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The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry

The Kitchen Daughter

A Novel

by Jael McHenry

  • Critics' Consensus (0):
  • Readers' Rating (48):
  • Published:
  • Apr 2011, 288 pages
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Jen W. (Denver, CO)

Perfect ingredients for a memorable story
The Kitchen Daughter is a delightful and satisfying read. Ginny is a very compelling character. Her struggle to cope in a sometimes confusing world make the book difficult to put down. Living inside Ginny's head, experiencing the world through Ginny's eyes was powerful. In this book, we don't read about what it's like to have Asperger's Syndrome through distant narrative; we see, feel and experience it as Ginny does. I found solace in Ginny's cooking as much as she did. This book and all the emotions it evoked will stay with me for a long time.
Deborah M. (Los Gatos, CA)

Cooking with Aspergers
A good insight into the mind of a girl with Aspergers Syndrome who is more capable than she or her sister realize. Sheltered by her loving parents, she learns self soothing methods revolving around food and cooking. Part cook , book part Asperger's guide, a fun and inspiring book that is hard to put down. Recommended to those who have family with Austism Spectrum Disorders.
Deborah C. (Orlando, Fla)

The Kitchen Daughter
With a different take on knowing your family, this book is smart, inventive and filled with a 'recipe' for viewing the world from a different perspective: Asperger's syndrome sufferer. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the writing and the ending. Book clubs would find a feast of discussion material. The main character evolves just enough and the plot is interesting; keeping me curious about what comes next. A wonderful read.
Darlene C. (Simpsonville, SC)

The Kitchen Daughter
Awesome! It arrived on Saturday, finished it on Tuesday...sneaking a read every chance I had. Loved the use of food as part of social relationships; hated (but true) the need to define what is "normal" and apply "labels" to people. For all ages, and found it to be a "unique" read.(Recipes included as well as discussion questions.)
Rebecca C. (Opelika, AL)

Great insight.
I read this creative and insightful book in one sitting, I just didn't want to put it down. The point of view on what is normal was so unusual and especially poignant for me. Ginny finds her strength in her ability to accept her normal, which we all need to do more of. I recommend everyone who has ever felt different or left out read this one right away!
Sandy B. (Dewitt, NY)

A Sweet And Appealing Story
The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry is a sweet and appealing story about family ties and an unlikely heroine. Ginny Selvaggio is young woman with Asperger’s Syndrome who suddenly loses both of her parents in a freak accident. Ginny has lived with her parents all her life and her older sister, Amanda, feels that Ginny will not be able to live alone – she is making assumptions about her based on her “disability” and not on her abilities. While Amanda was living her own life, Ginny has learned to handle her differences that others might think of as abnormal. Cooking is Ginny's passion and she uses the stepsmore
Power Reviewer
Diane S.

The Kitchen Daughter
Delightful but poignant book about a young woman with Aspergers trying to come to term with her parents death. She uses cooking as a way to calm herself when she finds situations beyond her coping skills. She find that when she cooks a handwritten recipe the writer of the recipe appears in her kitchen. In this way she finds the answers she needs to overcome problems with her sister and the way to a life on her terms. Readers of Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen will enjoy this book.
Shyamoli D. (Voorhees, NJ)

The Kitchen Daughter
Kitchen Daughter is a beautifully written novel that deals with family drama, magic and delicious, mouth-watering recipes. The character of Ginny is well created. On one hand she is suffering from the loss of her parents and on the other she is trying to prove to her sister Amanda, that she is a ‘normal’ person. She finds peace through cooking but she also brings spirits in the kitchen which lightens the plot a bit. The use of recipes in the book especially in the beginning of each chapter is endearing. I also enjoyed the similes used by the author like Amanda’s voice as smooth as ‘orange juice’ and ‘his tonguemore

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