Why am I passionate about this?

True confession: Iā€™m not a baker, but I love it when other people bake. Itā€™s riveting to watch how they transform the humblest of ingredients into desserts that are beautiful and delicious. I get super excited to see this creative process unfold, which is why I adore The Great British Baking Show and other competitive reality baking programs. They inspired me to write Marvelous Jackson because my main character desperately wants to snag a coveted audition spot on The Marvelous Midwest Kids Baking Championship. He relishes the frenetic energy and noise of a kitchen packed with ambitious and talented peopleā€”just like I do!


I wrote

Marvelous Jackson

By Laura Anne Bird,

Book cover of Marvelous Jackson

What is my book about?

Since losing his mom, thirteen-year-old Jack Wilson has spent most of his time seeing just how much trouble he canā€¦

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

The books I picked & why

Book cover of Honestly Elliott

Laura Anne Bird Why did I love this book?

McDunn covers a lot of ground in her heartwarming novel about Elliott, an aspiring young cook who finds refuge in the kitchen. Elliott struggles with ADHD, his best friend has moved away, and his dad and stepmom are getting ready to welcome their new baby. Everything feels chaotic and difficultā€”and it only gets worse when Elliott has to team up with the popular and wicked-smart Maribel for a huge school project.

Sure, there are some pretty big obstacles for Elliott to overcome in Honestly Elliott, but I love that his voice is unwavering and brave, and his journey from sesame noodles to ā€œdesperation piesā€ (cool historical reference alert!) is nothing short of delightful. 

By Gillian McDunn,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Honestly Elliott as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

Schneider Family Book Award: Best Middle Grade Honor Book!

Highly-acclaimed author of Caterpillar Summer, Gillian McDunn explores boyhood in a funny, big-hearted story about a kid trying to find the best way to be his best self.

Elliott isn't sure where he fits in. Ever since his best friend moved away and his dad and stepmom announced the arrival of their new baby, he's been feeling invisible. Plus his dad just doesn't seem to understand what having ADHD really feels like, or why cooking is the one activity where Elliott's mind clicks into place.

When he's paired with the superā€¦


Book cover of The Doughnut Fix

Laura Anne Bird Why did I love this book?

Janowitzā€™s romp of a story centers on twelve-year-old Tristan, who loves reading cookbooks and making desserts. Life is sweetā€”until Tristanā€™s parents announce theyā€™re leaving New York City and moving to the middle of nowhere. When he learns there are zero bakeries in his new town, Tristan pledges to bring back the famous Petersville chocolate cream doughnut, which sets him on an unexpected and entertaining adventure. He learns how to craft a business plan, buy ingredients in bulk, and manage demanding customers.

Spoiler alert number one: l like that even though Tristan nails the renowned doughnut, he puts his own delicious spin on things. Spoiler alert number two: this book will make you very hungry. Prepare accordingly.

By Jessie Janowitz,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Doughnut Fix as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

Superfudge meets The Lemonade War in this funny, heartwarming book about change, adventure, family, and of course, doughnuts.
Tristan isn't Gifted or Talented like his sister Jeanine, and he's always been okay with that because he can make a perfect chocolate chip cookie and he lives in the greatest city in the world. But his life takes a turn for the worse when his parents decide to move to middle-of-nowhere Petersville-a town with one street and no restaurants. It's like suddenly they're supposed to be this other family, one that can survive without bagels and movie theaters.
His suspicions aboutā€¦


Ad

Book cover of Trapped in the Horror Dome

Trapped in the Horror Dome by Matt McMann,

This series of terrifying standalone tales that combine monsters + mysteries is perfect for fans of Goosebumps.

ā€œSpine-chilling and creepy!ā€ ā€”Max Brallier, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Kids on Earth, on Escape From Grimstone Manor (Monsterious, Book 1). 

When their school wins a state scienceā€¦

Book cover of Eli Over Easy

Laura Anne Bird Why did I love this book?

Stamperā€™s tender, touching novel introduces readers to thirteen-year-old Eli, a Minnesota native who has relocated to New York City with his anxiety-ridden father. Struggling with the recent loss of his mom, Eli desperately wants to watch her old instructional cooking videos on YouTube. Still, his clueless (and, frankly, misguided) dad bans them out of his own overwhelming feelings of grief.

Fortunately, Eli makes a new friend in his apartment building. With help from the unflappable (and cute!) Mathias, Eli purchases ingredients, hones his skills in the kitchen, and even writes computer code for baking the perfect chocolate chip cookie. The result? A journey thatā€™s complicated, messy, and super sweet. 

By Phil Stamper,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Eli Over Easy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

From the acclaimed author of Small Town Pride, Phil Stamper, comes a heartfelt coming-of-age middle grade novel about grief, love, loss, and finding your way forward in the vein of Kate Allenā€™s The Line Tender and Jules Machiasā€™s Both Can Be True.

The last few months have been pretty tough for Eli. He moved to New York City and left his small town in Minnesota with his extended family and everyone he knows. He hasnā€™t made any new friends. And his mom died unexpectedly, shattering his whole world. He misses Mom more and more every day, but Dad refuses toā€¦


Book cover of Cookies & Milk

Laura Anne Bird Why did I love this book?

