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Scrambled Eggs at Midnight

3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 · rating details · 1,749 ratings · 203 reviews

Calliope (or Cal as she calls herself ) wants nothing more than to stay put, to stop traveling cross-country with her mother, sleeping in a tent, abandoning all belongings whenever they pull up stakes. Eliot misses the happy times he left behind when his father decided to open a camp for kids looking to lose weight and find Jesus.When Cal and Eliot meet by chance, they fee...more

Hardcover, 272 pages

Published May 4th 2006 by Dutton Juvenile

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Feb 18, 2013 Nic rated it 3 of 5 stars

Meh. I almost didn't finish this. I liked most of the characters and writing okay, and I didn't begrudge protagonists Cal and Eliot their unrealistic instalove too much because it's sort of the point of the story, but I just felt like the internal monologues were too much. Like the writers were trying too hard and going too far.

For example, there's a scene where the two protags are driving, and Cal mentally describes the silence they're in as a comfortable one using some kind of color, like "a s...more

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May 11, 2009 Laurin Peets rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ap-reviews

Synopsis
In this young-adult romance novel, the authors [Brad Barkley ; Heather Hepler:] join ideas to convey the summer love of two young people in the southern portion of the Carolinas. Throughout the novel the authors take turns revealing the plot of the story by switching up the view from which it is told. With the beginning of each chapter comes either the viewpoint of Calliope [or Cal as she preferred to be called:], one half of the lovely bond, or the viewpoint of Eliot, the male half.
C...more Synopsis
In this young-adult romance novel, the authors [Brad Barkley ; Heather Hepler:] join ideas to convey the summer love of two young people in the southern portion of the Carolinas. Throughout the novel the authors take turns revealing the plot of the story by switching up the view from which it is told. With the beginning of each chapter comes either the viewpoint of Calliope [or Cal as she preferred to be called:], one half of the lovely bond, or the viewpoint of Eliot, the male half.
Cal plays the part of the drifter. When her mother and father decide to get a divorce her mother loads up the little hatchback in the driveway. One of the objects that she puts in the front seat is Calliope. Drifting from state to state depending on the season, Cal is forced to leave most of her valuables behind whenever her mother catches onto the whims of change. Cal complies with her mother’s wishes for fear of hurting her... that is until she meets Eliot.
Eliot plays the part of the misunderstood boy who has thoughts that do not match that of his parents. From the ambitions of his father, Eliot is forced to leave his “happy” life and move to the mountains with the rest of his family. Unluckily for him, his father’s ambitions coincide with the Lord’s work, therefore must be abided by because it is His word. In his spare time Eliot enjoys building fireworks as a way of giving himself some sort of sanctuary from “The Dad”.
It’s somewhat of an act of fate when Cal and Eliot meet. It’s like they give each other something that they’ve been missing for far to long.

Rhetoric/content of Scrambled Eggs at Midnight
There aren’t that many revolutionary things about this novel. It’s a story that’s been told countless times. Love between two star crossed teenagers: sound familiar?
However, while that is true, this novel accomplishes it’s purpose. It’s a cute pick-me-up in the midst of serious and tragic literature. It offers something that most other novels do not, and that is a sense of faith that things really will turn out the way that they are planned to. The novel makes the reader root for the two characters to both overcome their adversities and end up together in the last pages.
Where writing style is concerned, the novel, while using simplistic language and diction, is easy to understand. It is appropriate for the novel’s target audience. Everything is straightforward. Everything that happens is spoon fed to the reader. Nothing is left up to imagination.

Laurin’s Opinion of Scrambled Eggs at Midnight
In my opinion the novel is nothing special. It isn’t unbearable, however it isn’t overly entertaining either.
The one thing that I really enjoyed about the novel was the fact that it did a fairly fine job of pulling me into the story and out of reality for a while. It had enough gusto [for lack of a better term:] to allow me to become somewhat engaged.
On the other hand, it’s probably just my preference, but I enjoy a novel that can make me think. I love dissecting metaphors and contemplating meaning. I love learning new diction while reading, and i love story lines that are unique. This novel offers none of those things.
Scrambled Eggs at Midnight, in my opinion, is more for the reader with an appreciation for the simpler things in literature.(less)

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Dec 08, 2010 Rosanne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A sweet romance with quirky characters. Does a good job of showing the lack of control over one's own life that is such a frustrating part of adolescence. Told in alternating perspectives, some truly insightful and moving passages.

