Summer of a Thousand Pies

December 1, 2018

Gr 4-6-Since her mother's death, Cady's father has been adrift, struggling to maintain a job and provide a home and basic parental care. When long-standing sobriety issues land him in jail, 12-year-old Cady is once again placed in foster care, this time with her Aunt Shell, her mother's sister whom she hardly knows. Life in remote, yet close-knit Julian, CA, is quite different from living homeless on the San Diego streets. At Aunt Shell's pie shop, Cady discovers a sense of belonging she never knew, making friends with the employees and regular customers, while also learning some hard truths about her parents. But Aunt Shell's business struggles have jeopardized the future of the pie shop, and Cady's scrappiness, ingenuity, and drive to be a great pie-maker gets everyone in her newfound home involved to save the establishment. Eight recipes with notes from Cady are included as back matter. Memorable characters and strong writing make this more than just a book about pie. Homelessness, substance abuse, undocumented immigrants, and same-sex relationships are weaved into the plot, along with themes of belonging, acceptance, and finding one's place in the world. Though some social issues would have benefited from deeper development and others are not wholly rectified, they are present and, to the author's credit, vital aspects of the narrative. VERDICT Realistic fiction with substance. This would be a fine purchase for mid to large collections.-Rebecca Gueorguiev, New York Public Library

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2019
Twelve-year old Cady Bennett sets her sights on becoming the best baker in this tale of home, family, friendship, and, of course, pies.Cady's had it tough. With a deceased mom and in and out of foster care because of her neglectful yet loving dad, who struggles with alcoholism, she finds herself in a child welfare center just before gruff Aunt Shell, whom Cady has never met, steps in as her temporary guardian. Cady has no idea what to expect when she is whisked away to small-town Julian, California, to live in her mother's childhood home with Aunt Shell and her partner, Suzanne. Over the course of a summer, Cady works diligently in her aunt's pie shop baking 1,000 pies--a personal goal. Contemporary topics such as immigration, bullying, and celiac disease mix easily into the plot. Dilloway whips up a gentle mix of sweet and savory themes with a lovable and diverse cast that includes an undocumented Latinx family and a same-sex couple; Cady herself has olive skin, and her grandpa--Shell's father--was Mexican. (Cady's dad and Suzanne seem to be white.) None of the issues feel forced; rather, there is an authentic compassion underlying them. Fans of Anne of Green Gables will find a satisfying story and another heroine to cheer on as Cady faces her past traumas from neglect and bullying in her search for permanence. While at times the pace slows, readers will ultimately find Cady's journey deeply rewarding.Sweet as pie. (recipes) (Fiction. 8-12)

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May 20, 2019
Cady, 12, is used to being homeless, sleeping next to her father in his old van, and getting taunted at school. Her life changes abruptly, though, when social services arranges for her to live with an aunt she’s never met in the tiny village of Julian, apple pie capital of greater San Diego. At first, Cady is wary of pie shop owner Aunt Shell and her partner Suzanne, but it doesn’t take long for her to warm up to their hospitality and their quaint town, where people offer support. Here, Cady has a chance to practice her baking skills as Aunt Shell and her employees teach her how to make pie. When the business flails, and Aunt Shell is in danger of losing both her shop and her home, Cady is determined to find a solution. In a novel that evokes the warmth of home, newfound security, and friendship, Dilloway (the Momotaro books) effectively contrasts Cady’s old life with her new one while examining her muddled emotions, including the mixture of anger and love she feels toward her father. Those who share the protagonist’s passion for the culinary arts will delight in the easy-to-follow pie recipes following the story’s gratifying conclusion. Ages 8–12. Agent: Patricia Nelson, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

April 1, 2019
Grades 4-7 After Cady's dad shows up drunk and disorderly to a school meeting, Cady is taken out of his custody. She's been in foster care before, so she knows she can handle whatever comes next. What she doesn't expect is for her estranged aunt Shell to appear and take her in, as Cady's father always claimed Shell didn't want anything to do with them. Shell and her partner, Suzanne, become the family Cady has always needed. Over the course of a summer, she befriends members of their small town and helps Shell save her struggling pie shop. Cady shows a lot of courage and strength throughout, and her growth is realistically portrayed as she learns to open up to her new family. Her reactions reflect the journey of a child who has had to take on too much responsibility, and her story is inspiring and hopeful without oversimplifying Cady's experiences. The appended recipes for Cady's pies add a sweet touch to this tender coming-of-age story, perfect for fans for Lynda Mullaly Hunt and Ali Benjamin.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)