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The Cookie Crumbles #1
The Cookie Crumbles
The Great British Bake Off meets Knives Out in this fun and propulsive middle grade novel following two best friends who must solve the mystery behind a baking competition gone awry.
Laila gave Lucy a cupcake on the second day of kindergarten, and they've been inseparable ever since. But the summer before eighth grade, they find out that since they live on opposite sides of town, they’ll go to different high schools. Yuck!
Then Laila’s invited to compete at the Golden Cookie competition, which awards its winner admission and a full ride to the prestigious Sunderland boarding school, and it’s the perfect opportunity. Sunderland doesn’t just have an elite culinary program; it’s also home to an elite journalism track, if only newscaster-hopeful Lucy could build up a strong enough portfolio to impress the scholarship committee.
But when one of the celebrity judges collapses after sampling Laila’s showpiece, rumors of foul play swirl, with Laila rising to the top of the suspect list. Even worse, a major storm has effectively cut off all access to the outside world.
Can the girls find the real culprit and clear Laila’s name before it’s too late?
Laila gave Lucy a cupcake on the second day of kindergarten, and they've been inseparable ever since. But the summer before eighth grade, they find out that since they live on opposite sides of town, they’ll go to different high schools. Yuck!
Then Laila’s invited to compete at the Golden Cookie competition, which awards its winner admission and a full ride to the prestigious Sunderland boarding school, and it’s the perfect opportunity. Sunderland doesn’t just have an elite culinary program; it’s also home to an elite journalism track, if only newscaster-hopeful Lucy could build up a strong enough portfolio to impress the scholarship committee.
But when one of the celebrity judges collapses after sampling Laila’s showpiece, rumors of foul play swirl, with Laila rising to the top of the suspect list. Even worse, a major storm has effectively cut off all access to the outside world.
Can the girls find the real culprit and clear Laila’s name before it’s too late?
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2024
26 people are currently reading
3919 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Badua
11 books185 followersTracy Badua is an award-winning Filipino American author of books about young people with sunny hearts in a sometimes stormy world. By day, she is an attorney who works in national housing policy, and by night, she squeezes in writing, family time, and bites of her secret candy stash. She lives in San Diego, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
August 15, 2025
I'm always looking for new and fun middle grade mysteries to try and The Cookie Crumbles was high on my radar. It has some fun elements including a cooking competition, investigative journalism, and a beautiful friendship. Unfortunately, I thought this had all the makings for a great mystery; however, it fell a little flat for me and it wasn't as engaging as I anticipated. However, for middle grade readers who love cooking and mysteries, I think this would be an appealing selection. I've read both Tracy Badua and Alechia Dow and find them both to be great writers. If you're interested in hearing more of my thoughts about this one, check out my July Wrap-Up here: https://youtu.be/YWXlJnh45us?si=5ank6...
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April 29, 2024Are you kidding me!? How cute does this sound?!
The Great British Bake Off meets Knives Out within a children's baking competition!? And with this COVER!!!???
I need this!!!
The Great British Bake Off meets Knives Out within a children's baking competition!? And with this COVER!!!???
I need this!!!
February 29, 2024
Thank you to HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books, the authors, and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will release June 11, 2024.
The Cookie Crumbles features best friends Laila and Lucy, two almost-eighth graders who are highly driven when it comes to their respective passions—baking and journalism—especially when they realize that they’ll be going to different high schools unless Laila can win the Golden Cookie competition and a scholarship to a boarding school that has amazing programs for both friends. And then the competition begins, a celebrity judge collapses after eating Laila’s creation, and a storm prevents any outside contact, leaving the two girls to investigate and clear Laila’s name.
I was so excited about this book, I broke my self-imposed eARC ban to read and review it, and I’m glad I did. The authors did a fantastic job with this concept (I mean, a middle grade mystery that’s GBBO x Knives Out???) and I accidentally read it in one sitting.
“Accidentally.”
This book is the perfect blend of the setting and atmosphere of a traditional mystery, and some of the situations and elements common in contemporary middle grade. I loved investigating alongside Laila and Lucy, and probably should’ve had cookies on hand. I know that Alechia Dow used to be a pastry chef and does an Instagram series where she bakes a cookie inspired by a certain title and discusses the book with its author; maybe the final version of The Cookie Crumbles will have its own recipe featured?
I also discovered that this book is going to have a SEQUEL, so sign me up! I can never have enough food-centric books, especially in the middle grade space (I actually have Tracy Badua’s The Takeout on hold at the library right now), and I love cozy mysteries, so a fun series that combines the two takes the cake.
The Cookie Crumbles features best friends Laila and Lucy, two almost-eighth graders who are highly driven when it comes to their respective passions—baking and journalism—especially when they realize that they’ll be going to different high schools unless Laila can win the Golden Cookie competition and a scholarship to a boarding school that has amazing programs for both friends. And then the competition begins, a celebrity judge collapses after eating Laila’s creation, and a storm prevents any outside contact, leaving the two girls to investigate and clear Laila’s name.
I was so excited about this book, I broke my self-imposed eARC ban to read and review it, and I’m glad I did. The authors did a fantastic job with this concept (I mean, a middle grade mystery that’s GBBO x Knives Out???) and I accidentally read it in one sitting.
“Accidentally.”
This book is the perfect blend of the setting and atmosphere of a traditional mystery, and some of the situations and elements common in contemporary middle grade. I loved investigating alongside Laila and Lucy, and probably should’ve had cookies on hand. I know that Alechia Dow used to be a pastry chef and does an Instagram series where she bakes a cookie inspired by a certain title and discusses the book with its author; maybe the final version of The Cookie Crumbles will have its own recipe featured?