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Jun 12, 2012 Kezia Arevalo rated it 3 of 5 stars

In my opinion,I thought this book was OK. I didn't think it was all that great. I mean it was kind of boring in the beginning. But I did enjoy the middle and the end. Although to be honest,the ending,for me,was a little bit rushed. I actually felt like crying at the end though. Anyways,this book wasn't as good as "The Hunger Games",but it was satisfying. I mean I like romance and all but for some reason,I didn't think this book was all that interesting.
The beginning was an introductory on Cal...more In my opinion,I thought this book was OK. I didn't think it was all that great. I mean it was kind of boring in the beginning. But I did enjoy the middle and the end. Although to be honest,the ending,for me,was a little bit rushed. I actually felt like crying at the end though. Anyways,this book wasn't as good as "The Hunger Games",but it was satisfying. I mean I like romance and all but for some reason,I didn't think this book was all that interesting.
The beginning was an introductory on Cal and Eliot. Then it started with Cal moving out of her house with her mom and leaving her father. Cal's mom works at a Renaissance Fair so they always have to move and well Cal has never really had a permanent home. Until she meets Eliot who's dad owns a Christian Fat Camp. Cal and Eliot meet at a book store in town and Eliot decides to go talk to her. Even when they first met they had deep feelings for each other. I guess love at first sight? When Cal and Delores,Cal's mom, go to the campsite for the Renaissance Fair,they meet Abel and Phi. Abel is Jewish man who moved into town a few years back and owns an Irish restaurant for a living. Phi is a conceited man who is a jouster at the Fair and has a tattoo of himself and is layered with other tattoos of himself on that one arm.
Delores,being a carefree mother who never listens to Cal,falls in love with Phi and decides to go with him to another town. But it's a problem for both Cal and Eliot because they are just starting to fall in love with each other. So obviously,Cal doesn't want to go with her mom especially not with Phi. But Abel,being all father-like,tries to make things better. He tries to comfort Cal and tells her to call her dad for some advice. So of course,Cal calls her dad. Cal tells her dad what is going on and how she feels. So he tells her to stand up to Delores and stand up for herself and Cal did. Cal was packing her stuff when Delores told Cal what to bring and what not to bring;this really bugged Cal. So it started there. Cal finally told her mom how she felt about everything. But Delores's reaction was so childish. She just grabbed her coat and took off. Cal felt so tired after that,that she took a nap and when she woke up,Delores was right there watching her.
Even though Delores is gone,Cal is doing OK. I mean she has Eliot,Abel,and Eliot's mom,Linda,to watch and take care of her. Anyways Delores sends Cal letters with money now and then. Although they are just words like for example,one week the letter would day the word "miss" and it would have five dollars. Then the next day the letter would say the word "you" and have ten dollars. Even if it's like this,Cal still appreciates it and she is thankful that at least her mom is still communicating with her. AS for Cal and Eliot? Well they are going to start school soon. Plus,they both have this tradition that every Sunday night,they would go in some closet at Abel's restaurant,that they now work in,and just sit there.
So overall,this book was OK. I mean like I previously stated,there was nothing special about this book. But,if I were to be in Cal's shoes when her mom left her,I would feel really awkward and just lonely. Even if I had the people I love with me. Anyways,I would recommend this book to people who are in to romance that is in young adult literature books. But I guess it would be good for people who are mature enough. In conclusion,I didn't like this book and if I were given an option to reread it,I wouldn't take it.

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Jul 10, 2011 Aubrei Kamilah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Okay, this wasn't my favorite book in the world, but i would recommend it if you really need a 'perfect' love story.So here is the plot for those of you who don't already know...

