The Magic Cake Shop

by Meika Hashimoto, Josée Masse (Illustrator)

Emma Burblee couldn't be more different from her parents if she tried. She'd rather dig for treasure in a park than try on the latest fashions or discuss her vain parents' favorite themselves. When Emma mortifies her parents at a dinner party, her punishment is immediate. She must spend the summer with her Uncle Simon—a loathsome man with a huge appetite for food and get-rich-quick schemes.

Although Emma's days revolve around cooking and cleaning, there is one bright spot. Her uncle's sweet tooth means she gets to visit the town bakery, Mr. Crackle's Cake Shop, all the time. This world-renowned baker is as charming and kind as Uncle Simon is vile. But then Emma discovers a plot by Uncle Simon and one of his shady acquaintances; they've set their sights on ruining Mr. Crackle (and the entire dessert making industry for that matter). Can Emma stop their evil plan?

First-time author Meika Hashimoto's effervescent tale, filled with funny characters and adventures, will have readers checking their cupboards for mouth-watering ingredients and secret portals.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Childrens, Chapter Books

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

MEIKA HASHIMOTO's first baking foray was a chocolate cake. She was eight years old and, in her excitement, forgot a few key ingredients like sugar and baking powder. She also left the cake in the oven for far too long. Although it resembled a brick, her parents politely ate it and gave her very encouraging feedback. Meika's baking techniques have improved greatly since then. When she's not kneading bread dough or baking cheesecakes, she can be found editing children's books.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Magic Cake Shop is a story about a little girl who doesn't share the same interests as her parents and through a series of unfortunate events is finally able to pursue her passion. That storyline on its own is fine, but the story itself is very weak, with ridiculous made up words that lack creativity, and confusing comparisons thrown throughout. It almost feels as if the main conflict is a lifestyle choice between borderline anorexic parents who dine on celery for dinner and a child who has a sweet tooth. As someone with freckles and straight brown hair and brown eyes, I found the description of the main character Emma offensive. And I'm not sure I understand how focusing too much on looks and hygiene are related as negative aspects of the character of a person - choosing not to succumb to a fashion trend like plucking ones eyebrows may be considered commendable but failing to take care of ones hygiene like taking baths or brushing ones teeth is disturbing. And what's wrong with wearing pants or eating vegetables? And a 10 year old wearing heels and makeup? I'm not sure of the targeted audience for the book.

[Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5.
I would rate it higher because I really did enjoy this book, but I didn't enjoy it quite as much as my 3 star books.
This seemed more of a children's/elementary level book than it did a middle grade novel. There were a lot of made up words and a bit of good-natured silliness, which did make the book a fun read, but lent more to a elementary reader level.
The main characters were sweet, and you had no trouble disliking the villains. The outcome was unique and funny.
The main character had terrible parents, all obsessed with their beauty and wealth and pleased that their plain, average daughter would be getting surgery at age 11 to enhance her face.
But they were only in 1/3 of the story.
The main character's uncle was Ew.
But he.... The villain was taken care of.
This was cute for young kids, but a bit simple, silly, and unbelievable for older readers.

[Ben Phillip · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm reading this book primarily to my daughter (though the two boys will listen on occasion) when I put the kids to bed. So far, the characters are not compelling and the parents are just vile. The world in which this book lives is not whimsical enough to inhibit the strange lives of these people. I'm not impressed so far.

Update: finally finished this book. A certain climatic action took place at the end of the book and Emma's reaction is not what you would expect from a ten-year-old. Very unbelievable. Overall, this is one of the worst books I have read in a while.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh.

If this is the future of children's books, I'll stick to my classics, thanks.

If this is the future of children's books, I shudder for the future of humanity.

Most of the adults are gross-out characters or totally stupid, the situations are unpleasant and the ending just silly. The author seemed to really enjoy describing the abusive uncle and his vampire-like friend.

Roald Dahl wannabee gets it all terribly wrong.

Ugh.

Please do not feed this to your child.

[Rosie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Over the top characters. Almost all the adults in the story are awful except for the cake shop owner. It's just a very silly one dimensional story. Uncle Simon is a perticularly evil character and a little over the top and not sure if it is really appropriate. He is always talking about killing animals in horrible ways and alludes to beating Emma by saying she will not be able to sit for a week if she doesn't do what he wants.

[Stefanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I picked this book up I had a completely different idea as to what the plot would be. Every adult in this book, except for Mr. Crackle, were horrible people. Emma's parents were terrible. I also don't understand the targeted audience for this book. I felt like it needed an older audience with some of the situations but based on the pink sparkly cover, it was not at all what I was expecting.

[Temmie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Would give this 0 stars if I could. Didn't make it off the first page.