I also discovered that this book is going to have a SEQUEL, so sign me up! I can never have enough food-centric books, especially in the middle grade space (I actually have Tracy Badua’s The Takeout on hold at the library right now), and I love cozy mysteries, so a fun series that combines the two takes the cake.
July 6, 2024
I read a lot of middle grade mysteries and this one was just ok. Billed as Knives Out meets Great British Baking Show but for kids, there was just too much going on here without clean execution. The plot hinges on the attempted murderer stealing prescription medication from a middle school competitor who was supposed to keep the medication hidden (or at least discreet). This makes absolutely no sense. Any activity at a school where kids are staying overnight would need to have a nurse or other adult administering medication. Additionally, the mystery isolated the children at this school because of flooded roads and downed power lines. These factors could never have been anticipated or planned for and so it didn’t make sense.
There is also a moment where our two best friends have a feud over miscommunication that annoyed me. Even though miscommunication is rampant in middle school, it didn’t make sense the way it unfolded.
A lot of this was a great idea, but I’d have said this needed major reworking if it was a submission I was reading for my publishing house. A better choice would be Measuring Up (graphic novel) or Next Best Junior Chef.
There is also a moment where our two best friends have a feud over miscommunication that annoyed me. Even though miscommunication is rampant in middle school, it didn’t make sense the way it unfolded.
A lot of this was a great idea, but I’d have said this needed major reworking if it was a submission I was reading for my publishing house. A better choice would be Measuring Up (graphic novel) or Next Best Junior Chef.
May 6, 2025
a middle grade baking competition with a murder mystery?! sign me up!
this is a super fun read with lots of fun baking and great characters. I can't wait for the next one.
this is a super fun read with lots of fun baking and great characters. I can't wait for the next one.
December 27, 2024
I fully acknowledge I’m writing this review as a 30 something year old lady and I’m decidedly not the target demographic here so you know, grain of salt, all that.
On one hand this was pretty cute and I think kids would find this to be a fun and engaging mystery.
On the other, Laila and Lucy’s miscommunication made absolutely no sense to me and it should have been edited out imo since it didn’t really fit in with their characters and how well they know each other. Lucy also seemed very…flat? Her one character trait was she was obsessed with this one journalist and that was pretty much it. I can’t even get into the Laila love triangle set up right now, that trope feels so tired at this point. Also the way everyone kept screaming “murder!” when it was decidedly not a murder. And I wish it leaned more British Bake Off than Knives Out but that’s just my opinion.
I’ll definitely be checking out the second book but I don’t know how excited I feel about it at this time.
On one hand this was pretty cute and I think kids would find this to be a fun and engaging mystery.
On the other, Laila and Lucy’s miscommunication made absolutely no sense to me and it should have been edited out imo since it didn’t really fit in with their characters and how well they know each other. Lucy also seemed very…flat? Her one character trait was she was obsessed with this one journalist and that was pretty much it. I can’t even get into the Laila love triangle set up right now, that trope feels so tired at this point. Also the way everyone kept screaming “murder!” when it was decidedly not a murder. And I wish it leaned more British Bake Off than Knives Out but that’s just my opinion.
I’ll definitely be checking out the second book but I don’t know how excited I feel about it at this time.
June 13, 2024
I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
The Cookie Crumbles sounded so good and I was excited to read this one. I liked the set up with a cookie bake competition for kids to win a scholarship. Sadly I struggled a bit with this one, I did get into it more the further I got and I thought the ending was well done, but it never fully won me over. I liked the friendship between Laila and Lucy, especially once they get over the bit of conflict at the start. I also appreciated having a cozy mystery with middle grade characters.
The Cookie Crumbles starts with Laila and Lucy starting their journey to the school were the competition takes place and most of the book takes place there. I especially struggled with the start as there are journal entries written later in the book and it just pulled me out of the story with every journal entry. I didn't like the vibe it gave of the chapters being written with the characters afterwards instead of just experiencing the story as it happened. Once the first day is over the journal entries stopped and it was easier for me to stay in the story.
I also just wasn't as invested in the story for some reason and wasn't as hooked as I had hoped. I thought Laila and Lucy were interesting characters and I liked their friendship and how they were there for each other. I didn't like the drama and conflict between them at the start and Lucy sometimes seemed to go a bit too far in her quest for answers. I liked the cookie baking competition idea and reading about the cookies they made, I almost wish there was more about the competition as I liked those parts and the mystery overshadowed it a bit.
It also bothered me how characters acted sometimes. There is the conflict between Laila and Lucy, which I didn't like, even though it luckily got resolved without too much drama when they have a moment to talk things through. Then there's a guy whose pretty rude to Laila, it makes more sense later and I liked how that added to this character, but it bothered me when he kept being rude and accusing her at first. There's also the victim who gets almost murdered, who was just so over the top mean to everyone. It just wasn't very interesting to read about, but it did make it easy for everyone to have a motive. And then later the way so many people jump on suspecting Laila, again that makes a bit more sense later, but I still didn't like it and thought it was a bit much.
The mystery was pretty solid. I didn't really care for it at first as the victim who got almost murdered was one of those characters that everyone disliked and everyone has a motive. It felt a bit too much how everyone had a motive, but it made for some interesting reveals along the way as things come to light about why the characters are acting suspicious. Some of them I guessed, but others were interesting surprises. The further I got in the book the more I liked the characters as there is more I knew about them and their personalities. Some clues for the mystery felt pretty obvious, but I still liked seeing it all play out and there are some interesting reveals along the way.
