Jordan Alsaqa

What it says on the tin! Hana Ozawa and Bobby Binh live in a world peopled with monsters, and it's the job of warrior chef - emphasis on both parts of the name - to fight off the monsters and make delicious food. Hana's dream is to be a warrior chef like Ara, who saved her life when a basilisk attacked, but when she arrives at the Gourmand Academy of Culinary Combat in the capital city, she learns that Ara is mentoring another student instead, and Hana is stuck with Chef Graham, who hasn't show more mentored a student in 20 years. Both Olivia (Graham's granddaughter, though Hana doesn't know that) and Hana are envious of the other, and what started as friendship turns to rivalry. But they will need to work together in order to pass (and survive) their first year.

See also: Space Battle Lunchtime

Quotes (unpaginated)

"The willingness to act is its own form of heroism, Chef Hana." (Chef Graham)

"You can't judge your own progress against anyone else's." (Chef Graham)

"I need to know I can keep the people I care about safe!" (Hana to Bobby) show less

Gr 8 Up—New students at the Gourmand Academy of Culinary Combat learn how to battle monsters and become
great chefs, while dealing with school stress as well as friendship and family drama. A fun, action-packed, and
engaging story that would be a great choice for reluctant readers