4 stars
A beautiful story of love, family, and the connection between food and culture. Lintang is excited to meet her grandmother for the first time and try the sambal that everyone loves. But when Lintang gets a taste, she finds it’s too spicy. She wants to connect with her family and her Indonesian heritage, but worries that sambal isn’t right for her.
Such a sweet book. I loved watching Lintang and Nenek bond and get to know each other. It was nice to see the family accommodate Lintang’s tastes instead of excluding her or making her eat something she doesn’t like.
Lovely illustrations. All the food looks delicious! The endpapers show different types of sambal as well as how to make it at home. The book also depicts different chilis and how to make them less spicy when cooking.
Well told. The ending was absolute perfection. A lovely story about trying new things, embracing your heritage, and the times shared over a good meal.