An adventurous, funny, and heartfelt story that sparks deep conversation at home and in the classroom.

-Rebecca Rosenberg, Learning Behavior Specialist

Book review: Exquisite Feast, by Jenelle Harden, LCSW

A family of racoons lurking near a campground on Lake Michigan are hungry and will go to any length for a meal. Trouble is, the siblings can't agree on how to approach the unwitting campers in Camp 12.

Elise is impatient and wants to charge in without a plan. Ali is the opposite, spending too much time planning and plotting. And then there is quiet Ren, who has good ideas but they're not always considered by the group.

What's a bunch of masked bandits to do?

Tension builds after Elise blows their cover when she rushes in to snatch an errant hot dog that was tossed into the weeds. In an amusing scene, the campers, who haven't seen wildlife outside a zoo, are frightened when they see her in the flicker of the campfire light.

The siblings are angry with Elise but rather than continuing to feud over the situation they opt to consult with their grandmother. Grandma Raccoon convinces the siblings to cooperate and accept each other's differences to achieve their goal, which is to score an "exquisite feast."

You'll have to read on to find out how it all comes together for these hungry, delightfully beguiling racoons.

The Exquisite Feast was penned by debut author and social worker, Jenelle Harden; it's beautifully illustrated by Marie Del. There is a discussion guide at the end of the book that explores the importance of working together and finding each other's strengths to achieve a mutual goal.

Reviewed by Neil Moran, retired teacher and author of North Country Gardening: Simple Secrets to Successful Northern Gardening.

Publisher: Jenelle Harden, Lcsw LLC

Pub date: 2025-04-08

Length: 38 pages