Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Review: It's Raining Cupcakes (signed copy to give away)


It's Raining Cupcakes

It's Raining Cupcakes, published by Aladdin/Scholastic March 2010
Author: Lisa Schroeder

Isabel is twelve and lives in the small town of Willow, Oregon. In fact, she's never been anywhere but Oregon, though she longs to travel the world like her Aunt Christy, who is a flight attendant and sends Isabel postcards from all over. Meanwhile, her parents are more interested in turning an old laundromat into a cupcake store, which sounds pretty cool, but not as good as traveling.

When Isabel hears about a baking contest for kids where the finalists get to go to New York City, she sets her mind to creating the perfect recipe. Then her best friend, Sophie, who is practically perfect, also decides to enter the contest. Even worse, her mother thinks Isabel should enter a cupcake recipe because it would be good publicity for the shop, but Isabel isn't sure that's a good idea.

Though the pink, confectionery cover makes it appear as nothing more than a light, fluffy read, the book covers some interesting territory as Isabel's mother struggles with her own confidence and anxieties. Though it is somewhat unusual for a middle grade book to deal with both Isabel and her mother's search for the strength to follow their dreams, the messages are not heavy handed. As you might hope, things end happily, if not fully resolved. Isabel learns valuable lessons about her mother, her practically-perfect friend, and her own ability to think about other people's dreams as well as her own.

I would recommend this book for middle grade and young tween girls. Isabel and Sophie are great fun, and I wouldn't mind reading more about them in another book.

Four stars out of five.

I have a paperback copy of It's Raining Cupcakes, kindly signed and sent to me by the author. If you would like it, leave a comment and make sure you are following this blog. I'll choose a winner on Friday, so don't delay.

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9 comments:

  1. Lisa Schroeder is one of the nicest people. I would love to read this book with my daughter. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  2. I thought this book was perfect, hoped it would win the Newbery.

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  3. This sounds great!
    follower

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

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  4. Would love this. Great review.

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  5. Oh, this sounds gorgeous! Not sure if it's an international competition -- if so, enter me, if not, thanks for the recommendation!

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  6. @Amie - It's a light book. I can go international with this one.

    It is great to see the excitement. I'll pick a winner Friday (using virtual dice). Anybody who posts before I roll is in.

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  7. This sounds like a lovely book. Either for my goddaughter, who shares the same name as the town, or my friend in Australia who has a young daughter - and is a professional baker!

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  8. Sounds like a fun read for young ones. :-)

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  9. Read this book it's very appropriate for girls over 8 and has great morels.

    A great book for any twneen

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