Lessons in Fusion
A Novel
Primrose Madayag Knazan
A Novel
Description
Sixteen-year-old Sarah (it’s pronounced SAH-rah, thank you) has a successful blog creating fusion recipes. When Sarah is invited to compete on Cyber Chef, a virtual cooking competition that soars in popularity at the height of the pandemic, her twists on her Baba’s recipes are not enough to pique the palate of the show’s producers. She is pushed to present dishes that represent her Filipinx culture, but these flavours are foreign to her since her parents raised her emphatically Jewish. To survive Cyber Chef and find her cultural identity, Sarah must discover why her mother turned her back on all things Filipinx, and learn the true meaning of fusion.
Co-Winner of the 2023 McNally Robinson Book for Young People Older Category Award!
Lessons in Fusion made the list for the MYRCA Northern Lights nominees!
Advance Praise
“Lessons in Fusion is a deep dive into what it means to embrace your identity and decide for yourself who you are; not who the rest of the world sees you to be. In Sarah, Primrose Madayag Knazan has created a fully realized main character who wants to embrace both her Jewish and Filipino heritage, but feels held back and torn between her mother’s complicated past and a television network’s desire for her to be a diversity box they can check off. This is a beautiful story that highlights family, traditions, identity and the strength one girl finds to rise above everyone else’s expectations – all while making us hungry for snacks like Furikake Popcorn and White Chocolate Chai Almond Butter Cookies!” – Sidura Ludwig, author of You Are Not What We Expected
Primrose Madayag Knazan
Additional information
| Weight | 0.36 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 13.97 × 21.59 × 1.78 cm |
| Format: | Epub, Kindle, Paperback, Pre-order paperback |
Co-Winner of the 2023 McNally Robinson Book for Young People Older Category Award!
Lessons in Fusion made the list for the MYRCA Northern Lights nominees!
Read more about Primrose Madayag Knazan’s inspirations and hopes for the book in this feature from the Winnipeg Free Press.
Read this feature on Lessons in Fusion from Prairie Books Now.
The Filipino Journal was on hand during the book launch on October 9, 2021. And you can see the full video of the launch here from McNally Robinson Booksellers.
Read more about Primrose’s relationship to cultural cuisine and how it inspired Lessons in Fusion in The Metro.
Reviews
“Sarah’s journey will engage readers who may even be inspired to explore their own family stories.” — Jewish Book Council
“Lessons in Fusion … is a timely and nuanced novel that delves into numerous issues around race and culture, especially the pressures faced by young people with blended heritage.” — Quill & Quire
“A thoroughly satisfying read. — Robin Ahamedi, Canadian Children’s Book News
“Lessons in Fusion is very modern and includes social media as well as the difficulties of life during a pandemic, yet it is also the timeless story of one young woman who is coming of age as she discovers her familial roots and the much bigger story of the need for diversity and cultural acceptance in all facets of life.” — Highly Recommended, CM Magazine
” This story was a wonderful journey, filled with cultural exploration, developing relationships, and clever realism—brought together through the sharing of good food.” — The Ampersand Review