To summarize: I really liked the idea and set up for this book, but it failed to fully hook me and keep my attention. I liked reading about Laila and Lucy and their friendship, especially once the piece of drama/ conflict between them gets resolved. There are some characters who act in ways I didn't like. There are journal entries in the first part of the book which got me out of the story and I am glad when those stopped so I could get into the story more. The mystery didn't fully grab me at first, but I felt like it got more interesting later on with some interesting reveals about the characters. The wrap up made sense and was well done. All in all this is a solid middle grade cozy mystery read and I am sad I didn't get as into the story as I had hoped.
The Cookie Crumbles sounded so good and I was excited to read this one. I liked the set up with a cookie bake competition for kids to win a scholarship. Sadly I struggled a bit with this one, I did get into it more the further I got and I thought the ending was well done, but it never fully won me over. I liked the friendship between Laila and Lucy, especially once they get over the bit of conflict at the start. I also appreciated having a cozy mystery with middle grade characters.
The Cookie Crumbles starts with Laila and Lucy starting their journey to the school were the competition takes place and most of the book takes place there. I especially struggled with the start as there are journal entries written later in the book and it just pulled me out of the story with every journal entry. I didn't like the vibe it gave of the chapters being written with the characters afterwards instead of just experiencing the story as it happened. Once the first day is over the journal entries stopped and it was easier for me to stay in the story.
I also just wasn't as invested in the story for some reason and wasn't as hooked as I had hoped. I thought Laila and Lucy were interesting characters and I liked their friendship and how they were there for each other. I didn't like the drama and conflict between them at the start and Lucy sometimes seemed to go a bit too far in her quest for answers. I liked the cookie baking competition idea and reading about the cookies they made, I almost wish there was more about the competition as I liked those parts and the mystery overshadowed it a bit.
It also bothered me how characters acted sometimes. There is the conflict between Laila and Lucy, which I didn't like, even though it luckily got resolved without too much drama when they have a moment to talk things through. Then there's a guy whose pretty rude to Laila, it makes more sense later and I liked how that added to this character, but it bothered me when he kept being rude and accusing her at first. There's also the victim who gets almost murdered, who was just so over the top mean to everyone. It just wasn't very interesting to read about, but it did make it easy for everyone to have a motive. And then later the way so many people jump on suspecting Laila, again that makes a bit more sense later, but I still didn't like it and thought it was a bit much.
The mystery was pretty solid. I didn't really care for it at first as the victim who got almost murdered was one of those characters that everyone disliked and everyone has a motive. It felt a bit too much how everyone had a motive, but it made for some interesting reveals along the way as things come to light about why the characters are acting suspicious. Some of them I guessed, but others were interesting surprises. The further I got in the book the more I liked the characters as there is more I knew about them and their personalities. Some clues for the mystery felt pretty obvious, but I still liked seeing it all play out and there are some interesting reveals along the way.
To summarize: I really liked the idea and set up for this book, but it failed to fully hook me and keep my attention. I liked reading about Laila and Lucy and their friendship, especially once the piece of drama/ conflict between them gets resolved. There are some characters who act in ways I didn't like. There are journal entries in the first part of the book which got me out of the story and I am glad when those stopped so I could get into the story more. The mystery didn't fully grab me at first, but I felt like it got more interesting later on with some interesting reveals about the characters. The wrap up made sense and was well done. All in all this is a solid middle grade cozy mystery read and I am sad I didn't get as into the story as I had hoped.
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August 10, 2024Here today to rec this adorable middle grade - it's Junior British Bake Off meets Clue! THE COOKIE CRUMBLES has:
🍪 a high stakes baking competition
🍪 an attempted murder
🍪 no internet or cell service (!)
🍪 journalist & baker besties dual POV
🍪 queer side characters
🍪 scary judges
🍪 everyone's a suspect vibes
I had a lot of fun with this one, which was my first book by either of the co-authors. And it also happened to pair perfectly with the vegan chocolate chip cookies I got from @withcarrington ❤️.
🍪 a high stakes baking competition
🍪 an attempted murder
🍪 no internet or cell service (!)
🍪 journalist & baker besties dual POV
🍪 queer side characters
🍪 scary judges
🍪 everyone's a suspect vibes
I had a lot of fun with this one, which was my first book by either of the co-authors. And it also happened to pair perfectly with the vegan chocolate chip cookies I got from @withcarrington ❤️.
March 18, 2025
The tonal whiplash is off the charts. It’s written like a normal children’s contemporary, and there’s a ton of focus on the cookie competition, but then you’ll jump straight from macaroons to murder with zero difference in writing style.
It really took me out of the story how these preteen characters would be like Well, I was terrified because I knew I might get murdered, but first, I decided to bake a hazelnut and orange extract cocoa bar with ganache…
It really took me out of the story how these preteen characters would be like Well, I was terrified because I knew I might get murdered, but first, I decided to bake a hazelnut and orange extract cocoa bar with ganache…
September 19, 2024
What would make for a cosier cosy mystery than one set at a baking competition? This was a really fun, well-plotted middlegrade, with characters who were all fleshed out and realistic.
June 12, 2024
Opening Line: "Generally speaking, cookies don't kill people."
The Cookie Crumbles tagline is "The Great British Bake Off meets a tween-friendly Knives Out..." Sounds intriguing, right? Especially with that opening line.
From the moment Laila shared a cupcake with Lucy on their second day of kindergarten, their friendship was cemented. They've been inseparable ever since. As their school's summer break approaches, they find out that they'll be going to different high schools. Lucy has already been admitted at Sunderland Academy, a prestigious boarding school and Laila really wants to join her. As it so happens Sunderland is hosting the Golden Cookie competition, with the grand prize being a full scholarship to the Academy, Laila thinks she has a good shot at winning. She's been pretty successful in a few other competitions but without the scholarship it would be impossible for her to attend, money has been tight ever since her dad passed away from cancer. Laila has always dreamed of becoming a cookie CEO, and she just has to win and go to Sunderland's elite culinary program. Meanwhile, Lucy, Laila's best friend, aims to become a journalist. She sees the cookie competition as an opportunity to write a stellar article to impress the scholarship committee at the Academy and earn money for school.
Just as the competition gets underway, one of the celebrity judges collapses after tasting one of Laila's cookies, casting suspicion on her. Lucy, intent on clearing her friends name, starts to investigate by examining the dossiers she has on the contestants and interrogating the suspects. Focused on finding the truth, she unintentionally hurts her best friend's feelings, leading Laila to feel targeted by Lucy's investigation and questioning. Can the girls put their feelings aside and identify the true perpetrator before anyone else gets hurt?
The Cookie Crumbles is the collaborative work of Tracy Badua (author of Freddie vs. the Family Curse) and Alechia Dow (author of Just a Pinch of Magic). It intertwines a whodunit mystery within a cookie baking contest during the height of a storm that shuts down all communication from the campus. The plot thickens as numerous suspects are identified, including all the competitors, who have some prior connection to the Chef. With speculations intensifying following the revelation that one of the judges could have possibly been involved, given that Chef Remi is notoriously rude and is thought to be disliked even by his fellow judges.
I quite enjoyed Laila and Lucy. Sadly, there's a bit of friend drama, but they do end up making up. Both girls are goal oriented and driven to accomplish their goals. Lucy is a meticulous note taker, chronicling all the events during the competition, including everyone's whereabouts. And Laila is a very experienced baker with an exceptional palette. She can identify the ingredients in a dish after only one bite. This cookie competition is a new challenge for her as she's up against a group of competitors who've had more advantages than her. They come from wealthy families, and they're not even as driven as she is to be a baker. They don't appear to need the money, so why are they even competing? It's interesting to learn their motivations and goals.
Each chapter alternates between the two girls, written in the form of a journal recounting the events. Providing details leading up to the attempted murder, the cooking challenges, and Lucy's observations and interactions as she works to solve the crime. The only thing that seems to be missing is the recipes for the cookies that Laila baked, which would be a wonderful addition to the final book. The Cookie Crumbles would captivate children who enjoy cooking and baking, and I would recommend it to fans of The Last Super Chef. It would also be fun to pair it with my favorite foodie book, All Four Stars.
**A huge thank you to Books Forward for the E-ARC**
The Cookie Crumbles tagline is "The Great British Bake Off meets a tween-friendly Knives Out..." Sounds intriguing, right? Especially with that opening line.
From the moment Laila shared a cupcake with Lucy on their second day of kindergarten, their friendship was cemented. They've been inseparable ever since. As their school's summer break approaches, they find out that they'll be going to different high schools. Lucy has already been admitted at Sunderland Academy, a prestigious boarding school and Laila really wants to join her. As it so happens Sunderland is hosting the Golden Cookie competition, with the grand prize being a full scholarship to the Academy, Laila thinks she has a good shot at winning. She's been pretty successful in a few other competitions but without the scholarship it would be impossible for her to attend, money has been tight ever since her dad passed away from cancer. Laila has always dreamed of becoming a cookie CEO, and she just has to win and go to Sunderland's elite culinary program. Meanwhile, Lucy, Laila's best friend, aims to become a journalist. She sees the cookie competition as an opportunity to write a stellar article to impress the scholarship committee at the Academy and earn money for school.
Just as the competition gets underway, one of the celebrity judges collapses after tasting one of Laila's cookies, casting suspicion on her. Lucy, intent on clearing her friends name, starts to investigate by examining the dossiers she has on the contestants and interrogating the suspects. Focused on finding the truth, she unintentionally hurts her best friend's feelings, leading Laila to feel targeted by Lucy's investigation and questioning. Can the girls put their feelings aside and identify the true perpetrator before anyone else gets hurt?
The Cookie Crumbles is the collaborative work of Tracy Badua (author of Freddie vs. the Family Curse) and Alechia Dow (author of Just a Pinch of Magic). It intertwines a whodunit mystery within a cookie baking contest during the height of a storm that shuts down all communication from the campus. The plot thickens as numerous suspects are identified, including all the competitors, who have some prior connection to the Chef. With speculations intensifying following the revelation that one of the judges could have possibly been involved, given that Chef Remi is notoriously rude and is thought to be disliked even by his fellow judges.
I quite enjoyed Laila and Lucy. Sadly, there's a bit of friend drama, but they do end up making up. Both girls are goal oriented and driven to accomplish their goals. Lucy is a meticulous note taker, chronicling all the events during the competition, including everyone's whereabouts. And Laila is a very experienced baker with an exceptional palette. She can identify the ingredients in a dish after only one bite. This cookie competition is a new challenge for her as she's up against a group of competitors who've had more advantages than her. They come from wealthy families, and they're not even as driven as she is to be a baker. They don't appear to need the money, so why are they even competing? It's interesting to learn their motivations and goals.