Calliope and her mom constantly move and never end up staying in one place for long. When she gets to North Carolina she meets Eliot and decides she wants to stay here forever, but her mom wants her to keep going with her..AHH WHAT WILL SHE DO.

okay well one thing i liked about this book is that i could see myself wishing...more

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Jun 24, 2011 Elizabeth rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The title is Scrambled eggs at Midnight by Brad Barkely and Heather Hepler.This book is realistic/romantic fiction,it has a very realistic point that every teen experiences at some point in their life.This book starts out with Calliope (15) and Delores (her mother) moving again, now to North Carolina so that Delores can work as a wench in the Renaissance Fair.As they drive in to town Cali’s eyes spy an out of place kid with piercing blue eyes and frog green lips,as if he’s wearing lipstick.He wa...more

The title is Scrambled eggs at Midnight by Brad Barkely and Heather Hepler.This book is realistic/romantic fiction,it has a very realistic point that every teen experiences at some point in their life.This book starts out with Calliope (15) and Delores (her mother) moving again, now to North Carolina so that Delores can work as a wench in the Renaissance Fair.As they drive in to town Cali’s eyes spy an out of place kid with piercing blue eyes and frog green lips,as if he’s wearing lipstick.He waves at her and she feels butterflies in her stomach!As the story builds Cal and her mom set up their tent and Cal goes into town to look around when she meets the green lipped kid in the library,and she likes him from the start. The book goes on to elaborate on Cal’s and Elliot’s relationship, she gives him the honors of her first kiss, and she encourages him to do things he would never in his right mind do. Then Cal finds a job, and Elliot makes sure Fat camp runs smoothly. Cal becomes really good friends with the restaurant owner she works for, and her mom comes out and tells her she is in a relationship with some weirdo that Cal can’t stand. Just when Elliot’s miserable life seems to be coming to a standstill this new relationship with Cal, lights a fire big enough to keep him going. And just when Cal and Elliot make their first steps into a relationship together Calls mom tells her that they’re moving again- to New Mexico so that Deloris and her boyfriend would be together (her man found a new job.) Cal has to break the news to Elliot at the beach. As the book goes on Cal and Elliot try to talk her mom out of moving to New Mexico, but nothing seems to work. To find out how this relationship blossoms and keeps going even after the threats of the New Mexico move you have to read the book to find out!

The paragraph that represents Brad and Heathers writing is:

“You won’t like it,”a voice says.I turn my head to the left.He’s not looking at me but down at the book in his hands.I look beyond him,but there isn’t anyone else in the store.He turns to face me,and I am startled by two things.First, he’s eyes are the darkest blue I have ever seen.Almost black, second-and this is the thing that makes me keep looking much longer than I normally would -his lips are green. I mean really green, like if suddenly the lights went t out in the store and the sun went black, I could probably read by the light his lips put off. I keep looking at him, waiting for him to something else. There’s a voice in my brain that is screaming at me and getting louder. Say something, it tells me.Converse,but all I am thinking is blue green, blue green, blue green like some sort of moron, and the best I can come up with is“Why?”and in my brain I’m thinking,Why do you keep looking at me that way?Why won’t I like this book?Why are you lips green?Why are you talking to me?

This paragraph represents the authors’ writing because it has all the precise details that are all throughout the whole book. It shows the impatient side of Calliope that the authors try to communicate to you throughout the book. But it shows a lot of dialog which this book has plenty of. The conversations, the precise descriptions, the feelings make you feel like you are the character standing and thinking those things.i also love how the authors made this book a made it into a two person perspective, every other chapter the two characters switch of point of views so thats really nice.

My opinion on this book can be summarized into one word: phenomenal!But that’s not enough for a book review.I would defiantly recommend this book to any teen girl,who enjoys a romantic chick book,with lots of love,romance,fun and excitement.This a great fast read for a gorgeous summer beach day,it draws you into the state of North Carolina and you are right next to the characters,there when they share their first kiss and all that jazz.It’s fun to read a book that has a happy ending,one that you can cry about because it’s that cheesy or laugh and be happy because again it’s that cheesy and cute.I would 100% recommend reading this book to a girl who either has some relationship issues or just needs to take her mind off of her own worries and drown in the drama of someone else’s romantic story.

F.Y.I.i enjoy a good book weather it has a cheesy ending or not,but i mostly go for the fun,romantic,cheesy books because i dont like to feel sad at the end of a book!

if you have any book suggestions for me to read comment below!:)
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Jan 21, 2011 Amelia, the pragmatic idealist rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, penguin, ya-kids-teen, contemp

For somebody who doesn't read a lot of contemporary books (I can seriously count on my fingers the number of contemp books I've read between now and last October), I really enjoyed Scrambled Eggs. Here's the thing: I'm a total escapist reader - I like to read substantial books that impact me but also distract me. Similarities are good, and being able to relate to a character is always nice (if not necessary), but I also like books that "take me away."
Scrambled Eggs was funny and quirky enough to...more For somebody who doesn't read a lot of contemporary books (I can seriously count on my fingers the number of contemp books I've read between now and last October), I really enjoyed Scrambled Eggs. Here's the thing: I'm a total escapist reader - I like to read substantial books that impact me but also distract me. Similarities are good, and being able to relate to a character is always nice (if not necessary), but I also like books that "take me away."
Scrambled Eggs was funny and quirky enough to do just that. Sure, some parts read slower than others, but the overall story was definitely a memorable one, and it's one that I would definitely recommend to all of you.
The story is told using dual first person narratives, and since two authors collaborated on the book, I definitely think they were able to pull off the unique-but-in-sync voices. There's a girl and a boy (usually), and in both their cases, "quirky" is an adequate word to describe their lives. The girl is constantly uprooted by her whimsical mother, who works - get this - as a "wench" in Renaissance Fairs across the county. Talk about an "out-of-the-ordinary" existence.
Then you've got a boy whose formerly ordinary dad has become one of those annoying TV "Jesus Screamers" (term that I, as a religious person, think is pretty clever - used to describe specific evangelists who always seem to "scream" at their audiences) and who's gotten rich off combining weight loss with religious gusto. And get this - he lives at the fat camp his family runs. Now I have to admit, the idea of living in a camping facility in North Carolina (why hello beautiful scenery!) was at first really cool, but as Eliot's story progressed, I realized: not so cool after all.
The best part of Scrambled, for me, was the beginning. 'Zany' is the word I'd use to describe it. We're first being introduced to the two leads, Calliope and Eliot, and learning about their backgrounds...as the story progressed, it got a little heavier, but it always retained the "cute" card.
Two things I noticed though...
The relationship between Cal and Eliot is definitely sweet, and on the one hand I definitely appreciated it's portrayal as substantial and genuine. I don't mind telling y'all that I don't care for "flingy" romances - give me some substance! And 'substance' is indeed what I was given in this story. I liked that. I really liked that. However... there was just a little something about the romance angle that seemed 'off.' I made a note in my bookmark that said "It's not 'love at first sight,' it's more like 'I've figured out everything about you at first sight.'" Being able to "read" somebody that accurately and figure out all this bare-your-soul stuff about them is a tad unlikely. I loved that they used words like "real deal" to describe their relationship, but...their conversations went from cute and flirty to bare-your-soul like *that*. A little more development would have been nice. And FYI - if you didn't like Ethan Wate (or if you thought he didn't sound like a boy), you may feel the same way about Eliot. I thought he was a good character, but sometimes the things he said were a little too insightful, you know? Like the kinds of things a middle-aged writer would say...
And to the subject matter. Religion is a notable factor in this book (which surprised me, since this isn't a Leafwood or Tyndale product), and it kind of rotated between being used as a source of inspiration and as a punching bag. To be honest, there were times when I wasn't sure if the authors were jabbing money-chasing "evangelists" or just religious people in general, but I still liked the book overall.
The last thing that kind of stood out: every single adult in this story was so complacent. Nobody got mad or had a temper. Everybody was so understanding...BS! Parents, authority figures - they totally revolved around the teen characters in this story. All the time. That was a wee bit strange.
But I love characters who get a reaction out of me; I love characters who make me care. And I definitely cared about the two MCs - they were great kids in pretty weird circumstances, trying to make the best of their lives. And now, seven days after finishing Scrambled Eggs at Midnight, that's what I remember most.(less)

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Sep 04, 2010 Corinne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Sigh. This was such a good one. So perfectly romantic and quirky.

Cal and her mom follow Renaissance Faires - you know the ones, with the jousting and the booths selling swords and the wenches. For years Cal's life has to fit into a carboard box that can moved at the whims of her mother and it's really starting to wear on her. When they arrive in Asheville, it seems like it will be just like any other summer - until she meets Eliot. Eliot, the son of a preaching fat-camp director. Eliot who is pa...more

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Jun 11, 2009 Christine rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really really liked this book!! There's a lot of (realistic) teenage angst, an flaky mother, an absent father, a cute guy/girl, a sweet father figure, a jerky mom's-boyfriend-type-of-character, a crazy televangelist type, and his unloved wife. Oh, and breakfast. Which really made the book, not to mention the occasional case of green lips. (Yeah, not explaining, you read.)
The televangelist father seems to be too involved with God, but it takes a disenchanted camper to point out that what The Da...more

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Nov 24, 2012 Nobody rated it 3 of 5 stars

Summary:
Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by Brad Barkley and Heather Helper is about two teenagers named Calliope and Eliot who fall in love during the Summer. Callipoe, a 15 year old girl who moves around with her mom all the time, never staying a place for more than a few months meets Eliot, a 15 year old boy whose dad sole purpose is to spread the name of Jesus to people who are trying to lose weight. As the days go by, Callipoe and Eliot just want to spend all of their time with each other. But o...more

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Jul 21, 2011 Laura (The Zealous Reader) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 100-in-2011

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Lately I've been very critical and judgmental of the books I read, expecting above-and-beyond creativity and originality in both plot and character. I've been very cynical towards melodramatic and insta-love romances and have tried to steer clear of any plain old contemporary romances. Scrambled Eggs at Midnight swooped right in and melted my stubborn heart. It's disappointing to think that because this was published 5 years ago, people might never read this.

I absolutely fell in love with Cal an...more

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Feb 26, 2009 Charlou Lunsford rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

A young teen recently said she like this. It is a nice romance to recommend to girls who would like such. Added bonus of the girl needs to find her own way due to a self-absorbed mother going on and some nicely done small town characters.

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Oct 16, 2010 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was a perfect love story of two fifteen-year olds. Eliot was a son of a man who ran a Christ-centered "fat" camp and Cal was the daughter of a "gypsy" who followed Rennasaince Faires. Having moved 23 times in 4 years, Cal and her mom, Delores, find their way to Asheville, NC where Cal and Eliot meet. Their relationship was immediately cute and witty. At first I thought it was cheesy but then . . . I remembered how I felt about my first love at that age and began to understand the way t...more

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Oct 21, 2009 Shelia rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is definitely, a chick book. While the story line is fairly predictable, the author draws you in by your desire of a better life for the main character Calliope (or Cal as she likes to be called). Cal’s mom moves from place to place living in a tent, with no desire to put down roots and create a real home. Eliot’s father has decided to open a camp for kids looking to lose weight and find Jesus. Cal meets Eliot by chance and the 2 immediately connect. Together they face their isolation, Cal...more

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Jul 16, 2009 April rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was about a girl named Calliope and a boy named Eliot. Calliope moved to new places frequently, thanks to her mom. And Eliot's father cared too much about religion and money. When Calliope and Eliot meet, a relationship formed between them.

When Calliope used to live with her father, they ate scrambled eggs at midnight whenever they felt down. She restarted this tradition with Eliot.

Eliot enjoyed illegally getting materials to make fireworks.

