Chef Yasmina and the Potato Panic by Wauter Mannaert

Abstract

Reviewed by: Chef Yasmina and the Potato Panic by Wauter Mannaert Kate Quealy-Gainer, Assistant Editor Mannaert, Wauter Chef Yasmina and the Potato Panic; written and illus. by Wauter Mannaert. First Second, 2021 [160p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781250622044 $22.99 Paper ed. ISBN 9781250622051 $14.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 5-7 Aspiring chef Yasmina loves nothing more than whipping up delicious meals for her single father, creating dishes from scratch and using veggies from her community garden. Unfortunately, that garden is ripped up by a shady corporation, and when the grocery store proves to be too expensive, Yasmina sneaks onto the rooftop garden of her secretive neighbor. There's a whole lot more growing there than simple greens and beans, however, and it may all be connected to a new type of potato (grown by the aforementioned shady corporation) that's making people literally howl for more and generally behave like animals. The goofy B-movie plotline of this graphic novel leavens what could have been a didactic message about mindless consumerism with a Scooby-Doo–like flair, and Yasmina's tenacity and [End Page 180] ingenuity in rescuing her friends and neighbors from potatoes gone very, very bad makes her easy to cheer for. Traditional paneling is foregone for open borders and fluid scenes, giving the book a sense of movement while easily guiding the eye, and savvy viewers will either initially catch or double back to the various hints dropped throughout the scenes. Yasmina's creations look absolutely scrumptious and it's clear that dad and daughter bond over her meals, making this ultimately a celebration of the art and heart of cooking; readers will just wish that Yasmina would share a (potato-free) recipe or two. Copyright © 2020 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois