What do you think?
Rate this book
The Power of Poppy Pendle
The Power of Poppy Pendle
“There is a strong essence of Roald Dahl to this story…a crowd-pleaser.” — Library Media Connection
“[A] sweet story about true friendship.” — School Library Journal
Poppy has magical powers, but she would rather be a baker. Can she find a way to follow her own path? This charming novel includes more than a dozen delectable recipes!
Ten-year-old Poppy, born to ordinary parents, has inherited coveted witch power. In Poppy’s world, witches work for good and are much valued, but Poppy does not want to be a witch—she wants to be a baker, and she is extremely good at baking. Her parents insist Poppy follow in the footsteps of her great aunt, a famous witch, but Poppy has plans of her own.
Part magic, part adventure, and wholly delicious, this spirited story includes more than a dozen recipes you can try at home.
“[A] sweet story about true friendship.” — School Library Journal
Poppy has magical powers, but she would rather be a baker. Can she find a way to follow her own path? This charming novel includes more than a dozen delectable recipes!
Ten-year-old Poppy, born to ordinary parents, has inherited coveted witch power. In Poppy’s world, witches work for good and are much valued, but Poppy does not want to be a witch—she wants to be a baker, and she is extremely good at baking. Her parents insist Poppy follow in the footsteps of her great aunt, a famous witch, but Poppy has plans of her own.
Part magic, part adventure, and wholly delicious, this spirited story includes more than a dozen recipes you can try at home.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2012
76 people are currently reading
1580 people want to read
About the author
Natasha Lowe
7 books73 followersFrom here face book page (https://www.facebook.com/natashalowe....)
About:
Natasha Lowe is the author of "The Power of Poppy Pendle" and companion book "The Courage of Cat Campbell" (late 2014) -both published by Simon & Schuster.
Biography:
Natasha Lowe knew as a child that she wanted to be either a writer, an adventurer, or a fancy tea-shop owner. So she did a little bit of everything, traveling from her native London to America, where she ran the Tea House bed-and-breakfast and wowed guests with her grandmother's shortbread recipe. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and four children.
About:
Natasha Lowe is the author of "The Power of Poppy Pendle" and companion book "The Courage of Cat Campbell" (late 2014) -both published by Simon & Schuster.
Biography:
Natasha Lowe knew as a child that she wanted to be either a writer, an adventurer, or a fancy tea-shop owner. So she did a little bit of everything, traveling from her native London to America, where she ran the Tea House bed-and-breakfast and wowed guests with her grandmother's shortbread recipe. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and four children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
July 10, 2017
NOTE: To be read in a fancy British accent, please. Preferably one that belongs to a nosy gossiping neighbor who always has curlers in her hair and totes around a small dog. Thank you.
The Power of Poppy Pendle was an absolute joy from beginning to end! Every page was filled with a magical warmth and coziness that I just adored! You must read this volume, dear, truly you must! I guarantee you everyone in town will have read it by the end of the year, and if you have not, you will be outlawed! Shunned! You don't want that, do you, dear? Of course not! So read it! Preferably with a hot cup of tea and some locally made desserts nearby! You are being timed.
The Power of Poppy Pendle was an absolute joy from beginning to end! Every page was filled with a magical warmth and coziness that I just adored! You must read this volume, dear, truly you must! I guarantee you everyone in town will have read it by the end of the year, and if you have not, you will be outlawed! Shunned! You don't want that, do you, dear? Of course not! So read it! Preferably with a hot cup of tea and some locally made desserts nearby! You are being timed.
July 7, 2015
A warning that the following contains details that some may consider of the quasi-spoiler variety.
It’s never a good thing when, about halfway through a children’s book, I wonder if the author researched the psychology of serial killers in constructing her protagonist. Ignoring the magic angle, Poppy Pendle is a serial killer. No, she’s not literally killing anyone, but given what she knows, she is (I’m omitting a longer explanation on state of mind in criminal law). And, OK, children’s literature always has a handful of books that push the limits, so a book about a budding serial killer does seem to fall into the realm of the possible.
Except that The Power of Poppy Pendle is, supposedly, the charming story of a young witch who wishes she were a baker. A more accurate description might be “the story of a spoiled only child who wrecks havoc until she gets what she wants and faces no consequences for her actions (probably because no one wants to risk setting her off).”
Yes, Poppy’s parents do make the Dursleys look almost warm and fuzzy in comparison, but that doesn’t justify Poppy’s actions.
What a profoundly disturbing book. I’m half convinced it’s an incredibly dark satire that accidentally got shelved with the children’s books. Not recommended.
It’s never a good thing when, about halfway through a children’s book, I wonder if the author researched the psychology of serial killers in constructing her protagonist. Ignoring the magic angle, Poppy Pendle is a serial killer. No, she’s not literally killing anyone, but given what she knows, she is (I’m omitting a longer explanation on state of mind in criminal law). And, OK, children’s literature always has a handful of books that push the limits, so a book about a budding serial killer does seem to fall into the realm of the possible.
