the drama between Layne and Jang-Mi, who, with effort from both, may get back what they've lost. Humor is abundant, especially in the form of Frog, Jang-Mi's adorable, ever-barking dog (who often lends a helping paw), and in the portrayal of the loud, gleefully overdramatic Voyage host, Bombo Arjuna. Milton's anime-style illustrations match the narrative's energy with colorful, exaggerated facial cues and bouts of action. An endearing tale of food and camaraderie, served in an animated fashion. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
