Midsummer's Mayhem

May 6, 2019
As the curtain raises on this reimagining of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Indian-American Mimi, 11, is reading her favorite cookbook when she hears a song drifting from the woods “like an irresistible aroma.” Debut author LaRocca liberally uses food metaphors to underscore Mimi’s passion for baking, which she shared with her sorely missed best friend who moved away. Hints of Shakespeare surface as Mimi’s brother Henry spouts lines from the school production, in which he plays Puck, whose character traits are reflected in Vik, the mysterious pipe-playing boy who befriends Mimi in the forest. While she experiments with recipes in hopes of winning a celebrity-judged Midsummer’s Eve baking contest and proving herself to her high-achieving parents and siblings, Mimi’s family and neighbors start talking and acting out in puzzling, inexplicable ways after sampling her herb- and flower-based confections. Though this mayhem provides some humorous moments, repetition and overstatement impede the pace of the story, until LaRocca—with Vik’s help—ties together its myriad threads in a satisfying finale. Enchantment reigns, yet the author’s exploration of family, friendship, and self-esteem are firmly grounded in reality. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Agent: Brent Taylor, TriadaUS.

May 15, 2019
Eleven-year-old Mira "Mimi" Mackson is a baking prodigy from a small Massachusetts town called Comity (a thinly disguised Concord). Mimi is the youngest member of a large family: Her Indian American mom is a successful software consultant, her white dad is a renowned food writer and critic, and her three older siblings (all biracial, like Mimi) excel at acting, dance, and soccer. Although Mimi enjoys creating new treats for her family and experimenting with uncommon flavors, she sometimes feels out of place and invisible amid her accomplished siblings. When a new bakery in town, the While Away Bakery and Café, announces a baking contest for children, Mimi is excited to compete and show off her talents. Things get complicated, however, when Mimi's father falls under an enchantment that causes him to not only lose his refined sense of taste, but also eat everything in sight. Loosely based on A Midsummer Night's Dream and inspired by TV shows like The Great British Baking Show, LaRocca's debut is original and compelling. The realistic characters and complex family dynamics augment the tightly knit plot, and the mouthwatering descriptions of food are guaranteed to make readers hungry. Three recipes at the end of the novel (based on the characters' concoctions) are an added bonus for those interested in developing their culinary skills. A delectable treat for food and literary connoisseurs alike. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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June 1, 2019

Gr 4-7-Eleven-year-old Mimi Mackson is the youngest in a family of overachievers. Between her older siblings' many activities and her parents' busy work lives, Mimi feels lost in the shuffle and longs for her own moment in the spotlight. When she learns about a contest held by the mysterious new bakery in town, Mimi sees a chance to distinguish herself and jump-start her dream of becoming a celebrity chef like her idol Puffy Fay. But she struggles to find inspiration with the loss of her best friend Emma, who recently moved to Australia, and the advice of her dad, who overnight seems to have lost his impressive sense of taste. Then one day, while searching for ingredients and ideas in the woods, Mimi meets a boy who shows her areas she's never visited before. She is surprised to discover Banyan trees and a wild boar in the Massachusetts forest, along with delicious nectar-filled flowers and other ingredients that she incorporates into her baking. Things at home go from weird to weirder, with her father continuing to eat more food than seems humanly possible, her sisters caught up in an intense and absurd love triangle, and her brother suddenly in love with his own reflection. Despite the mayhem, Mimi pushes forward toward her goal of winning the contest. This delightful and delicious spin on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream flows beautifully into a sensitive and thoughtful novel that addresses family dynamics and self-confidence alongside mouth-watering descriptions of food. Readers will relate to Mimi's attempts to stand out and find her place and will be thrilled by the magical baking. VERDICT A first purchase for most libraries, especially where titles like Kathryn Littlewood's "Bliss Bakery" and Anna Meriano's "Love Sugar Magic" series are popular.-Kristy Pasquariello, Westwood Public Library, MA

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2019
Grades 4-7 As the youngest kid in her big Indian American family, Mimi has always felt a little out of place. Her siblings are all natural performers, but the only place Mimi feels comfortable is in the kitchen. At least her dad, a big-time food critic, is always available to help, but lately he seems less interested in flavors. When a new bakery announces a young bakers contest, Mimi is drawn into the competition. But even as she struggles with her recipes, things are getting weirder?her dad has gone off the deep end, her siblings are having crazy romantic drama, and a strange boy has appeared in the woods. This riff on A Midsummer Night's Dream is heartfelt and ridiculously fun. Mimi, sweet as sugar with a heart of gold, creates as many problems as she solves, but readers will be cheering for her and her family the whole way. A glossary of cooking terms and some of her recipes are appended?although with all the fairy mischief, readers might think twice before they try baking themselves.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)