Scrambled Eggs at Midnight

I think this is the better of the two Barkley & Halper books that I’ve read. I like the juxtaposition of Eliot’s and Calliope’s stories. Even with their circumstances in their lives, you really get the sense that these are two very lonely teenagers who need something. While I’m not a fan of the “Free spirited mother who acts more like the teenager” trope, this book makes Cal’s mom and their interactions work very well. The dialogue seems a little too adult and trying to be hip at times, but I still really enjoy this book. ( )

Though at times bittersweet, Scrambled Eggs at Midnight is really a perfect piece of comfort food. Cal and Eliot have lives that, for lack of a better word, suck. Their paths collide and their lives are temporarily changed for the better. Instead of being alone, they have each other, but Cal's mother wants them to move and the peace and happiness she's known is about to shatter. Barkley (Eliot) and Hepler (Cal) seamlessly blend writing styles to create an enjoyable, sweet and often very funny YA novel. ( )

"Scrambled Eggs At Midnight" was co-written by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler and published in 2006. The book, a modern romance, tells the story of Calliope (Cal) and Eliot's love over the course of an entire summer. They, of course, face various obstacles, namely in the way of parents, but their love ultimately triumphs. Chapters alternate between Cal and Eliot's perspectives (each one is told in first person) so that both takes are available to the reader. Barkley and Hepler use this to great effect, as it allows the reader to fully grasp the complications and perspectives of the two teens. Overall, this book has convincing "voices" and both characters seem believeable, even though their individual sitations are far from typical. This book was a SC Young Adult Book nominee for 2008 -2009. ( )

Reviewed by Emylee for TeensReadToo.com

Calliope is a normal teenage girl. Well, she wants to be. Unfortunately, her chance at a normal life is overshadowed by the reality of her mother's job, which is that of a wench. "My mother is a wench. It says so right on her W-2." Consequently, the opening at the Asheville Renaissance Faire prompts Calliope's mother, Delores, to pack up and move to North Carolina for employment at the largest Renaissance Faire in the country. And, once again, Calliope is uprooted and whisked away on another one of her mother's whims.

Eliot also wishes to take a stab at normalcy. He is the son of a religious pioneer, otherwise known as "The Dad", who founded the Sonshine Valley Christian Camp, which is a fat-camp filled with Christ. "The Dad" recently expanded his religious marketing horizon to include books and a television channel dedicated to serving the Lord and losing the weight. Eliot, however, is lost in all of the fanaticism, and reminisces on the memories of his family before his father became obsessed with his work.

Then one day Calliope meets Eliot, and they are both fascinated with each other. Their friendship grows and strengthens, and soon their relationship, which both Delores and "The Dad" disapprove of, becomes all-consuming for both parties. But for once, they both feel like what they have is normal.

Sadly, their relationship is threatened by many factors, including Delores's hopes to move once again, and "The Dad" being suspicious of Calliope's theological beliefs. Will Calliope and Eliot's determination to stay close persevere in the end?

SCRAMBLED EGGS AT MIDNIGHT is, for the most part, a light-hearted read. The characters deal with situations somewhat out of the norm, but their personalities and conversations will be easy to relate to for most readers. I recommend this book to readers of all ages, but mostly to teenagers, who will more readily identify themselves with the characters of Calliope and Eliot. ( )

Calliope has spent the last 4 years constantly moving from one place to another with her unconcerned mother. Eliot is the son of a famous evangelist who runs a summer camp for overweight kids to 'get fit with Jesus'. The two fifteen year olds meet when Cal's mom takes work as a serving wench at the local Renaissance Faire. Both Cal and Eliot miss the way their families used to be and long for a return to a time that is gone. Cal knows she won't be able to stay for long and though she tries not to get attached to the town and the people she meets, she finds that this latest move has brought her to a place that she could call home. This is a coming of age novel told with slow pacing in alternating chapters by both Eliot and Cal. The romance is sweet but the real strength of the novel lies in all of the relationships and the way they explore the themes of love, friendship and family. ( )