Each chapter alternates between the two girls, written in the form of a journal recounting the events. Providing details leading up to the attempted murder, the cooking challenges, and Lucy's observations and interactions as she works to solve the crime. The only thing that seems to be missing is the recipes for the cookies that Laila baked, which would be a wonderful addition to the final book. The Cookie Crumbles would captivate children who enjoy cooking and baking, and I would recommend it to fans of The Last Super Chef. It would also be fun to pair it with my favorite foodie book, All Four Stars.
**A huge thank you to Books Forward for the E-ARC**
June 11, 2024
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The Cookie Crumbles is full of best friend baking charm and mystery. I loved both Laila and Lucy. Not only did I think their friendship was super cute, but I also loved how passionate they are. And how much they love their friendship. It's infectious! Being dual POV was a fabulous way to see their own love for each other and their own secrets and insecurities. It was easy to fall into The Cookie Crumbles and this is perfect for any middle grade fans in your life.
The Cookie Crumbles is full of best friend baking charm and mystery. I loved both Laila and Lucy. Not only did I think their friendship was super cute, but I also loved how passionate they are. And how much they love their friendship. It's infectious! Being dual POV was a fabulous way to see their own love for each other and their own secrets and insecurities. It was easy to fall into The Cookie Crumbles and this is perfect for any middle grade fans in your life.
April 4, 2025
3.75 stars rounded up
This is a FANTASTIC middle grade mystery that is so necessary. The characters are perfect for those readers beginning to bridge from the children's section to the teen section - without being inappropriate for 12-14 year olds. The mystery had ME guessing and was super well-developed, the girls were fun to be around and relatable, and the cooking was fantastic. Will be following this series!
This is a FANTASTIC middle grade mystery that is so necessary. The characters are perfect for those readers beginning to bridge from the children's section to the teen section - without being inappropriate for 12-14 year olds. The mystery had ME guessing and was super well-developed, the girls were fun to be around and relatable, and the cooking was fantastic. Will be following this series!
June 22, 2024
THE COOKIE CRUMBLES is one of my favorite reads of 2024. It's a fun, smart, middle-grade mystery filled with baked goods, red herrings, twists, and deep friendships. THE COOKIE CRUMBLES is a recommended read for any age -- middle grade through adult, especially for mystery lovers and anyone who loves a true best friend story.
October 15, 2024
I wanted this to be better, but it was still a solid mystery.
June 28, 2025
Such a fun mystery!! A beautiful kid friendly blend of baking, journalism, and murder.
May 1, 2025
2.5 stars
September 2, 2024
This is exactly what it says it will be. If the synopsis sounds good to you, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. It’s well-written and a quick read. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read that Alecia Dow has written. Might just have to be an auto-buy author for me.
May 29, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Review out now on pinereadsreview.com
https://www.pinereadsreview.com/blog/...
Review out now on pinereadsreview.com
https://www.pinereadsreview.com/blog/...
February 9, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Laila is bound and determined to enter the Sunderland Academy Golden Cookie competition so that she can win a scholarship to the prestigious boarding school, since her best friend Lucy has been accepted into their journalism program, since the two would not be districted to the same school the next year. Laila's mother is a busy nurse, and her father passed away from cancer several years previously, so the academy would be out of the question without a scholarship. Laila has participated in contests before and done well, although a fellow competitor at Sunderland accuses her of cheating in previous ones. The weather is bad, so there is no leaving the premises, and even phone service is sketchy, so Laila and Lucy (who has been allowed to attend so she can write a story) hunker down with contest runners. Polly Rose is a sweet, supportive British baker, Chef Remi is unbelievably nasty to everyone and bitter about being involved, and Noah is Remi's sidekick. Contestants include future debutante Philippa, Micah, son of restaurant owners, Maeve, and Jaden. All have some connection to Chef Remi. The first challenge is a cookie based on a chocolate truffle, and there are many details of Laila project. There is a cookie showcase involving a display at least two feet tall. When Laila's cookie seems to cause Chef Remi to pass out and be in physical distress, the EMTs are barely able to get through but do manage to get him to the hospital, where he remains in a coma. Lucy, who has compiled dossiers on everyone in the competition, starts investigating. Laila has to keep cooking, but the others seem to blame her for the attempted murder of the star chef, based on little evidence. Noah even says that Remi was taking medication for a rather serious heart condition. Tensions are high, and the flour flies, but will Laila spend the next school year on scholarship to Sunderland... or in jail for murder?
Strengths: This collaborative effort from Tracy Badua (Freddie vs. the Family Curse, The Takeout) and Alechia Dow (Just a Pinch of Magic) is a fun, Agatha Christie style murder-lite story (Chef Remi survives). There's plenty of baking, lots of journalistic investigation, some friend drama, and a murder that doesn't involve someone actually dying. The setting of the posh boarding school in the storm adds to the English country manor estate feel, and it's fun to see both Laila and Lucy's perspectives in alternating chapters.
Weaknesses: There were a lot of recipes that seemed awfully advanced for tweens. I wouldn't have thought that Laila's struggling mother would have been willing to pay for French butter (There IS such a thing? I mean, outside of France.). I'm definitely overly cheap and pragmatic in my cooking, so readers who desperately want to bake (and have watched baking shows) will probably adore these fancy details.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who can't get enough of cooking competition titles like Alice Fleck's Recipe for Disaster (to which this is rather similar), LaMotte and Xu's Measuring Up, LaRocca's Midsummer's Mayhem, Nelson's A Batch Made in Heaven, the Marks' The $150, 000 Rugelach, Negron's The Last Super Chef, Faruqi and Shovan's A Place at the Table, but want the cooking garnished with some rainbow sprinkles of mystery.