Except that The Power of Poppy Pendle is, supposedly, the charming story of a young witch who wishes she were a baker. A more accurate description might be “the story of a spoiled only child who wrecks havoc until she gets what she wants and faces no consequences for her actions (probably because no one wants to risk setting her off).”
Yes, Poppy’s parents do make the Dursleys look almost warm and fuzzy in comparison, but that doesn’t justify Poppy’s actions.
What a profoundly disturbing book. I’m half convinced it’s an incredibly dark satire that accidentally got shelved with the children’s books. Not recommended.
October 24, 2021
Utterly darling, and making me hungry for delicious cookies, too!
Poppy is born magical, something we all wish for (maybe it's just me), but her true passion lies in baking. With horrible parents who never listen to her, and punish her for making the delicious treats she loves to dream up, Poppy grows ever more desperate. On the one hand, I was like . . . but you have magic! But on the other: she's relentlessly teased at school, her parents are really awful, and flying makes her sick. You can see how she would be miserable!
This book just was so . . . so darling! I love witch stories, and this one was really unusual and so fun!
Poppy is born magical, something we all wish for (maybe it's just me), but her true passion lies in baking. With horrible parents who never listen to her, and punish her for making the delicious treats she loves to dream up, Poppy grows ever more desperate. On the one hand, I was like . . . but you have magic! But on the other: she's relentlessly teased at school, her parents are really awful, and flying makes her sick. You can see how she would be miserable!
This book just was so . . . so darling! I love witch stories, and this one was really unusual and so fun!
June 20, 2014
2 stars story
4 stars writing style
I really liked the premise of the story. Poppy is an extremely gifted witch--but she's also a talented baker. She hates magic but loves baking. But her parents push her in magic and discourage the baking. Poppy wilts, then becomes resentful, then angry, because she can't do what she loves. (The parallels to parents who push their children into fields of study or professions that are not aligned with the children's interests are clear.)
The message of following your heart and doing what you love is certainly a good one but, although I found the style of Lowe's writing charming, the execution of the story did not always please me. I can't say too much without major spoilers, but I felt that one plot line was never fully realized and I also felt that the lessons about repercussions and atonement for ones harmful actions were not always the most sound or the type of "moral" I would want to impart to my own child.
4 stars writing style
I really liked the premise of the story. Poppy is an extremely gifted witch--but she's also a talented baker. She hates magic but loves baking. But her parents push her in magic and discourage the baking. Poppy wilts, then becomes resentful, then angry, because she can't do what she loves. (The parallels to parents who push their children into fields of study or professions that are not aligned with the children's interests are clear.)
The message of following your heart and doing what you love is certainly a good one but, although I found the style of Lowe's writing charming, the execution of the story did not always please me. I can't say too much without major spoilers, but I felt that one plot line was never fully realized and I also felt that the lessons about repercussions and atonement for ones harmful actions were not always the most sound or the type of "moral" I would want to impart to my own child.
October 28, 2018
I have some issues with the either/or message imparted by this middle grade novel. Why couldn't Poppy be a witch who bakes? Many children are good at more than one thing, and this book sets a bad example of choosing between them, rather than developing multiple talents alongside one another.
Admittedly, Poppy's parents were self-centered jerks, but surely there was a teacher at her school that she could have confided in and requested help from. Or her aunt? The next-door neighbor? With the exception of Marie Claire, all the adults in this book are rendered as imbeciles. Still, Poppy didn't try to reason with, or bargain with, her parents at all before running away and becoming a juvenile delinquent. While her parents certainly pushed her, it was ultimately Poppy's decision to stop caring about others completely, which really made me question her character, both from the standpoint of likability and character consistency.
The only people who helped Poppy were relative strangers, which is another characterization problem in this novel. First, the friendship between Poppy and Charlie developed suddenly, out of nowhere, and hurriedly. Second, would a professional baker really take in a total stranger, even a child, and allow her to sleep in the kitchen with all the expensive baking gear and ingredients? And when that child admits to running away, would the adult leave it up to the child to contact the parents that child just ran away from?
Right in the middle of the book (Chapter 17), there is a jarring switch in POV when Poppy's friend takes over narrating Poppy's story. My interest level declined significantly when the story became about Poppy rather than a story told from Poppy's perspective.
Though I haven't tried any of them yet, the recipes in the back of the book sound scrumptious.
Admittedly, Poppy's parents were self-centered jerks, but surely there was a teacher at her school that she could have confided in and requested help from. Or her aunt? The next-door neighbor? With the exception of Marie Claire, all the adults in this book are rendered as imbeciles. Still, Poppy didn't try to reason with, or bargain with, her parents at all before running away and becoming a juvenile delinquent. While her parents certainly pushed her, it was ultimately Poppy's decision to stop caring about others completely, which really made me question her character, both from the standpoint of likability and character consistency.
The only people who helped Poppy were relative strangers, which is another characterization problem in this novel. First, the friendship between Poppy and Charlie developed suddenly, out of nowhere, and hurriedly. Second, would a professional baker really take in a total stranger, even a child, and allow her to sleep in the kitchen with all the expensive baking gear and ingredients? And when that child admits to running away, would the adult leave it up to the child to contact the parents that child just ran away from?
Right in the middle of the book (Chapter 17), there is a jarring switch in POV when Poppy's friend takes over narrating Poppy's story. My interest level declined significantly when the story became about Poppy rather than a story told from Poppy's perspective.
Though I haven't tried any of them yet, the recipes in the back of the book sound scrumptious.
November 27, 2020
OMG I loved this book! It was amazing-& it made me SO HUNGRY! I wanted to get in the kitchen & just bake a bunch of goodies! Very conveniently there are even recipes in the back of the book! I mean wow lol 🥰 This was such a cozy story, that took a darker turn on its journey, & I loved the whole ride. Not everyone gets the gift of having magic. Poppy’s had it since she was a baby, & her parents are thrilled. Her parents remind me of the stereotypical images of pageant or dance moms, & crazed sports of any kind dads lol(don’t be offended, I’m talking about the ones who made that stereotype, not the normal moms & dads w/kids in those activities). I just wanted to shake them & scream at them to listen to their daughter who was so unhappy. Poppy hates magic. She doesn’t want to be a witch, she wants to be a baker. Poppy was amazing, I loved her so much. I was so happy when she made a friend in Charlie, & also w/Marie Claire. They truly saved her. I loved the dynamic b/n them all. I absolutely love this authors writing. Such an amazing story, descriptive descriptions-I could almost smell & taste the food!! Great characters, & just magical goodness all around. There are so many great messages & lessons to take away from this as well. Never give up on your dreams. How wrong it is to force your own dreams onto your kids, & also to push perfection is also a bad idea. Forgiveness, while it may not always be deserved it is important to always be given. I highly recommend this. Reading the 2nd book now & also loving it. Such an amazing cover too, just beautiful. Love the illustrations.😍💜
June 25, 2014
I quite liked the style and readability of this one. There were a few plot threads that seemed unresolved to me, and I don't know if I was completely satisfied by the ending. But I found it fun and easy to read, and I liked the recipes included in the back!
May 31, 2015
Such a cute middle-grade read! The story sets morals to which young readers can easily relate. Overall 3/5 stars; I'm excited to read the next book!
May 16, 2018
Poppy Pendle was born to bake. In fact, she was born in a bakery. But Poppy's strong gift for magic is keeping her patisserie dreams from coming true. Her parents insist she go to Ruthersfield, an elite magic school, but soon wild discontent leaves Poppy with no choice but to take drastic action.
I was really disappointed with this book. All the whimsy and charm I was promised was a lie. The tone of this book starts off kind of whimsical, but quickly turns murky. Troubling themes emerge, and then keep piling on as the story progresses. Poppy's parents are treated as the story's duo of idiotic antagonists, Poppy's lack of hope for her situation pushes her into a downward spiral of despair, and the 'happy ending' doesn't resolve with or follow-up on the issues that were explored in a particularly satisfying or helpful way.
In my opinion, if you're going to go all-out with your issues, you have to go all-out with the healing and aftermath as well. The ending was not in keeping with the events of the book, making the overall story not worth the emotional toll taken. For a book marketed to 10-year-olds about magic school and sweets, I feel cheated to say the least.
I was really disappointed with this book. All the whimsy and charm I was promised was a lie. The tone of this book starts off kind of whimsical, but quickly turns murky. Troubling themes emerge, and then keep piling on as the story progresses. Poppy's parents are treated as the story's duo of idiotic antagonists, Poppy's lack of hope for her situation pushes her into a downward spiral of despair, and the 'happy ending' doesn't resolve with or follow-up on the issues that were explored in a particularly satisfying or helpful way.
In my opinion, if you're going to go all-out with your issues, you have to go all-out with the healing and aftermath as well. The ending was not in keeping with the events of the book, making the overall story not worth the emotional toll taken. For a book marketed to 10-year-olds about magic school and sweets, I feel cheated to say the least.
July 3, 2012
This is a decent witch/wizarding school style story. Poppy is born with an amazing gift for magic and her parents are delighted and proud. But Poppy isn't interested in magic, she wants to bake, much to her parents' dismay. Poppy likes to make her parents happy, but their overbearing attention and the importance they place on magic makes her despair. And when her parents' forbid her to have anything to do with baking . . . it may just tip the scales and send Poppy over to the dark side.