I felt that the beginning of the story was bo...more

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Jan 26, 2012 Jessica Schira rated it 2 of 5 stars

The thing that I loved about this book was the quirkiness of the characters. Both of the authors did an amazing job creating two characters that were very well rounded. I also loved the situations that the two characters were put into.

The plot of the book was a bit contrived. It reads the same as the plot from a lot of other books. Still the story was enjoyable and the writing is beautiful, so the I've-read-this-before plot can be forgiven.

I'm not going to give away the ending I'm just going to...more

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May 04, 2011 oliviasbooks rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, ya-contemporary, multiple-povs-letters, unfinished-2011, swapped-or-given-away, love-story-romance

The contents and the language are very philosophical and very beautiful. So beautiful and deep indeed that they are - in my opinion - on the verge of suffocating the story. I felt like a person who loves honey but who can only really appreciate its sticky sweetness when it is set off against the sour solidness of a thick and grainy slice of bread. If you tend to muttering: "Nice simile, but now go on talking about the book instead of your feelings" at this point of my review, you are one of thos...more

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May 07, 2011 Marina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary, realistic-fiction, romance, pov-times-two-or-more

I seem to be on a streak reading books that have alternating narrators for each chapter. And this one was even written by two different authors--I didn't even realize it because the story was so seamless between Eliot and Calliope (call her Cal).
Cal's mother is a wench--at least that's what it says on her W2's--and they are on the move frequently to follow the Renaissance Faire's and her mother's whims and fancies. However, this move is different. Cal meets Eliot who lives at a Christian fat ca...more

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May 08, 2012 Nissanmama rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I entirely enjoyed Scrambled Eggs at Midnight. This YA novel starts out with a grumpy, fifteen year old girl. She proves her case; she has good cause to be grumpy, but I wasn't sure where the story was going to go from there. I was smiling by the middle of the second chapter, completely sucked in by Eliot's charm. Each chapter alternates between Calliope and Eliot's perspectives to pull us along the summer they fell in love. The plot is simple, but it lets the writing shine. The dialog is witty...more

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Mar 11, 2012 Darien rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

Romance
Darien Munden

Calliope, or Cal as she refers to herself, has to deal with an irresponsible mother who seems more interested in finding love than caring for her own family. Eliot has a father who fancies himself a Messenger for God but barely understand Scripture. Between Calliope's mother, Delores, always moving their family whenever work or romance falls through and Eliot's father opening up his own Christian Camp to help kids get thin while "preaching" the gospel these two have little in...more

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Sep 07, 2010 Peggy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

I was attracted to this book because of the wacky characters. A teenage girl and her divorced mother are constantly on the move. The mother makes jewelry which she sells at Rennaisance Fairs. She also plays a wench at the fairs. The latest fair is in North Carolina where teenage girl meets teenage boy. His family is wacky as well. His father runs a Christian fat camp for overweight kids. Two authors wrote the book. Brad Barkley wrote the teenage boy chapters while Heather Hepler wrote the girl's...more

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Jan 07, 2010 Carrie Walker rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was overall a good read. I was in the mood for a love story and got one... maybe not in the way I expected. But still true. This is not a book that has an ever-changing plotline. It pretty much stays the same. I found it refreshing from the other books I've read recently but I definately will NOT say that it is the best I've read. THAT award goes to "The Hunger Games" and its sequel "Catching fire". I swear I counted down the days until it came out. Anyway, I recommend this book to tho...more

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Dec 05, 2010 Lynne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-reviewed

Calliope has spent the last few years of her life feeling like a nomad, roaming across the country with her artist mother, living in tents at Renaissance Faires while her mother sells jewelery and works as a serving wench. She rarely has contact with her father, and struggles with her familial relationships throughout the novel.

