• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Fourteen-year-old Taz knows one thing for sure: she's a perfect disaster in the kitchen.

Every time Taz tries to cook, chaos ensues. After fires, toxins and more than one minor injury, Taz will be happy if she makes it through her food-science class in one piece. But when the class enters a competitive race for a coveted program and Taz is put in a group that expects to win, the pressure is on. As the competition heats up, Taz is desperate to hold her own and not let her team down.

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!

Diane Tullson grew up in Calgary, Alberta, and has studied English literature, journalism and editing. Before becoming an author, Diane worked in newspaper, radio and travel. She is a member of the Canadian Children's Book Centre, the Vancouver Children's Literature Roundtable, Children's Writers and Illustrators of British Columbia and the Writers Union of Canada. Diane has been nominated for many awards, including the Stellar Award and the Arthur Ellis Award. Diane lives with her family in Delta, British Columbia. For more information, visit www.dianetullson.com.

Diane Tullson's profile page

• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens, starred selection

Family, friendship, and failure are lessons learned by Taz in this welcome addition showing the life of students in a polytechnic school...Libraries will find it a useful addition to reluctant reader collections...Recommended."

School Library Connection

"Readers will discover that there are multiple paths to reach their goals in life. At the end of the novel, Diane Tullson also includes two tasty recipes. This novel is a light-hearted read which will appeal to readers who may feel that they cannot do something—but discover that if they put their mind to a task, they can accomplish a great deal!"

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