A Spoonful of Time

Full of twists, this middle-grade story is a heartwarming mix of food and family.

Beautifully written...the descriptions of the dishes are salivating enough that readers might appreciate the ability to recreate them at home. A warm and satisfying intergenerational story.

Food forms a bridge across time in this affectionately wrought contemporary novel from Ahn (the Pug Pals series). In Southern California, Korean American seventh grader Maya lives in a "still and silent" house with her single mother, who works long hours at a law firm. Quiet gives way to a tense family dynamic, however, when Maya's maternal grandmother, Halmunee, comes to stay, upsetting Maya's mom. Halmunee, who has dementia, loves to cook, and she reintroduces Maya to an array of Korean foods. As the two bond over making patbingsu one day, they are seemingly transported to the past, where they see Maya's younger grandparents and mother enjoying the treat. Through this event, Halmunee reveals that she can travel through time, using food as a connection between moments. Though Maya tries to glean more information about her father, who died when she was three, and about her mother's complicated relationship with Halmunee, her mother remains taciturn and secretive about the past, until Maya's attempts to balance her own life and new abilities come to a boiling point. Maya's changing understanding of her mother, and evocative descriptions of food and its link to memory carry this light speculative read, which offers up a sweet intergenerational relationship that connects past and present. Recipes, along with illustrations from Park, are interspersed throughout. Ages 8-12. Agent: Melissa Edwards, Stonesong. (Apr.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Readers will love the Korean culture and food references....This is a great time-travel adventure read. —Book Riot

Seasoned with humor and a rich setting, A Spoonful of Time is an enchanting novel about family secrets, friendships, loss, and food that transports us to the past. Warning: don't read while hungry! —Lynne Kelly, author of Song For a Whale 

A vividly written tale that is easy to love, Flora Ahn's novel is intricate, enchanting, and absolutely brimming with life. This is a surprising and timeless story, with the perfect mix of sweetness, wonder, and depth. —Corey Ann Haydu, author of Eventown and One Jar of Magic