Title: Dodging Cupcakes
Author: Laura Pashley
Publisher: Independently Published
ISBN: 979-8398740929
Pages: 251
Genre: Children / Reading Practice
Reviewed by: Liz Konkel

Read Book Review

Mindy’s entire life is turned upside down when her parents decide to move to her father’s Illinois hometown, which will put her into a new school without any friends. What’s even stranger is her new school is in an abandoned hotel following a tragic fire which destroyed the original school building. Her first day gets off to a weird start when she discovers the principal is a little too gung-ho about Pirate Day, and she meets a boy in a locker who gives her advice. Her chance to make friends comes when the library hosts a carnival fundraiser and she gets partnered with a student named Charlie to create a task. Charlie’s idea is a booth selling cupcakes but Mindy has bigger plans. The challenge is creating something awesome which will take a few risks and could potentially take things a little too far.

The story begins immediately with Mindy starting her first day at a new school which takes you directly into her mindset and current struggle. This sets up the first theme which is feeling out of place which is what leads Mindy to try and find a way to fit in and make new friends. This is a common emotional struggle children face, especially those who have moved to new schools where they don’t know anybody. The second prominent theme is trying too hard – which is a core catalyst for Mindy which leads to her eventual, and brief, downfall. This creates an ideal lesson that children can see through her, being what happens when you push too hard or take risks without thinking. These themes are important components to the growth that Mindy experiences and what makes her a realistic example children can relate to.

Friendship is a key part of both themes with Charlie as a significant character as someone Mindy can connect with and can help her learn the value of teamwork. The friendship between them is a sweet and genuine portrayal of how relationships should be. This creates a nice example for children of how healthy friendships look, and how to be a good friend. The story finds her so consumed by trying to fit in that she takes too many risks and breaks promises which cause a lot of harm around her. Through this, the story shows how to take accountability for actions, forgiveness, and how to make amends. Humor is incorporated as a way to maintain levity in the story; however, the premise is grounded in the concept of Mindy trying to find a place for herself. The lightness of the tone makes it easy for children to read as it doesn’t make it too serious. The premise touches upon themes clearly and in ways that won’t have children trying to figure out what is being said.

The setting is unique with the school having relocated to an abandoned hotel which creates a quirky backdrop for the story to occur. This is a creative way to incorporate imagination into the story as it pairs well with Mindy to come up with elaborate game ideas for the carnival. The library is a key element, as the first place Mindy sees and is at the core of the fundraiser. It’s the place that sets the tone and whimsical qualities of the story through the principal and her Pirate Day language. This is also a clever way of falling in love with the school so that you care about the fundraiser succeeding, as this immediately shows you the heart the story has.

An entertaining read for older children, Dodging Cupcakes is a humorous tale of friendship that touches on realistic themes regarding fitting in, moving, and friendship with heart and charm.