While I liked the premise of this story, it's not so original as to stand out from the number of other stories about young witches. This shares a lot of tropes with Harry Potter stories, Worst Witch Stories, and many of Ibbotsen's stories. That doesn't make it bad by any stretch, but it will be a fairly familiar type of tale. Clueless parents/guardians that keep trying to squash a creative child, hoity toity school types, Magic classes and magic penalties for those who go to the dark side.
There are a few issues, to my mind. One of those is that this story just doesn't feel quite strong enough. We don't get to know any characters who are really nasty, yet we do have a few who are undeniably good. The story stays small scale and focuses on friendship and baking rather than magic, which is a perfectly good storyline but lacked the punch I was looking for. My biggest complaint, however is that readers are given a fairly dark picture at the beginning of what happens when witches go bad. How those witches are treated is fairly awful (kept in cages, never allowed out at all). Some of these imprisoned witches sound like they've done relatively little to be put in such a place. Yet, when Poppy starts down a dark path herself, turning her parents and plenty of others to stone, there's no sense that she's about to be shipped off to that forbidding prison. She's given plenty of chances to come around and the only penalty she faces after the fact is that she's not allowed to do magic anymore and she's been expelled from the school she hated. This would be fine if readers hadn't been treated to a heck of a lot of information about witches gone bad that wound up in the prison with no hope of ever getting out. To introduce that information with such vigor in the book and then never do anything with it feels sloppy.
Still, it's a sweet book that young middle grade readers will pick up. Fans of the Worst Witch, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and Katie Kazoo will likely enjoy it.
While I liked the premise of this story, it's not so original as to stand out from the number of other stories about young witches. This shares a lot of tropes with Harry Potter stories, Worst Witch Stories, and many of Ibbotsen's stories. That doesn't make it bad by any stretch, but it will be a fairly familiar type of tale. Clueless parents/guardians that keep trying to squash a creative child, hoity toity school types, Magic classes and magic penalties for those who go to the dark side.
There are a few issues, to my mind. One of those is that this story just doesn't feel quite strong enough. We don't get to know any characters who are really nasty, yet we do have a few who are undeniably good. The story stays small scale and focuses on friendship and baking rather than magic, which is a perfectly good storyline but lacked the punch I was looking for. My biggest complaint, however is that readers are given a fairly dark picture at the beginning of what happens when witches go bad. How those witches are treated is fairly awful (kept in cages, never allowed out at all). Some of these imprisoned witches sound like they've done relatively little to be put in such a place. Yet, when Poppy starts down a dark path herself, turning her parents and plenty of others to stone, there's no sense that she's about to be shipped off to that forbidding prison. She's given plenty of chances to come around and the only penalty she faces after the fact is that she's not allowed to do magic anymore and she's been expelled from the school she hated. This would be fine if readers hadn't been treated to a heck of a lot of information about witches gone bad that wound up in the prison with no hope of ever getting out. To introduce that information with such vigor in the book and then never do anything with it feels sloppy.
Still, it's a sweet book that young middle grade readers will pick up. Fans of the Worst Witch, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and Katie Kazoo will likely enjoy it.
November 20, 2015
Poppy has strong magical powers, but she doesn't want to be a witch. Even though her parents are intensely excited and have enrolled her in the best magic school, sparing no expense. And Poppy is at the top of her class.
What Poppy wants to do is bake. Poppy was born in a bakery, and it just seems to be in her blood. She couldn't care less about magic--she wants to sift and knead and make scrumptious desserts.
Her parents will have none of that, though, and do everything in their power to stop it, including forbidding Poppy from having friends that aren't witches and never letting her set foot in a bakery.
In other words: her parents make her life unbearable.
With a message that is obviously "follow your passion even if you are good at something else." It's a good message, I believe. Although I also believe people can be good at AND love doing more than one thing. The whole time I read, I kept thinking, "If she combined her love of baking and used her magic, what an amazing life that would be!"
I really enjoyed this fun little book. It's got humor and friendship, and Poppy and her friend Charlie are very likable. Poppy's parents are horrid, but, well, let's just say don't give up hope. And more importantly, don't give up your dream. :)
PS--there are recipes in the back for the desserts Poppy makes in the story.
My Website
Find me on Facebook
My YA fantasy series:
book 1
book 2
What Poppy wants to do is bake. Poppy was born in a bakery, and it just seems to be in her blood. She couldn't care less about magic--she wants to sift and knead and make scrumptious desserts.
Her parents will have none of that, though, and do everything in their power to stop it, including forbidding Poppy from having friends that aren't witches and never letting her set foot in a bakery.
In other words: her parents make her life unbearable.
With a message that is obviously "follow your passion even if you are good at something else." It's a good message, I believe. Although I also believe people can be good at AND love doing more than one thing. The whole time I read, I kept thinking, "If she combined her love of baking and used her magic, what an amazing life that would be!"
I really enjoyed this fun little book. It's got humor and friendship, and Poppy and her friend Charlie are very likable. Poppy's parents are horrid, but, well, let's just say don't give up hope. And more importantly, don't give up your dream. :)
PS--there are recipes in the back for the desserts Poppy makes in the story.
My Website
Find me on Facebook
My YA fantasy series:
book 1
book 2
February 14, 2019
Poppy Pendle was born on the floor of a bakery, and ever after has had a talent for baking. Unfortunately for her, she's also a very talented witch, and her parents insist she pursue magic over baked goods. At age ten this grows too much for her, and she runs away to join a bakery.
Basically this felt a great deal like Matilda, particularly in the cartoonish contrast between Poppy and her parents. But the ending was such a nonsensical, impossibly happy one that I was left with the feeling that I wouldn't recommend the book.
Basically this felt a great deal like Matilda, particularly in the cartoonish contrast between Poppy and her parents. But the ending was such a nonsensical, impossibly happy one that I was left with the feeling that I wouldn't recommend the book.
February 22, 2017
Poppy is special, she has magical powers! But she doesn't want to go to magic school, she wants to cook. Can she figure out a way to do both?
I really liked this one. It is a middle grade fantasy and has a lot of cuteness and fun with a good message sprinkled on top.
I really liked this one. It is a middle grade fantasy and has a lot of cuteness and fun with a good message sprinkled on top.
October 29, 2018
A very sweet book about a witch who just wants to bake. Poppy has problems with her parents not hearing her and pushing their dreams onto her. After some big mistakes they all come to respect one another’s wishes and “live happily ever after”
May 2, 2015
I think this book is so awesome because it has witches and baking! I can't really explain it because it has spoilers so that is what I have to say now.
October 12, 2021
THIS IS STILL MY FAVORITE BOOK EVER after reading it again 6 years later.
December 13, 2023
QUOTES:
Mr. Smegs’s wife says she will use her husband as a garden ornament until he recovers.
We can’t change who we are, Poppy, but we can choose what we do.
Mr. Smegs’s wife says she will use her husband as a garden ornament until he recovers.
We can’t change who we are, Poppy, but we can choose what we do.
January 23, 2014
It seems that Poppy Pendle's surprise birth in the Marie Claire bakery was portentous, for as a baby she could blow bubbles of sweets, and by the time she was 7, her favorite activity was baking. Her parents were shocked. Poppy was descended from a long line of well-respected witches, and they knew Poppy had magical talent. Why would she waste her time baking when she could be practicing her magic? To force her to learn more magic, they enrolled her in a prestigious magic academy, but Poppy was upset. "I don't like being a witch! I want to bake!"
Her parents acknowledged that Poppy had a talent for baking, but she also had talent for magic, and the family magic traditions to uphold, so they said she must continue at the magic academy. She spent 3 miserable years at that school before realizing that she just couldn't go on without her beloved baking. But her battle to do what she loved was constantly thwarted by her parents. How can Poppy ever escape the magic school and follow her dream?
A charming and exciting book for ages 8-11, including Poppy's recipes that are fun to read, even if you don't actually make them.
Her parents acknowledged that Poppy had a talent for baking, but she also had talent for magic, and the family magic traditions to uphold, so they said she must continue at the magic academy. She spent 3 miserable years at that school before realizing that she just couldn't go on without her beloved baking. But her battle to do what she loved was constantly thwarted by her parents. How can Poppy ever escape the magic school and follow her dream?
A charming and exciting book for ages 8-11, including Poppy's recipes that are fun to read, even if you don't actually make them.
November 7, 2017
Poppy Pendle was born on the floor of the Patisserie Marie Claire's bakery and as an infant and performs her first bit of magic which excites her parents, Edith and Roger that their daughter has inherited the family gift.
At 7, Poppy starts school at Ruthersfield Academy school for witchcraft and for the next few years she is miserable. She hates being a witch and wants to do what she loves, baking, but her parents won't hear of it.
Baking is her love and passion and Poppy dreams of opening up her own patisserie one day. But her parents are strongly against it and- (trying not to give any spoilers) -after events and her parents actions thinking they know what's best for her, Poppy takes matters in her own hands that puts everyone in danger including herself.
I have to admit, the cover drew me in before I realized it was a kids book, but hey, I find some of the kids book are pretty awesome reads. I absolutely loved it and look forward to reading the next book. There's also quite a few recipes in the back of the book which are pretty neat.
At 7, Poppy starts school at Ruthersfield Academy school for witchcraft and for the next few years she is miserable. She hates being a witch and wants to do what she loves, baking, but her parents won't hear of it.