Eliot is slowly drowning in a sea of commercialized Godliness. His father is a famous evangelist who focuses his preachings on weight loss, and who has turned their home...more

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Feb 27, 2012 Reading Teen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Publishers Weekly said Scrambled Eggs at Midnight, is for “…Readers who wish Romeo and Juliet had a happier ending…” Booklist called it, “A refreshing, poetic, memorable story filled with the precise small details that nudge people toward love…” The Penguin Group published Scrambled Eggs at Midnight in 2006, only one month after Heather Hepler and Brad Barkley finished writing. Heather wrote half of the first chapter before realizing that a novel was a huge undertaking on her own. After calling...more Publishers Weekly said Scrambled Eggs at Midnight, is for “…Readers who wish Romeo and Juliet had a happier ending…” Booklist called it, “A refreshing, poetic, memorable story filled with the precise small details that nudge people toward love…” The Penguin Group published Scrambled Eggs at Midnight in 2006, only one month after Heather Hepler and Brad Barkley finished writing. Heather wrote half of the first chapter before realizing that a novel was a huge undertaking on her own. After calling Brad for some advice, they agreed to write it together. With chapters alternating between Eliot and Cal, Scrambled Eggs at Midnight is a teenage love story about what happens when you just let yourself fall, and I fell hard. I fell in love, not only with the main characters of this book, but with many of the supporting ones too. There were just so many lovable people.

Moving from place to place, Calliope never imagined the small town of Asheville North Carolina would be any different, she assumed it would be just like the nine other moves they’d had in the past four years. She never expected it to feel like home, never expected she’d want to stay, and never expected she’d find what she never really knew she was missing. Eliot had lived in North Carolina all of his life, and still sorely missed the Carolina beaches they moved away from years before. Shortly after relocating Eliot’s dad opened a fat camp whose slogan was “What would Jesus eat?” Being in a small town, it didn't take long for Cal and Eliot to meet at the local bookstore. Ingrained in Eliot’s mind forever, is the vision of Cal’s curly red hair and her bright green eyes. And Cal can’t stop thinking about how Eliot’s eyes were so blue they were nearly-black, and, she had to constantly remind herself, how his lips were green, definitely green.

After spending more time together Cal and Eliot realize they have an immediate connection. Cal has finally found something solid in her life and Eliot is finally coming out of his shell. And I loved every single bit of it. It's so hard to find words to explain how much I loved this book. It's just that good. I've never read another Chick-Lit book that I liked as much as Scrambled Eggs at Midnight, and honestly, I'm not sure if I ever will. So read it, and I promise you'll fall in love too.

-Kit
ReadingTeen.net (less)

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Jan 19, 2010 Karen Keyte rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-teen-books, teen-romantic, teen-girls-realistic, all-time-favorites, favorites

“I think that maybe when it comes to love, Eliot and I are the smartest people I know. It’s like we both got to the top of our diving boards and just looked at each other and jumped. And we keep watching each other, enjoying the fall. While everyone else around us is still stuck on their boards or frantically trying to brace themselves for impact.” - Calliope

“This. Us. This is the real deal. If we take care of this, it could be the forever kind of deal.” - Eliot

Until four years ago, Calliope liv...more

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Sep 08, 2008 Runa rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I love this unique love story of these two "outcast" teens (and not even the stereotypical outcasts, which makes it even better, they're more like...Stargirl outcasts). There's nothing here I've been in a YA book before, and the uniqueness of it all is magical. Jesus fat camp boy and daughter of a Renaissance Faire wench=a perfect couple, who would have thought, right? The dialogue is great, it's both fresh and realistic, it really reminded me of Juno, without the fakeness, you know? It's actual...more

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Apr 19, 2009 Melanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: juvenile-literature

Scrambled Eggs at Midnight is a teen romance novel, but very well done. The story is about Eliot and Calliope (Cal) and switches from each character's point of view. Calliope's mom is a constantly moving character who gets up and moves whenever and wherever she feels like it forcing Calliope to be constantly uprooted as she travels around working as a wench in Renaissance Faires (very funny at times). Eliot and Cal's paths cross as her mom stops to work in North Carolina right next to the Christ...more

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Jul 01, 2008 Meredith rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

3.5, actually.

