Cook-Off‪!‬

It's been ten months since my species' invasion failed, but you know the old saying When first you don't succeed—

My Earth name is Deborah Jones, but the Home World knows me as Dbrrrksh of the House of Mpfld. A new invasion is imminent, but I have a more pressing problem: buds have erupted on my six alien tentacles, meaning I'm a candidate for a life-and-death battle to see if I have the right stuff to defeat the Supreme High Matriarch one day. But, a Home World mean girl has come to Earth. She's spent years preparing for the trials and is the odds-on favorite to snack on me.

My best friend Willy discovers he has a knack for cooking and his own contest to worry about: the Sacramento Tween Cook-Off. My grandmother, Commander Psgbttk, is writing a cookbook called Recipes for Cooking Humans and has perfected a human-flavored jellybean. Grandmother wants me to be Willy's sous chef for the grand finale. Does she think I'll prepare Steak Tartar for the Home World to feast upon?

The Cook-Off countdown is ticking.

So much for seventh grade. If I don't outsmart Grandmother, everyone on Earth is toast.