Baker's Magic

(Hardback)

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Description

Bee is an orphan, alone in a poor, crumbling kingdom. In desperation, she steals a bun from a bakery. To Bee's surprise, the baker offers her a place at his shop. As she learns to bake, Bee discovers that she has a magical power. When a new friend desperately needs her help against an evil mage, Bee wonders what a small orphan girl with only a small bit of magic can do. Bee's journey to help her friend becomes a journey to save the kingdom, and a discovery of the meaning of family. AGES: 9-12 AUTHOR: Diane Zahler is the author of four middle-grade fairy-tale retellings: 'The Thirteenth Princess', 'A True Princess', 'Princess of the Wild Swans', and 'Sleeping Beauty's Daughter's. She has also written two nonfiction books for older readers, 'The Black Death' and 'Than Shwe's Burma', and a nearly infinite quantity of textbook materials for elementary and high school students.

Reviews

...a wonderful story with a lovely ending.-- "Imagination Soup"
...like a good recipe, it all comes together. Standout secondary characters, a creative environmental twist, and just enough intrigue make this a pleasing adventure story for middle-grade readers.-- "Booklist Online"
A cozy fantasy adventure featuring strong female characters. . . .The plucky orphan finding magic and friendship is not a new theme, but ample action and charming characters like Bee, Princess Anika, and Captain Zafira Zay make this an entertaining read with an empowering message for girls, while still maintaining cross-gender appeal. . . .Text complexity and a wholesome plot make this a good choice for higher-level readers in lower grades. A solid addition to larger middle grade collections.-- "School Library Journal"
A heartwarming middle-grade fantasy adventure that offers several different kinds of magic. Featuring a strong female heroine, an unusual quest, an epic ecological battle -- and pastries! You'll never take trees for granted again.-- "Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America"
At its core, this is a story of bravery, resilience, and love. And while the premise of emotions magically empowering food is not new, this recipe has enough added ingredients to satisfy. A sweet, magical, environmentally conscious adventure.-- "Kirkus Reviews"
Baker's Magic is a delightful tale sure to entertain young fantasy enthusiasts. . . .Mixing themes of magic, love, friendship, and environmentalism, the story truly has a little something for everyone. It is light-hearted, entertaining, and thoroughly enjoyable.-- "ForeWord Reviews"
Baking is already a sort of magic, so it's no wonder the two have been combined with such success in this story of twelve-year-old runaway Bee. . . .This fantasy novel truly has it all: pirates, princesses, evil mages, and even a recipe.-- "Barnes & Noble Kids blog"
Diane Zahler (The Thirteenth Princess) cooks up a scrumptious, gracefully eco-minded middle-grade fantasy of found families and unusual heroes worth cheering.-- "Shelf Awareness"
It was so interesting and kept me reading. I especially liked how believable the characters were. . . .This is a well-done, interesting story that I think anyone would enjoy reading, but especially middle school-aged kids.-- "Kids' Book Buzz/San Francisco Book Review"
The obvious love between the baker and Bee, who was alone and guarded for so long, is moving, and it develops at an authentic pace. Pirates, magical creatures, family mysteries, and a dramatic battle with the mage will all keep readers busy, and the constant undercurrent of baking provides a firm and tasty grounding. . . .audiences will just appreciate a yeasty and enjoyable fantasy.-- "Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"
Zahler (Sleeping Beauty's Daughters) has created a cozy fantasy adventure with tension, twists, and sweet treats. Bee and her companions are quick-thinking and determined heroes, and their journey to right wrongs should appeal to a broad range of readers.-- "Publishers Weekly"

Author Bio

Diane Zahler is the author of four middle-grade fairy-tale retellings: The Thirteenth Princess, A True Princess, Princess of the Wild Swans, and Sleeping Beauty's Daughters. She has also written two nonfiction books for older readers, The Black Death and Than Shwe's Burma, and a nearly infinite quantity of textbook materials for elementary and high school students. She's made her home in Seattle, Morgantown, Ithaca, Solana Beach, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Belgium, but now lives with her husband and dog in an old farmhouse in the Hudson Valley. She really likes baking - and eating what she bakes.