"...I've just noticed a new ice-cream flavor called Chipitty-Dough-Dah. Then I'm imagining the meeting where a bunch of men in suits and ties sat around and tried to come up with that, all the names they might have discarded along the way, and I want to know if they had fun saying Chipitty-Dough-Dah over and over, or was it just another day at the office? Does everyone think that way? I really want to know. And here is the thing...I don't think it matters if it's normal in general,...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Emylee for TeensReadToo.com

Calliope is a normal teenage girl. Well, she wants to be. Unfortunately, her chance at a normal life is overshadowed by the reality of her mother's job, which is that of a wench. "My mother is a wench. It says so right on her W-2." Consequently, the opening at the Asheville Renaissance Faire prompts Calliope's mother, Delores, to pack up and move to North Carolina for employment at the largest Renaissance Faire in the country. And, once again, Calliope is u...more

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Aug 05, 2008 Kristina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2008, fiction, romance, ya, own

“My mother is a wench. It says so on her w-2″ and so starts this quirky novel.

Calliope and her mother are on the move a lot. Her mom makes jewelry which she sells at Renaissance Faires along with serving as a wench. They have a very strained relationship, to say the least. Cal’s mom, Delores, has the tendency to run from things. She packed Cal up a few years back, taking her from her loving father and stable home life. Cal has been taking care of Delores ever since.

Eliot lives with his mom and d...more

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About Brad Barkley

BRAD BARKLEY, a native of North Carolina, is the author of the novel, Money, Love, a Barnes and Noble "Discover Great New Writers" selection and a "BookSense 76" choice. Money, Love was named one of the best books of 2000 by the Washington Post and the Library Journal. His novel Alison's Automotive Repair Manual was also a "BookSense 76" selection. His short fiction has appeared in over two dozen...more

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Trivia About Scrambled Eggs at...

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Quotes from Scrambled Eggs at Midn...

“Cal: "I'm really sorry, Professor, but how do you explain these ? Swiss Cake Rolls. That doesn't rhyme; it's not cute; it's not childlike. And this is one of our most-respected snack foods, is it not? How is that, Professor? Hmmm?"
Eliot: "Well, isn't it obvious? We trust the Swiss for their ability to engineer things, to build with precision."
Cal: "We do?"
Eliot: "Do I even have to mention Swiss watches? Swiss Army knives? Swiss cheese? If anyone can build a non-threatening, non-lethal snack cake, it's the Swiss. They're neutral, we can trust them not to attack us with trans-fatty acids and sugar. I think you would feel differently if they were German Cake Rolls. North Korean Cake Rolls. I bet you wouldn't eat them."
Cal: "I bet I would.” — 11 people liked it

“Eliot, huh?" she says. The thin fabric of her long T-shirt brushes my arm. "Is everyone in your family named for a famous symbolist poet?"
No, I'm named for someone who was supposed to be in the Bible but isn't."
No? What happened to him?"
I glance over at her, the way the corner of her mouth turns up, half-smirk, half-smile. Her hair moves as she walks.
He was called to be a disciple, but he had, you know, stuff to do."
Stuff, like...polishing his sandals? Making lunch?"
We keep walking, over the bridge across the lake, past the swings and the playground equipment, just walking.
Exactly. And what about you, Calliope...is everyone in your family named after a...what is it? A keyboard? An organ?"
It's a steam-powered piano. It's also the name of the Greek goddess of poetry. You should read stuff other than chemistry; you'd know these things." Her smirky smile again, her sleeve touching my arm.
I feel like my skin has been removed, every nerve exposed. I open my mouth, and this comes out: "I think you are more goddess than piano." Stupid, stupid.
But she laughs. "You know, that's the nicest thing anyone's said to me today."
You don't see too many calliopes," I tell her.
I'm Cal, actually. I mean, that's what I prefer."
I meant the steam pianos...you don't see too many." She stops and looks at me, full-on, and right away I put it on the list of the best moments in my life.
Until you said that, Eliot, I wasn't fully aware of the demise of the steam piano, so thank you. Really."
I smirk at her and we both fight not to smile. "Okay, smart-ass," I say.” — 10 people liked it

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