[Rayjan Koehler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't hate the book- it is a little entertaining I will admit, but I can't bring myself to rate any higher... Other reviewers seemed to not think the characters are any bit believable(namely the parents), but I disagree as I could see people being,so shallow & over-worrying about looks.

I get the parents were exaggerated, but I still felt it was a little too much. How even with money could they keep their kid??

Sadly i could see people actually existing with such horrible outlooks on life as Emma's parents. Such shallow people.

[Kokoro · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF - 68/176 (39%)

Story and characters are very unbelievable, some adult characters (even Emma’s parents) are evil but in a caricatured way. I am disappointed. A middle grade novel? Really?

Creí sería una novelita divertida con toques de gastronomía, pero me topo con una historia donde varios de los adultos que rodean a la protagonista son malos, malos-malosos de caricatura, con situaciones y diálogos sacados del ayer, pareciera la autora escribe para niños de kínder y no para niños de 8 años en adelante.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 10 year old picked the book for us to read this time. I like reading classics or books I've heard are really good. This is neither of those and it showed. The story is strange and I don't think it wrapped up all that well. The beginning of the story is all about Emma's parents, and then they disappear and never show up in the story again.

The magical elements were confusing and hard to follow. Jane gave this 3.5 stars and I would have given it 2.5 stars.

[Sharon Buxton · Rating 3 out of 5]

B-. fiction, children's fiction, grade 4, fantasy, baking, magic, melodrama

[Celyn Perdeli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know why a bunch of the comments seem to have no sense of humor (and a stick shoved up their butt) but for me this story is fun and cute. The characters feel intentionally over the top, the prose is witty, and the story is overall a good time. It reminds me of reading books by Roald Dahl. What I like most is that the writing isn't aiming to take itself too seriously, and that's something I appreciate a lot about children's fiction. I'm trying to get back into reading, and frankly with all the gloom and doom out there in the world this kind of book made it easier for me to do so. I wish other genres had a little more of not taking themselves too seriously too.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book back when I was a kid. I loved everything about it. That said, as I am now older, I recognize that this really isn't that great of a book, but I'm sticking with a five star rating. It's how I felt when I first read The Magic Cake Shop.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't expect to like this but...
I liked this book from the first page! It’s humorous, smart, and quirky. Fast paced and fun to read. The characters are over-the-top, but funny and well described with lots of great detail.
The only thing I didn’t like was that the illustrations did nothing to enhance the book, but that is really not a big deal!
I would recommend this to kids ages 8-12 who are looking for a fun, well written book. Would make a great “beach read” or vacation book!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

You would think Emma Burblee has a charmed life as the only daughter of wealthy parents. But her parents are obsessed with appearances and are as shallow as you would think from that. Emma is not allowed to eat sugar or fat, and spends all her spare time reading cookbooks. After her disastrous 10th birthday party, Emma is sent to her uncle's for the summer. And that is where her adventure begins.

[Flower · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a very change-like story, and a funny story.One of my favorite part's is when Emma (the Burbles doter)(the rich parents in the story) finds out that living with her uncle Simon (a cruel greedy man in the story) isn't SO BAD.Because there is a cake shop (the same cake shop that is on the front of the book.)that her uncle wants all of his desserts from, has a very nice owner to it, and the owners name is mr. Cracle.that is about

[Hannah Barton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. It gets a little creepy towards the middle, but it just gets better. I really enjoyed this book it takes place in the middle of nowhere and a cake shop. The main character's uncle is very mean and makes her do chores and cook. The characters in this book are crazy!! If I were you i'd check it out.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book when I was younger, I loved baking so this book was right up my alley. It's not very mature, what I still absolutely love it! I would recommend this for 6-10 year olds, even though I read it when I was almost 12. I was learning English at the time so yeah. Great book. I recommend it.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful cover, nice premise that fell flat for me. Characters are a bit too one dimensional, utterly evil or amazingly magical. It was an okay read aloud for younger kids but this was one I just really did not personally enjoy and I love a well written children's book.

[Eliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I read it a long time ago, but all I wanted to do was read it over and over again. It was so good. There was so much mystery, which is one of my favorites. That is why I love this book, along with the "11 Birthdays" series. And it involved cake! Yay!

[Sappy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book ever! A combination of mystery, sadness, baking, adventures, fantasy, all wrapped up into a thousand layer cake, mmm, DEE-licious!

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delicious book! I'm not so sure how I feel about the conclusion but was quite amused. Can connect with so many other cooking fantasy books. Quite creative bits throughout!

[Crys · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is as if Dahl and Wonka got together. Instead of bratty children, we have bratty adults, but the reading of it had the feel of a Dahl book.

More to come...

[Jolene gregel · Rating 3 out of 5]

child's book but very cute

[Topaz Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this for DD, but decided to read it myself, too.

[Sara Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

mmmm an okay book. For younger audience but it attracted me anyway.