For all of Ginny’s life she has lived with her parents and never had a job, but suddenly tragedy strikes when Ginny’s parents die. Left with an uncertain future and the grief at her loss, Ginny begins to cook. Cooking has always been her refuge so it seems only natural to cook her grandmother’s recipe. To her surprise as the aroma begins to build her long departed grandmother appears with a message.
Ginny isn’t sure what the message means but thinks it might have something to do with her younger sister, Amanda. The two sisters are opposites with neither one truly understanding the other. Amanda is married and has children and friends, Ginny, on the other hand, has trouble relating to people and at times her behavior may seem strange. Their differences only make this difficult time worse as Amanda wants to sell their parent’s house and have Ginny move in with her.
As Ginny sorts through her parent’s things she uncovers a family secret. Determined to discover the truth and understand her grandmother’s message, Ginny tries more recipes, but this time she has a purpose- to speak with her parents one last time. The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry is a thought provoking novel that examines families and relationships, and it ultimately asks what makes someone normal.