Kitchen Princess 1 [Paperback]

Natsumi Ando (Author), Miyuki Kobayashi (Author)

Book Description

Series: Kitchen Princess | Publication Date: January 30, 2007

HUNGRY HEART

Najika is a great cook and likes to make meals for the people she loves. But something is missing from her life. When she was a child, she met a boy who touched her heart–and now Najika is determined to find him. The only clue she has is a silver spoon that leads her to the prestigious Seika Academy.

Attending Seika will be a challenge. Every kid at the school has a special talent, and the girls in Najika’s class think she doesn’t deserve to be there. But Sora and Daichi, two popular brothers who barely speak to each other, recognize Najika’s cooking for what it is–magical. Is either boy Najika’s mysterious prince?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Najika is an aspiring young chef with a flawless sense of taste and a heart of gold. Orphaned at a young age, Najika gravitated toward cooking out of her desire to find her "prince," the mysterious boy who touched her heart and brought light into her life shortly after her parents' death. The only clue to his identity is a silver spoon, which leads Najika to the prestigious Seika Academy, where she faces many challenges on her quest for happiness. Kitchen Princess uses many plot techniques traditionally found in shojo stories. Najika is cast as the lonely heroine, rejected and often humiliated by her peers, while two princes, brothers Sora and Daichi, both dote on her in their own ways. However, where many stories often take a fantastical twist, giving the heroine some kind of magical power that sets her apart, Kitchen Princess continues to develop Najika's cooking abilities, which she uses to reach out to her classmates. This adds a spicy twist to the story, making an old recipe feel fresh and tasty. Ando's art style is romantic and whimsical, making for a delicious start to Najika's story. (Feb.)
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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (January 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345496205
• ISBN-13: 978-0345496201
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.7 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #199,884 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finding Her Prince, February 23, 2007

By 

Ada Montgomery (Houston, Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kitchen Princess 1 (Paperback)

The Amazon review covered the plot really well so I'm just going to give some of my impressions after reading. Alright, I picked up Kitchen Princess unsure of what to expect and ended up being really happy I purchased it! KP may rely on some typical shoujo plot devices, but it still manages to feel fresh and cute. The emphasis on cooking was great. Najika uses her kitchen skills to make others happy in a sweet, non-sappy way. The art was fitting for the story. I personally enjoy Natsumi Ando's style. Her characters are all attractive with a wide range of expressions and poses. The backgrounds are well- rendered and are more detailed then I've seen in other shoujo lately. And the food looked delicious ^_^

Del Rey hasn't done a lot of (if any) shoujo, so I was really happy to see them publish this. The translation reads nicely and I didn't spot any obvious spelling errors. In the back they included their standard translators notes and a preview for volume 2. Also included in the back of the book are recipes! You can find out how to make all the tasty treats Najika made.

In the end, Kitchen Princess was a really enjoyable book. If you like shoujo, KP is a great title to add to you collection. It's cute with good art and a lot of promise for future volumes (I can't wait to find out who her prince is!).

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't judge this book by the cover!, September 23, 2007

By 

strawheart (SF Bay, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kitchen Princess 1 (Paperback)

From the title and the cover, I thought this was going to be some socially backwards Stepford-wife-in-training manga. I was wrong. In actuality, the story is about an orphan girl who discovers her extraordinary talent for taste and cooking. In some cases she proves herself as good if not better than professional chefs of Tokyo.

The story emphasises the meaning of having a strong and compassionate heart, caring for others, and selflessness. From making colorful soda for others on a hot day, to baking a pie for a friend with an eating disorder, KP touches alot of bases with food :) Great manga. I recommend it for all ages.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and Educational, November 30, 2009

By 

K. Diltz - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kitchen Princess 1 (Paperback)

I love this series. As a mom, I was looking for a Manga series that I could feel good about my 13 year old daughter reading. The heroine of the series is a plucky girl who overcomes adversity with cooking ! I love the art work and story line. The characters are charming and grow as the series progresses.

I like the author's emphasis on healthy food and taking care of yourself, while making food fun too. Together my daughter and I have made some of the recipes in the back of the book. On my own, I'm cooking all the recipes as I read my way through the books.