"Roxxi loves gross foods. She loves them so much that she wants to start a restaurant of things no one else would eat. She'd really like to win a Wrigley's Believe It or Else record for cooking and eating the most gross things. Roxxi enlists the aid of her reluctant best friend, Marie Rose, science-nerd neighbor Eugene, and dog Jack. Unexpected help also comes from Roxxi's cousin, Karl, a recently returned veteran of the war in Iraq. Challenged by Alice, a rather privileged girl from their school, the quartet decides that their restaurant might even beat Alice's Sweet Shop in a competition to see who makes the most creative and productive use of their summer. The competition is intense, the food is gross and the stakes get higher and higher. Threatened by the success of La Cabeza de Cabra (Goat Head) Restaurant, Alice stoops to calling Mr. Herman, the city health inspector, to pay Roxxi a visit, which ultimately results in a serious confrontation between Herman and Karl. When the smoke clears, Roxxi understands more about the game of life than she ever expected to learn during her 11th summer"--P. [4] of cover.