From School Library Journal Grade 5-7-- Darlene Wicklund feels like a seventh-grade nothing. Her best friend seems more interested in her new acquaintances, her mother doesn't take her on business trips, and her father is preoccupied with his job. Picturing the possibility of color and verve somewhere deep within herself, Darlene compares herself to unmade instant soup. A seemingly dull Christmas vacation becomes complicated when she must cope with a quirky four-year-old cousin left in her charge; nurse her flu-stricken father; resist peer pressure to shoplift; and capture a lost, lurking lizard. Guiberson uses weather forecasting imagery in an unusual way to set tone and mood. Plot development is a little slow as this is a rather introspective novel. Still, the humorous way in which Echo, the gecko, is found will be enjoyed by patient readers. Instant Soup is a pleasant enough, low-keyed book. However, readers needing action, adventure, or a "quick hook" won't find instant gratification here.
