Foodie Reads // Wishing on Matzo Ball Soup!

Ellie’s family owns the town deli. Its official name is Lukshen Deli, but everybody calls it Ellie’s Deli. When a restaurant group threatens to move in and take over, tenacious Ellie and her BFFs must prove that matzo ball soup and sour pickles are here to stay, in this adorable new middle grade fiction series with recipes and illustrations throughout.

When Ellie accidentally overhears that her family deli is most likely going to close, she does the only thing she can think of. She makes a wish on matzo ball soup.

Eleven-year-old Ellie is feisty, determined, and a little bit anxious. She considers Lukshen Deli part of the family—after all, it’s been around for four generations, ever since her great-grandmother opened it. Along with her BFF, Ava; her sisters, Anna and Mabel; her lunch buddies, Aanya, Brynn, Nina, and Sally; and her grandparents, Bubbie and Zeyda, Ellie is determined to prove that old fashioned Jewish delis can get with the times—but if her plan doesn’t work, the deli will be sold for good.

Ellie is worried about losing her family's deli and being forced to move away from her friends. She takes it upon herself to find a way to revitalize the deli with the help of her best friend Ava. She has some great plans but worries that her family won't listen to her and all her efforts will be for nothing. She tries to calm her worries by taking time to act more like an eleven-year-old than being a worried adult. 

Wishing on Matzo Ball Soup! shows how overwhelming yourself with worry doesn't help. It reminds readers to not put everything on their shoulders and to control what they can. It also shows how they can positively impact their family and community as a kid. Ellie's family is very supportive and kind to her. It's always nice to see a healthy family dynamic portrayed in a children's book. Her relationship with her Bubbie (grandmother) is the most prominent one. Bubbie facing health concerns so that adds to Ellie's anxiety. Bubbie is the primary owner of the Deli while Ellie wants to take it over when she becomes an adult. That connection with the Deli made Ellie's need to save it all the more real.

There's a new girl in town which brings on an extra level of conflict. Ellie starts feeling insecure in her current friendship group. The friendship group connects the plot together nicely although I couldn't believe how Ellie missed an important tidbit her friend was warning her about. However, this happens to be a first in the series so it makes sense. I still wish there was a little more drama since the story felt a little one-note. There was some positive messaging about anxiety and taking care of yourself which I enjoyed. I also appreciated all the Jewish recipes throughout the book. And boy are there a lot of recipes! I will check out the next book but I'll have different expectations going in since I expected a little more drama.