Eleven-year-old Ellis is the hapless, harmonica-playing main character of Amos' book. Heā€™s spending summer vacation with his newly divorced dad, whoā€™s laser-focused on his goal of opening a brand-new cookie shop in Hollywood. Ellis gets roped into helping him, and shenanigans ensue, many of them involving chocolate chips, bags of sugar, and industrial-size mixers.

I love that Amos loosely based his debut on his own childhood in the 1970s when he helped his fatherā€”Wally ā€œFamousā€ Amos (perhaps youā€™ve heard of him?)ā€”open a cookie shop on Sunset Boulevard. Woven throughout Ellisā€™s story are spunky neighbors, Blues music, Black pride, and lessons celebrating the value of hard work. These components add depth to Amosā€™s otherwise fizzy story. 

By Shawn Amos,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Cookies & Milk as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

WINNER OF THE NAACP IMAGE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORKā€”YOUTH/TEENS!

It's a summer of family, friendship, and fun fiascos in this acclaimed novel that's as irresistible as a fresh-baked cookie. 

Ellis Bailey Johnson has the summertime blues. Instead of hanging out with friends, listening to music, and playing his harmonica, Ellis has to help bring his dadā€™s latest farfetched, sure-to-fail idea to life: open the worldā€™s first chocolate chip cookie store.

They have six weeks to perfect their recipe, get a run-down A-frame storefront on Hollywoodā€™s Sunset Boulevard into tip-top shape, and bring in customers. But nothing goes according toā€¦


Ad

Book cover of Haven

Haven by Valerie Biel,

Taking only what they can quickly pack, 11-year-old Mardella and her mom secretly move away from their abusive home to start a fresh life in Haven, MN. But Mardellaā€™s sure she's to blameā€”if only she hadnā€™t dialed 911, her dad wouldnā€™t be in jail, her mom wouldn't have been fired,ā€¦

Book cover of Fearless: In the Mix

Laura Anne Bird Why did I love this book?

Thirteen-year-old Hudson stars on Broadway, but baking is his true passion. Heā€™s ecstatic when he receives an invitation to participate in the Great American Baking competitionā€”until he finds out what his assignment will be. He must make a cupcake with flavors that reflect his familyā€™s ethnic background, and he knows nothing about Indian spices. (Cue the theatrics!)

Hudsonā€™s multi-talented grandmother comes to the rescue, introducing him to the delights of cardamom, saffron, mango, and pistachio extract while his actor friends cheer him on. I love that one of the co-authors of Fearless: In the Mix is a Broadway star herself. (Did someone say Hamilton?) Her experiences certainly lend dramatic flair to this novel, perfect for older middle-grade readers. 

By Mandy Gonzalez, Sushil Preet K. Cheema,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Fearless as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

Better Nate than Ever meets Love Sugar Magic in this ā€œdelectableā€ (Kirkus Reviews) third novel in the Fearless middle grade series from Hamilton and Broadway star Mandy Gonzalez about a young thespian who feels caught between his love of baking and theatre.

Twelve-year-old Hudson Patel has two great loves: Broadway and baking! In addition to giving his all to his role in the hit show Our Time, Hudson takes pride in keeping his castmates and fellow Fearless Squad members well-fed with all the delicious treats he creates.

When the call comes in for a big baking showā€”with the winner receivingā€¦


Explore my book šŸ˜€

Marvelous Jackson

By Laura Anne Bird,

Book cover of Marvelous Jackson

What is my book about?

Since losing his mom, thirteen-year-old Jack Wilson has spent most of his time seeing just how much trouble he can get away with, because then he feels like a winner at something. But he takes his mischief too far and is faced with the possibility of unbearable consequences. He knows itā€™s time to make a big change.

After rediscovering the love of baking he once shared with his mother, Jack is sure that his new sense of purpose will help him stay on the right path, so he throws himself into learning the finer points of sprinkles and sconesā€”and hopefully even mending his broken relationship with his dad.

Book cover of Honestly Elliott
Book cover of The Doughnut Fix
Book cover of Eli Over Easy

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,889

readers submitted
so far, will you?

Ad

šŸ“š You might also likeā€¦

Book cover of The Real Boys of the Civil War

The Real Boys of the Civil War by J. Arthur Moore,

The Real Boys of the Civil War is a research about the real boys who served during the war, opening with a historiography research paper about their history along with its 7-page source document. It then evolves into a series of collections of their stories by topic, concluding with aā€¦

Book cover of Worcester Glendenis, Kid Detective

Worcester Glendenis, Kid Detective by Jon Glass,

Worcester Glendenis is a 12-year-old wannabe private detective. He models himself on his hero, the fictional private eye Philip Marlowe, of course without the booze, cigarettes, and violence. After all, he is only twelve.

He's a likable and smart kid with two pesky 7-year-old twin sisters, and a Mum andā€¦

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in self esteem, entrepreneurs, and ADHD?

Self Esteem 114 books
Entrepreneurs 318 books
ADHD 48 books