Do you have what it takes to invent ice cream flavors? In the 46th entry to her prolific So You Want To Be A… series, Linda Soules takes readers behind the scenes of one of the more unusual careers in the culinary field. A developed palate, a dedication to experimentation, and a desire to forge not just flavors but experiences are all requirements of this demanding career.
Not without its flaws, SO YOU WANT TO BE AN ICE CREAM FLAVOR INVENTOR's prose is detailed and evocative. Soules translates the nuances of flavor onto the page with ease, surveying a wide variety of possibilities instead of sticking to traditional favorites: “There is creamy Mexican horchata, tangy West African hibiscus, bright purple ube from the Philippines, and delicate rosewater from the Middle East.” The aspects of flavor invention are presented in a clear narrative style.
Unfortunately, the overall organization is off. This non-fiction book is separated into sections including “The Tools of the Trade” and “The Hardest Parts of the Job,” which do aid in narrative flow; but the information therein is presented in large chunks of text that may be off-putting to young readers. Since the stated age range for the audience is 10-14, they may have trouble focusing in this unchanging, ineffective format. Inclusion of vocabulary like “tasting panel,” which is not always defined until the glossary at the end of the book, may also present roadblocks to understanding. While this title does include some ideas for at-home experimentation, a clear numbered outline of steps for this career path or an at-home ice cream recipe on its own page would take it to the next level.
The only visual element breaking up the text is illustration, but—as Soules herself explains in “About This Series”—these images are AI-generated. For a book that emphasizes creativity and states that “[p]aying close attention to the world, it turns out, is also a way of caring for the people in it,” this is an uncharacteristic choice that takes away from the rest of the experience. Soules explains the careful refinement process and care that she puts into the artwork, despite its origins, but the glaring inclusion of completely unrecognizable AI-generated images (rather than photographs) of the famous flavor inventors on pages 29 and 30 belie this claim.
While Soules doesn't see the forest for the trees, SO YOU WANT TO BE AN ICE CREAM FLAVOR INVENTOR still has enough charm to make the book worthwhile for the right audience.
Despite confusing formatting and visual aids, Linda Soules's SO YOU WANT TO BE AN ICE CREAM FLAVOR INVENTOR is held up by delectable descriptions.
~ Gina Elbert for IndieReader