Baking is her love and passion and Poppy dreams of opening up her own patisserie one day. But her parents are strongly against it and- (trying not to give any spoilers) -after events and her parents actions thinking they know what's best for her, Poppy takes matters in her own hands that puts everyone in danger including herself.
I have to admit, the cover drew me in before I realized it was a kids book, but hey, I find some of the kids book are pretty awesome reads. I absolutely loved it and look forward to reading the next book. There's also quite a few recipes in the back of the book which are pretty neat.
January 13, 2016
Entertaining, fun. I was excited at the beginning when it looked like a book about a child from a happy home. (I'm tired of reading about child-parent discontent.) But that's not the direction it went.
My only concern about this book for our readers is that it emphasizes running away and not addressing your problems. In essence that is how the problem was solved. Unhappiness can't be dealt with that way.
My only concern about this book for our readers is that it emphasizes running away and not addressing your problems. In essence that is how the problem was solved. Unhappiness can't be dealt with that way.
January 4, 2019
I read plenty of middle grade but it's rare that I find one that I thoroughly enjoy. This book has such a charming voice and such a well built world and characters that you simply fly through it. Just like, well, just like magic. I'll keep an eye out for Natasha Lowe in the future. Her work is wonderful.
August 14, 2018
I loved this little book so much!!! Such a fun read, and far darker a journey than I expected for the heroine. Not to spoil anything but the ending was one of the most satisfying, in large and small ways, that I’ve read in a book recently.
October 31, 2021
3.5 Adorable read. The story seemed a bit stretched out; my 8 year old didn't notice.
November 15, 2021
This was our read aloud for October and was part of our language arts curriculum for the month. We loved it so much!
October 24, 2022
A super quick read with some great friendship and pursuing your dreams themes, but it just left me feeling dark. It starts out with a sweet little girl named Poppy who loves to bake, but also just happens to be the first person in her family for a few generations who has magic. As a result, her parents are obsessed with her becoming a famous witch. They think baking is a distraction and go to extremes to force Poppy to become a good witch (e.g. watching her do her homework and getting rid of the oven in the house). Yeah, they're bizarre to the extreme of being unbelievable. Then, there's Poppy who makes all kinds of horrible decisions and choices and there's never any consequences. To list them all would be spoiler-y so I won't, but suffice it to say that she belongs in jail or a mental institution. I feel for her and readily acknowledge that her parents were horrific and deserve to have her removed from their care, but still. Yeah, I just can't endorse this as a good middle grade novel since the most redeeming quality is that it was short and entertaining. While I don't regret reading it, I won't be continuing the series and I won't be recommending it to my library patrons. It's just weird and doesn't give you the uplifting message or hopefulness that middle grade books should give the reader. I finished it and just feel dark.
April 6, 2017
This one was a bit meh to be honest, and I don't have too much to say about it other that that.
I liked the overall message of this story - that you should do what you really love to do, and don't let other people pressure you not to.
But I found the main character, Poppy, to be quite annoying. She was such a "special snowflake" - she was amazingly good at magic without even trying, she was the best baker ever, she was great at basketball, she could jump ridiculously high, and she was super, super strong!
It was just a bit silly.
The friendship between Poppy was Charlie was rushed and a bit unbelievable.
They'd met each other twice (for maybe a couple of hours each time) before they were "best friends" and missing each other and couldn't possibly live without each other.
I wish we'd been given a bit more about them becoming friends. It made me not care about their relationship at all really.
I also found the plot to be quite dull.
Many parts of the book dragged and I kept finding myself skim-reading just to get to the next interesting part.
I didn't really care about what was happening to be honest.
It was disappointing, as it sounded like such a promising read!
Magic and baking and friendship and cakes! What more could you want in a book?
Apparently you can want a lot more in a book...
I feel a bit like a deflated balloon after reading this book :(
I liked the overall message of this story - that you should do what you really love to do, and don't let other people pressure you not to.
But I found the main character, Poppy, to be quite annoying. She was such a "special snowflake" - she was amazingly good at magic without even trying, she was the best baker ever, she was great at basketball, she could jump ridiculously high, and she was super, super strong!
It was just a bit silly.
The friendship between Poppy was Charlie was rushed and a bit unbelievable.
They'd met each other twice (for maybe a couple of hours each time) before they were "best friends" and missing each other and couldn't possibly live without each other.
I wish we'd been given a bit more about them becoming friends. It made me not care about their relationship at all really.
I also found the plot to be quite dull.
Many parts of the book dragged and I kept finding myself skim-reading just to get to the next interesting part.
I didn't really care about what was happening to be honest.
It was disappointing, as it sounded like such a promising read!
Magic and baking and friendship and cakes! What more could you want in a book?
Apparently you can want a lot more in a book...
I feel a bit like a deflated balloon after reading this book :(
October 17, 2019
Poppy would rather be a baker than a witch, but her family insists that she study witchcraft.