Laila is bound and determined to enter the Sunderland Academy Golden Cookie competition so that she can win a scholarship to the prestigious boarding school, since her best friend Lucy has been accepted into their journalism program, since the two would not be districted to the same school the next year. Laila's mother is a busy nurse, and her father passed away from cancer several years previously, so the academy would be out of the question without a scholarship. Laila has participated in contests before and done well, although a fellow competitor at Sunderland accuses her of cheating in previous ones. The weather is bad, so there is no leaving the premises, and even phone service is sketchy, so Laila and Lucy (who has been allowed to attend so she can write a story) hunker down with contest runners. Polly Rose is a sweet, supportive British baker, Chef Remi is unbelievably nasty to everyone and bitter about being involved, and Noah is Remi's sidekick. Contestants include future debutante Philippa, Micah, son of restaurant owners, Maeve, and Jaden. All have some connection to Chef Remi. The first challenge is a cookie based on a chocolate truffle, and there are many details of Laila project. There is a cookie showcase involving a display at least two feet tall. When Laila's cookie seems to cause Chef Remi to pass out and be in physical distress, the EMTs are barely able to get through but do manage to get him to the hospital, where he remains in a coma. Lucy, who has compiled dossiers on everyone in the competition, starts investigating. Laila has to keep cooking, but the others seem to blame her for the attempted murder of the star chef, based on little evidence. Noah even says that Remi was taking medication for a rather serious heart condition. Tensions are high, and the flour flies, but will Laila spend the next school year on scholarship to Sunderland... or in jail for murder?
Strengths: This collaborative effort from Tracy Badua (Freddie vs. the Family Curse, The Takeout) and Alechia Dow (Just a Pinch of Magic) is a fun, Agatha Christie style murder-lite story (Chef Remi survives). There's plenty of baking, lots of journalistic investigation, some friend drama, and a murder that doesn't involve someone actually dying. The setting of the posh boarding school in the storm adds to the English country manor estate feel, and it's fun to see both Laila and Lucy's perspectives in alternating chapters.
Weaknesses: There were a lot of recipes that seemed awfully advanced for tweens. I wouldn't have thought that Laila's struggling mother would have been willing to pay for French butter (There IS such a thing? I mean, outside of France.). I'm definitely overly cheap and pragmatic in my cooking, so readers who desperately want to bake (and have watched baking shows) will probably adore these fancy details.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who can't get enough of cooking competition titles like Alice Fleck's Recipe for Disaster (to which this is rather similar), LaMotte and Xu's Measuring Up, LaRocca's Midsummer's Mayhem, Nelson's A Batch Made in Heaven, the Marks' The $150, 000 Rugelach, Negron's The Last Super Chef, Faruqi and Shovan's A Place at the Table, but want the cooking garnished with some rainbow sprinkles of mystery.
June 8, 2024
“There’s nowhere you can’t go. Nothing you can’t do.”
Described as a combination of The Great British Bake Off and Knives Out, this middle-grade novel follows bestfriends Laila and Lucy who are desperate to attend esteemed boarding school Sunderland Academy that is known for creating the most successful individuals in any field, from journalism to baking. Laila, who has loved baking since she was a child, knows the only way she can continue going to school with her best friend is by winning a competition and the full-ride scholarship Sunderland is offering. Lucy, on the other hand, has secured her position as a promising journalist and is invited to report the outcome of the competition in order to apply for a Sunderland scholarship. When a judge collapses during the competition after tasting Laila’s cookie showpiece, all signs point to foul play. Now, Laila and Lucy must work together to identify the real culprit before anyone else gets hurt.
While I loved many things about this book, there were a few choices the authors made that took away from my enjoyment of the story. My primary issue is with the pacing and flow of the storyline. Inserted between chapters were journal entries from Laila and Lucy, which, while entertaining, seemed to interrupt the main story. The timeline was also confusing and difficult to follow since it was out of chronological order. I also found the characters to be a bit juvenile for their ages. Despite being a middle grade story, some of their actions felt more representative of people younger than the intended ages of twelve to fourteen. On the other hand, I very much enjoyed how both main characters were fleshed out in their chapters. Laila and Lucy, though incredibly different, were equally well-developed, which can be difficult to do when there are two authors writing different characters. I also think the murder mystery was maintained well through the story and isn’t necessarily obvious. There are plenty of red herrings planted throughout the story that can lead readers to a false conclusion, which is always fun in mysteries! The reveal and the subsequent explanation of their motive made sense, which is always a necessity when writing a good mystery. Overall, I think this book is one that will entice a lot of young mystery readers and fans of cozy novels.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank Books Forward and Quill Tree Publishing for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
Described as a combination of The Great British Bake Off and Knives Out, this middle-grade novel follows bestfriends Laila and Lucy who are desperate to attend esteemed boarding school Sunderland Academy that is known for creating the most successful individuals in any field, from journalism to baking. Laila, who has loved baking since she was a child, knows the only way she can continue going to school with her best friend is by winning a competition and the full-ride scholarship Sunderland is offering. Lucy, on the other hand, has secured her position as a promising journalist and is invited to report the outcome of the competition in order to apply for a Sunderland scholarship. When a judge collapses during the competition after tasting Laila’s cookie showpiece, all signs point to foul play. Now, Laila and Lucy must work together to identify the real culprit before anyone else gets hurt.
While I loved many things about this book, there were a few choices the authors made that took away from my enjoyment of the story. My primary issue is with the pacing and flow of the storyline. Inserted between chapters were journal entries from Laila and Lucy, which, while entertaining, seemed to interrupt the main story. The timeline was also confusing and difficult to follow since it was out of chronological order. I also found the characters to be a bit juvenile for their ages. Despite being a middle grade story, some of their actions felt more representative of people younger than the intended ages of twelve to fourteen. On the other hand, I very much enjoyed how both main characters were fleshed out in their chapters. Laila and Lucy, though incredibly different, were equally well-developed, which can be difficult to do when there are two authors writing different characters. I also think the murder mystery was maintained well through the story and isn’t necessarily obvious. There are plenty of red herrings planted throughout the story that can lead readers to a false conclusion, which is always fun in mysteries! The reveal and the subsequent explanation of their motive made sense, which is always a necessity when writing a good mystery. Overall, I think this book is one that will entice a lot of young mystery readers and fans of cozy novels.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank Books Forward and Quill Tree Publishing for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
May 16, 2024
Thank you to Books Forward for the ARC.
Laila and Lucy have been best friends since kindergarten, but now that they are about to enter high school, they'll attend two different schools. But all hope isn't lost! Laila is invited to compete in the Golden Cookie competition where the winner receives a full scholarship to Sunderland boarding school.
The girls do not doubt that Laila can win the baking competition so this might be their solution if Lucy can also use her journalism skills to report on the competition and earn a scholarship as well. No one expects that a baking competition will turn into an attempted murder mystery but when it does, everyone is looking at Laila. Now the girls must clear Laila's name AND win their scholarships before the weekend ends.
This a fun mystery story with a Great British Baking Show twist. The baking competition was a fun backdrop to the mysterious events of the weekend. While the book focused on the two best friends, the other contestants in the contest became part of the crime-solving and we got to know them as well.
The story alternates from each girl's point of view as a narrator and through their journal entries. The journal entries were written after all of the events occurred, but it sometimes seemed like thoughts were being recorded at the present moment. The flow of the journal entries versus narration was a little confusing to keep straight at times. Overall, the storytelling choice was a creative way for the reader to become familiar with the girls' inner thoughts and perspectives. Having two authors work together gave the characters strong voices and points of view.
The book takes place during the summer after 8th grade for the girls in the story, but the girls often seem much younger. They should be 14 years old (13 for a summer birthday), but it was easy to forget because the girls seem to act more like the middle-grade age range that the book is marketed for (ages 8-12). They do have baking skills that are much more reflective of a 14-year-old than a 10-year-old, but the social dynamics seem a little young. This works well for the reading audience but doesn't match the reality of their ages in the book.
There were plenty of great clues for the reader who wanted to solve the mystery before the main characters, but not enough to make it too easy. There were also plenty of clues that were easy to read in the wrong direction, making it fun to keep guessing. When the criminal is uncovered, it does make sense with the story and the clues add up!
This was a fun mystery for middle grades, especially those who are fans of baking shows or baking themselves.
Laila and Lucy have been best friends since kindergarten, but now that they are about to enter high school, they'll attend two different schools. But all hope isn't lost! Laila is invited to compete in the Golden Cookie competition where the winner receives a full scholarship to Sunderland boarding school.
The girls do not doubt that Laila can win the baking competition so this might be their solution if Lucy can also use her journalism skills to report on the competition and earn a scholarship as well. No one expects that a baking competition will turn into an attempted murder mystery but when it does, everyone is looking at Laila. Now the girls must clear Laila's name AND win their scholarships before the weekend ends.
This a fun mystery story with a Great British Baking Show twist. The baking competition was a fun backdrop to the mysterious events of the weekend. While the book focused on the two best friends, the other contestants in the contest became part of the crime-solving and we got to know them as well.
The story alternates from each girl's point of view as a narrator and through their journal entries. The journal entries were written after all of the events occurred, but it sometimes seemed like thoughts were being recorded at the present moment. The flow of the journal entries versus narration was a little confusing to keep straight at times. Overall, the storytelling choice was a creative way for the reader to become familiar with the girls' inner thoughts and perspectives. Having two authors work together gave the characters strong voices and points of view.
The book takes place during the summer after 8th grade for the girls in the story, but the girls often seem much younger. They should be 14 years old (13 for a summer birthday), but it was easy to forget because the girls seem to act more like the middle-grade age range that the book is marketed for (ages 8-12). They do have baking skills that are much more reflective of a 14-year-old than a 10-year-old, but the social dynamics seem a little young. This works well for the reading audience but doesn't match the reality of their ages in the book.
There were plenty of great clues for the reader who wanted to solve the mystery before the main characters, but not enough to make it too easy. There were also plenty of clues that were easy to read in the wrong direction, making it fun to keep guessing. When the criminal is uncovered, it does make sense with the story and the clues add up!
This was a fun mystery for middle grades, especially those who are fans of baking shows or baking themselves.
June 1, 2024
Tangy and sweet baking wonders twirl with tension and possible murder in an engaging mystery, where the stakes go beyond scholarship dreams.
