All Four Stars Hardcover – July 10, 2014

Well written and great foodie details. The language isn't babyish and the plot is nicely complex without being too much for primary readers. Our greatest criticism of this book is her disappointing parents, but I am happy to say that, if you go to the next book, the parents get better. We didn't like the fact that the whole plot hangs on a lie to those parents, and that was a valuable discussion. However, with those caveats, we were able to put our objections aside and enjoy the book despite them. Gladys is a good example of a good person trying to find her way through each moment of life, sometimes choosing well and other times not. She is also a rare character, as she is quiet, not boisterous, and while she is creative she doesn't spend her time hatching complex plots of neighborhood mayhem or family upheaval as so many characters in kids' books these days. She is smart, trustworthy, honest and earnest, but caught in the midst of something a bit bigger than herself. The pace is good, the level of detail excellent, and while there is enough tension to make it interesting it doesn't put us on the edge of our seat, so it works well as a bedtime read. I loved that the plot was unique, nothing like I have read before, which has made it as fun for me to read as for my daughter to hear. She is 6 and very verbal, by the way, and has had no trouble with the level of the language.

This is one of my new favorite middle grade books! Anyone who like to bake, should absolutely pick this book. This is one of the cutest baking adventures out there! The descriptions on her food reviews were so well written, it made me hungry. The characters were well developed and fun. I have analyzed over fifty middle grade books in the past two years and this one rises to the top. (I am a tutor and lead a middle grade book clubs.) It has a strong girl lead with humor and adventure. One thing I love is that it doesn’t have violence, inappropriate words or questionable content. I am excited to share it with my students and I would absolutely recommend checking it out!

My grand daughter chose this book for a book report in her school. I ordered it on my kindle so that we could discuss the book before she wrote her report. I really felt that the book had a good point to it but there was alot of sneaking and lying on the part of the child in the book to the point that I'd say the child was naughty and a bit narcistict. I don't understand the author's point at times but if I did half of what that kid did in my child hood, I would have been grounded for a year. My granddaughter did recognize Gladys's faults and called them out in her report. Her grade, an A. Maybe that was what the book was all about.

I liked this little book and rooted for the little girl all the way, from the first when she was an object of teasing at school, with only one friend... to when she was a big-time newspaper food reviewer. OH, the paths she had to take to get there, - unwilling parents, train rides, finagling to be places at certain times. I loved it, and her spirit. It certainly might encourage kids in their favorite endeavors.

I bought this book to read along with my 9 year old granddaughter. It was just delightful! I think it’s the first book that held her attention for any length of time. Now that we’re finished we’re on to the next in the series.

This is classic middle grade, full of heart and humor. Gladys' parents are disasters in the kitchen--yet Gladys has gourmet tastes. The opening scene is indelible, with Gladys setting fire to the kitchen curtains with her father's blowtorch as she tries to put the finishing touches to some crème brûlée.The pace is unflagging as Gladys's school essay on "My Future" gets picked up by the food editor of The New York Standard. But the editor doesn't know Gladys is 11. It's up to Gladys to come up with some innovative ideas on how to sneak into New York City, review a top restaurant, and write her newspaper copy. Can you say "sticky situations?" They abound. My favorite one finds Gladys under a restaurant table... but if you want to know why she's in this situation, you'll have to read the book!MY VERDICT: ALL FOUR STARS is worth 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed All Four Stars. Numerous foods and recipes are described with beautiful, lyrical text. I was very disappointed that the book did not include any recipes though. I only found this title after reading Summer of a thousand pies (which did include recipes). I was looking for more books like it.

Just finished reading this book. Considering it as part of middle school foods curriculum to help students learn about evaluating food and possible careers in the food imduatry.

Execent purchase and a very good book.

I downloaded this book for my daughter to read and started reading it myself! Thoroughly enjoyable read. Gladys is a likeable girl with a passion for food and writing trying to live her dream. She is foiled by her parents, lovers of junk food, who are bewildered by her... Will be reading the next book....

This book is a short, entertaining and gripping read. To be honest, the first part was a bit boring but the rest was brilliant. 4 stars.

Son didn't overly enjoy it.

Amazon deilvered a mint product five stars for that. The book is very interesting one for preteens. What if in a household of junk food lovers, a food critic is born? A food connoisseur since childhood, Gladys Gatsby avoids the junk food disasters that her parents prefer, by cooking delectable dishes from a cook book her aunt sent from France. Life flows smooth, till a cooking disaster sets the kitchen curtains on fire, thus outing Gladys, who is promptly grounded by her parents...this unexpectedly opens up a new career path for her...as a food critic? Willshe be successful, will her parents or the publishers find out? Will food own up a social circle for her..find out in this delightful romp, which is a page turner...all four stars, gets all five stars from me