"'But I love to cook,' Poppy said softy, 'and I really don't like making spells.'" (page 13)
Poppy was born in a bakery, which presumably endowed her with a gift for baking. She also inherited a talent from her great-grandmother. Because of her magical abilities, her parents insist that she attend Ruthersfield Academy, which is a prestigious school for witchcraft. Poppy, however, would rather attend public school and work in a bakery.
Poppy fails to fit in at school, and her unhappiness grows until she finally snaps and goes on a rampage Luckily, the owner of Patisserie Marie Claire and her non-magical friend Charlie are able to track her down and reclaim her from "the dark side." Poppy is able to avoid witches' prison by putting things to rights and promising to pay restitution.
The story flows nicely and has a good tone. Recipes and baking tips are even included at the end. The plot revolves around the classic theme in children's literature of children being right and adults being wrong, and young readers will enjoy seeing Poppy take her revenge upon her parents for failing to give her their unconditional support or taking her seriously as a 10-year-old. Young readers will relate to the parent-child conflict, which is wildly exaggerated for comedic and dramatic effects.
Fanny: Of course I want to be a witch, cake head. What's the point of getting the gift if you don't use it?
Poppy: I'm not sure. (page 26)
This story focuses on the question of whether or not someone is obligated to do anything with his/her talent. Through accident of DNA, Poppy is not just a witch but an extremely gifted witch. Poppy, however, has no interest in practicing witchcraft, but her proud parents send her to witch school anyway. This conflict raised the question: If one has a specific ability, does s/he have a responsibility to develop that skill?
Personally, I feel people are entitled to "waste their talent," should they so chose. It's their loss. But as far as fictional worlds in which magic exists go, the general consensus seems to be that people with magical abilities need to learn enough about magic to control them even if that they wish to live as a non-magical person. Otherwise, they will endanger others as well as themselves. So, a minimum level of magical education may be required in Poppy's case no matter how distasteful she finds it.
I didn't understand why her parents decided to forbid her to bake -- except to drive the plot. Poppy's passion for baking does border on obsession, but as an all consuming hobby, it is much more benign than watching television or playing video games or weaponry. Her mother thought Poppy's interest in cooking was distracting her from her studies, but her grades were excellent and didn't reflect this. As long as Poppy did well in school, there would be no harm in allowing her to bake in her spare time even if it isn't witch-like. Also, witches eat just like ordinary humans, so there was no reason to believe that there was no place in the magical world for a pastry chef.
As a parent, it is very difficult to know when to insist, when to encourage, and when to let things go. Watching one's child make a choice that one believes s/he will later regret is really hard, and some parents can't resist trying to force their children to do what they believe is in their best interest. Should Poppy's parents have forced her to attend Ruthersfield Academy? Considering the way things turned out, no, that was a bad choice. A more sensible approach would have been to tell her that she had to attend for one year, and if she still didn't like it, then she could transfer schools.
The biggest mistake her parents made was segregating her from the non-magical world. If they had allowed her to attend the local grammar school prior to starting at Ruthersfield, and if they had tolerated her friendship with Charlie, then things might have gone differently. Isolating an unhappy person only increases the person's unhappiness. Poppy might also have discovered that the grass isn't greener on the other side and wanted to stay in the magical world.
This story is definitely a product of the culture of self-affirmation that has dominated mainstream society for the past few decades. Poppy's parents are portrayed as the bad guys for not encouraging their child to follow her dream of becoming a baker. Since Poppy didn't want to be a witch, she dismissed the very real sacrifices her parents made for her and instead considered herself the wrong party.
As a grownup, I didn't care for the book's underlying message to follow your passion. The story reinforces the ideas that people should do what they love and follow their bliss, which make for great positive affirmation posters but are total nonsense in real life. The majority of people, except for the independently wealthy who can afford to devote their lives to self-actualization, work in order to live.
The advice to do what you love and find your calling comes from a place of privilege, and it's irresponsible to blithely dispense such advice to young people without serious caveats. It won't guarantee any kind of personal fulfillment. It might not even pay the bills, and living hand-to-mouth is spirit crushing in a different way. There is also the danger of one discovering that one no longer even likes something once that person turns it into a career. The maxim for everyone in the bottom 90% should be do what you don't hate.
"'But I love to cook,' Poppy said softy, 'and I really don't like making spells.'" (page 13)
Poppy was born in a bakery, which presumably endowed her with a gift for baking. She also inherited a talent from her great-grandmother. Because of her magical abilities, her parents insist that she attend Ruthersfield Academy, which is a prestigious school for witchcraft. Poppy, however, would rather attend public school and work in a bakery.
Poppy fails to fit in at school, and her unhappiness grows until she finally snaps and goes on a rampage Luckily, the owner of Patisserie Marie Claire and her non-magical friend Charlie are able to track her down and reclaim her from "the dark side." Poppy is able to avoid witches' prison by putting things to rights and promising to pay restitution.
