Dinner at the Brake Fast

Dinner at the Brake Fast is a hilarious and heartfelt story about road-trip mishaps, a murderous rooster, facing down anxieties, and unexpected friendship that is a must-pick for readers who loved The Science of Unbreakable Things and The First Rule of Punk.

Tacoma Jones loves working at her family’s roadside diner, the Brake Fast, pouring coffee and serving eggs and muffins to truckers all day long. But tonight, she is finally going to break out her collection of cookbooks and prepare the best dinner the state of Washington has ever seen.

But her excitement is dampened when she learns that today is one of Dad’s bad days, when his depression makes it hard for him to get out of bed.

Tacoma knows she can’t fix her dad’s depression. But what she can do is steal back his prized photograph of his second-best day from her nemesis, the nasty Crocodile Kyle—while also planning a dinner that is sure to brighten up his bad day.

She just might need an accomplice or two to pull off the heist. . . .

• An Unlikely Friendship: Tacoma's heist plan gets a lot more complicated—and fun—when a stranded tour-bus kid named Denver Cass decides to tag along.
• A Heartfelt Family Story: A gentle and honest look at parental depression, as Tacoma tries to find a way to bring a little light back into her dad's "bad day."
• Enemies to Allies: To get the photo back, Tacoma has to team up with her school nemesis, Hudgie Wilson—who just happens to be the villain's nephew.
• Quirky Small-Town Shenanigans: Featuring a hilarious cast of characters, a breakfast-only diner, a truly murderous rooster, and a heist to reclaim a stolen photograph of Dad with Bruce Springsteen.

"Rich characterizations, an electrifyingly original yet believable plot, and a perceptive voice distinguishes this captivating road trip tale. With standout compassion and candor, Lute explores the sometimes heartbreaking reality of living with a depressed parent and the joy that friends and cooking can bring." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A sweet, far-from-bland tale rich in food, family, and freshly made friendships." - Booklist (starred review)

"The rural Washington setting provides a wealth of quirky characters and locales, and the one-day timeframe lends a satisfying immediacy to the kids’ adventures... An uplifting caper " - Kirkus Reviews

"The thrilling adventures pair with delightfully humorous metaphors, making for a story that feels balanced rather than heavy—while Tacoma’s dream dinner can’t cure her dad’s mental illness, it can still serve up some joy." - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books