Mami King

March 18, 2024
A resourceful young man employs his cooking skills to make his fortune and assist others in this lively biography of entrepreneur Ma Mon Luk (1896–1961). In 1918, Ma leaves Canton, China, for the Philippines, after his courtship of Ng Shih is rebuffed by her wealthy parents. Aboard the boat, he witnesses how “the rich and the poor, like oil and water, didn’t mix.” After looking for work in Manila’s Chinatown, Ma becomes a street vendor, selling mee soup, a dish that he misses from home. Snipping noodles to different lengths with shears depending on how much the customer pays, he ensures that “everyone, rich or poor, could buy Ma’s noodles.” He soon earns enough for a noodle stall, then a restaurant, and gives away food to those in need, growing business “as word of his good deeds and good food spread” and creating a place where rich and poor, “unlike oil and water, mixed.” Sorra’s digital illustrations shift from cool blues and grays to yellows, golds, and oranges. Includes a pronunciation guide, creators’ notes, a recipe, and more. Ages 7–11.