The story flows nicely and has a good tone. Recipes and baking tips are even included at the end. The plot revolves around the classic theme in children's literature of children being right and adults being wrong, and young readers will enjoy seeing Poppy take her revenge upon her parents for failing to give her their unconditional support or taking her seriously as a 10-year-old. Young readers will relate to the parent-child conflict, which is wildly exaggerated for comedic and dramatic effects.
Fanny: Of course I want to be a witch, cake head. What's the point of getting the gift if you don't use it?
Poppy: I'm not sure. (page 26)
This story focuses on the question of whether or not someone is obligated to do anything with his/her talent. Through accident of DNA, Poppy is not just a witch but an extremely gifted witch. Poppy, however, has no interest in practicing witchcraft, but her proud parents send her to witch school anyway. This conflict raised the question: If one has a specific ability, does s/he have a responsibility to develop that skill?
Personally, I feel people are entitled to "waste their talent," should they so chose. It's their loss. But as far as fictional worlds in which magic exists go, the general consensus seems to be that people with magical abilities need to learn enough about magic to control them even if that they wish to live as a non-magical person. Otherwise, they will endanger others as well as themselves. So, a minimum level of magical education may be required in Poppy's case no matter how distasteful she finds it.
I didn't understand why her parents decided to forbid her to bake -- except to drive the plot. Poppy's passion for baking does border on obsession, but as an all consuming hobby, it is much more benign than watching television or playing video games or weaponry. Her mother thought Poppy's interest in cooking was distracting her from her studies, but her grades were excellent and didn't reflect this. As long as Poppy did well in school, there would be no harm in allowing her to bake in her spare time even if it isn't witch-like. Also, witches eat just like ordinary humans, so there was no reason to believe that there was no place in the magical world for a pastry chef.
As a parent, it is very difficult to know when to insist, when to encourage, and when to let things go. Watching one's child make a choice that one believes s/he will later regret is really hard, and some parents can't resist trying to force their children to do what they believe is in their best interest. Should Poppy's parents have forced her to attend Ruthersfield Academy? Considering the way things turned out, no, that was a bad choice. A more sensible approach would have been to tell her that she had to attend for one year, and if she still didn't like it, then she could transfer schools.
The biggest mistake her parents made was segregating her from the non-magical world. If they had allowed her to attend the local grammar school prior to starting at Ruthersfield, and if they had tolerated her friendship with Charlie, then things might have gone differently. Isolating an unhappy person only increases the person's unhappiness. Poppy might also have discovered that the grass isn't greener on the other side and wanted to stay in the magical world.
This story is definitely a product of the culture of self-affirmation that has dominated mainstream society for the past few decades. Poppy's parents are portrayed as the bad guys for not encouraging their child to follow her dream of becoming a baker. Since Poppy didn't want to be a witch, she dismissed the very real sacrifices her parents made for her and instead considered herself the wrong party.
As a grownup, I didn't care for the book's underlying message to follow your passion. The story reinforces the ideas that people should do what they love and follow their bliss, which make for great positive affirmation posters but are total nonsense in real life. The majority of people, except for the independently wealthy who can afford to devote their lives to self-actualization, work in order to live.
The advice to do what you love and find your calling comes from a place of privilege, and it's irresponsible to blithely dispense such advice to young people without serious caveats. It won't guarantee any kind of personal fulfillment. It might not even pay the bills, and living hand-to-mouth is spirit crushing in a different way. There is also the danger of one discovering that one no longer even likes something once that person turns it into a career. The maxim for everyone in the bottom 90% should be do what you don't hate.
June 7, 2023
I liked this novel.I thought it was sweet, creative, and enjoyable. Although, sometimes I wish it was more descriptive, or created solutions in a more believable way. I know this is a children's book, but I was kinda hoping it would tie up loose ends. I still had questions, like how did Poppy go from the dark side back, like what made her shift, go back to baking? And what about her parents? Why weren't they mad once they became human again? Sigh. I know this is sometimes how children's books are, and you're not supposed to think about it too much, but I wish that the characters were more complex.
May 28, 2025
I expected to be swept away by this magical book based on critical acclaim (silly me, I know). Instead, I’m not quite sure how I actually feel about this story. The premise was very strong; follow your passion, be who you are meant to be, do what makes you happy, etc. The delivery of that premise was weaker than anticipated, however, with flat-ish characters and overly simplistic language. That being said, the character of Charlie was delightful and the setting imagery excellent. I just think the author could have found a better way to help Poppy achieve her bliss.
did-not-finish
October 25, 2020i think this book would have had potential for me when i bought it a loooong time ago, but that time has passed. i just don’t have enough time in the day to linger on books that don’t grab me immediately...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews