When Joe tasted a mouthful he was amazed how delicious it was - a dense taste, better than any pasta he'd eaten before. Food was suddenly different - he felt as if his taste buds were doing the cha-cha-cha onStrictly.Joe loves his Italian heritage: the language, the opera, the lasagne! But it's hard to celebrate his Italian roots in Bryn Mawr, South Wales, where his mam is sick of running the family's tatty café. Just like his great-grandfather, who opened the café in 1929, Joe is an entrepreneur. He vows to save the family business, and to spice up the tired High Street with a little Italian flavour!This is a heart-warming story about bringing a diverse community together and the amazing history of Italian immigrants in Wales. From the author of Cowgirl, shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize.Cover illustration by Tom Clohosy Cole."The warmth and charm of'Sweet Pizza' are quite extraordinary; though there are some very moving moments, it is mainly a joyous and eccentric comedy." Kate Saunders, Guardian Children's Fiction Prize JudgeAlso by G. R. Gemin: Cowgirl

G. R. Gemin was born in Cardiff, South Wales, of Italian parentage, and lives in London. He spends much of his non-writing time listening to a variety of music, from Jimmy Smith to Giuseppe Verdi, with whom he is particularly obsessed. He speaks enough Italian to order ice cream, cake, or both.