I’ve always been a fan of Sharon Draper’s books for younger readers, because they offer some much needed diversity. It is disappointing however that Sassy reads as completely color-blind; without the cover, you would never have a clue you were reading about a character of color. Nonetheless, it’s a fun book that will appeal to younger readers. Written on a third-grade reading level, The Dazzle Disaster Dinner Party is without any major conflict or difficulties. It’s pure light entertainment. But the real treat for young readers is that Sassy is forbidden to use the stove, meaning that all recipes can be made with almost no adult assistance. There’s a collection of them at the back for budding young chefs. (I offer no comment on the appeal of these recipes, but I do wager the excitement is more in the making than the consuming).
Great for: Infusing a little light diversity into your library. There are a million fluffy books with white main characters, it’s a treat to have an offering for young girls of color where the title character at least looks like them. This is also perfect for young cooks who want to get started without much adult supervision. I can definitely see some of these recipes as a fun activity for sleepovers.
Sex, Nudity, Dating – None.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore – None.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – None.
Our school read the first one for our school book club. (We only had one boy that month — he really likes our refreshments!) I disagree that Sassy reads completely as white, but she doesn’t spend a lot of time worrying about what color she is. Of course, neither does Nancy Drew.
I haven’t read this far in the series, but it sounds about the same level as the first.
I’ve also read the first (but not the intervening ones) and felt that the first book had quite a few more cultural elements woven in than this one. I think for those reading the series as a whole, those parts will carry through (there’s a very brief reference to the story telling grandmother in this book), but for those checking in for the first time here, they may not see as many indicators of race as they expected (or possibly hoped).