Yo! I need to tell you about this book! Secrets and Scones… oh my.. I enjoyed this middle school read. Recipes, teenage angst (with cause), communication struggles and friendship blooming. A touch of mystery with growth in different directions… a good quick read. I urge you, especially my female readers, to pick up this delightful book.
From the cover:
Scarlett is sick of being the star — and victim — of her mom’s famous blog. Her solution? Become completely boring and deprive her mom of embarrassing material. The only problem is, being boring is, well, boring. So when Scarlett finds a gorgeous kitchen in the house next foor, left empty by an elderly neighbour during a hospital stay, it’s too tempting to resist.
Before she really knows what she’s doing, Scarlett is whipping up a batch of scones…. and making an unexpected friend. But can they keep their baking a secret? And can Scarlett find the secret ingredients — to cake, family, and friendship?
What you get:
A well written chapter book geared to middle school. Scarlett is a character you can wrap your teeth around, so well developed that if I met her on the street I’d know her… and want to help her in her quest. It’s actually quite hard for me to tell you about this book without wanting to gush out the whole story. I want to tell you about Rosemary, Mr. Kruffs, Scarlett’s mom, Violet, Gretchen, Nick and Alison. To have you meet all these characters and learn all about them. I want you to see the mischief that happens with Scarlett and that gorgeous kitchen. For you to see the strength of character that develops.
My thoughts:
Now… as much as I love this book.. I don’t see it as a book for boys. It feels like it written for girls and perhaps that’s why I enjoyed it so. A light touch of romance (like what you would find in a teen) with a situation that needs resolving and learning how to communicate to reach that end. Seeing family relationships worked on and lives changed. Just a well done book and I would happily read another book by Laurel Remington. She has a good way with words and character development.
Secrets and Scones
Laurel Remington
Sourcebooks
288 pages, trade paperback, middle school
chapter book, recipes, friendship, teens
Reviewed for Raincoast books.
Click picture below for amazon link
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