The Truth about Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh

Synopsis:

There's something about asking for Impossible Things. For one little second, they feel Possible.
Take two sisters making it on their own: brainy twelve-year-old GiGi and junior-high-dropout-turned-hairstylist DiDi. Add a million dollars in prize money from a national cooking contest and a move from the trailer parks of South Carolina to the North Shore of Long Island. Mix in a fancy new school, new friends and enemies, a first crush, and a generous sprinkling of family secrets.

That's the recipe for The Truth About Twinkie Pie, a voice-driven middle-grade debut about the true meaning of family and friendship.

My Thoughts:

I've read and liked a few other books by Kat Yeh, so I was excited about The Truth About Twinkie Pie. I have to admit, it was nothing like I expected! The cute title and cover art, plus the names GiGi and DiDi make this sound like a fun, almost fluffy read. Instead, this middle grade novel is an exploration of secrets, identity, and what it means to be family. GiGi (or Leia, as she decides to call herself) is sometimes infuriating, but always a sympathetic protagonist. I really loved her relationships with both Trip and Mace, and the evolution of both friendships. 

GiGi's discovery of her true family history (and her very literal journey to find out what happened) also tugged my heart strings. 

Trigger warnings for alcoholism and mention of child abuse. 

Have you read The Truth About Twinkie Pie? What did you think?