Laila loves to bake, and she’s talented, too, but her only hope of making it into a well-known culinary high school sits on winning a full-ride scholarship. Her best friend, Lucy, is in the same boat, but her goals are set on the school’s other well-known direction, journalism. Both head off to the competition, Laila to bake for a win and Lucy on special permission to write an amazing article for the school paper (which will hopefully also gain her a top scholarship). They might be ready to support each other to the end, but neither is prepared for the negative tensions among the competitors. When one of the judges falls prey to an attempted murder, Laila becomes the main suspect. Now, her and Lucy need to find the true killer, find the evidence to prove that person’s guilt, and both prove they deserve the needed scholarships.
The first sentence already drew a smile: “Generally speaking, cookies don’t kill people.” It set the tone nicely for the rest of the read as baking goodness swirls around an attempted murder. The tale is told from both Laila’s and Lucy’s points of view with journal notes from each one written in between. The similarity in the names did take half-a-second to work through, but other than that, Lucy and Laila’s change in perspectives is easy to follow and gives exactly what’s needed, at the moment. Add the their golden friendship and knack for communicating without words, and the two make a great pair.
There are baking details to delight food fans and a well-woven web of clues to grab mystery sleuths. The other characters carry a wide range of personalities, making each individual shine in their own way for better or worse. Each carries a secret or two, and it’s hard to tell who can be trusted and who can’t. Add the competitive flurry, which packs more than a little nastiness, and there’s more than a little drama tossed in as well. As each secret comes to light, it becomes harder to know what the real motive is. Even the ending pulled through with an extra burst of surprises to keep readers on their toes.
Laila loves to bake, and she’s talented, too, but her only hope of making it into a well-known culinary high school sits on winning a full-ride scholarship. Her best friend, Lucy, is in the same boat, but her goals are set on the school’s other well-known direction, journalism. Both head off to the competition, Laila to bake for a win and Lucy on special permission to write an amazing article for the school paper (which will hopefully also gain her a top scholarship). They might be ready to support each other to the end, but neither is prepared for the negative tensions among the competitors. When one of the judges falls prey to an attempted murder, Laila becomes the main suspect. Now, her and Lucy need to find the true killer, find the evidence to prove that person’s guilt, and both prove they deserve the needed scholarships.
The first sentence already drew a smile: “Generally speaking, cookies don’t kill people.” It set the tone nicely for the rest of the read as baking goodness swirls around an attempted murder. The tale is told from both Laila’s and Lucy’s points of view with journal notes from each one written in between. The similarity in the names did take half-a-second to work through, but other than that, Lucy and Laila’s change in perspectives is easy to follow and gives exactly what’s needed, at the moment. Add the their golden friendship and knack for communicating without words, and the two make a great pair.
There are baking details to delight food fans and a well-woven web of clues to grab mystery sleuths. The other characters carry a wide range of personalities, making each individual shine in their own way for better or worse. Each carries a secret or two, and it’s hard to tell who can be trusted and who can’t. Add the competitive flurry, which packs more than a little nastiness, and there’s more than a little drama tossed in as well. As each secret comes to light, it becomes harder to know what the real motive is. Even the ending pulled through with an extra burst of surprises to keep readers on their toes.
June 19, 2024
Believe that Knives Out for middle graders comp and get ready for a thrilling tween mystery!! A stormy night, an isolated kitchen, kids with scholarships, and maybe their entire futures, on the line, a section titled "C Is For Cookies...and Crime." I am here for all of it. Baking maven Laila and reporter extraordinare Lucy are besties, but they're facing separation for high school based on how their town assigns seats. So they have their hearts set on Sunderland Boarding School if they can just get scholarships. Enter the Golden Cookie competition hosted by the school where Laila will wow them with her amazing sense of taste and Lucy will report on the whole thing, including a feature on her friend's genius, to get the funding they need to stay together. And things are going sort of according to plan when when of the judge's nearly dies eating one of Laila's cookies! A locked kitchen door whodunit follows that challenges their ability to find clues through taste, interview suspects, and figure out who among the contestants and judges to trust that will test the very bonds of Laila and Lucy's friendship. IT IS SO GOOD!!! I didn't know what to believe until the very end, and I think young mystery fans will be on the edge of their seats for this thrilling page turner. I am fascinated that this was a co-writing project for Tracy Badua and Alechia Dow because it is so seamlessly told. Brava!!! And I think Ferdelle Capistrano and Imani Parks did an incredible job of capturing the character's tenacity, fears, and feelings as the clues and suspicions built. I absolutely love baking competition books and shows, and think this one is a new fave. Someone call France we need the Meilleur Ouvrier de France for book sweets!
Original review:
Audio read - I absolutely love baking competition books and know kids are going to have so much fun with this one. The performances were outstanding! Review to follow!
Original review:
Audio read - I absolutely love baking competition books and know kids are going to have so much fun with this one. The performances were outstanding! Review to follow!
January 4, 2025
Bake Off meets Clue in this locked room baking competition that becomes a locked room mystery (though, of course, the baking must go on). Told in the alternating voices of baker Laila and aspiring journalist Lucy, The Cookie Crumbles follows these two friends desperate to go to the same prestigious high school—one that neither can attend without earning a scholarship.
I think this is a wonderful whodunit read for a middle grades reader. Sure, adult readers may quickly identify the culprit and get frustrated over the lack of adult supervision and support, but we’re also not the intended audience. There are suspensions of disbelief that need to happen to enjoy a lot of media, and I don’t mind the ones in this. I also think a younger reader will enjoy looking at the clues and trying to figure out who is guilty from a bunch of potential suspects. I loved reading the different descriptions of the cookies…and really wanted to taste many of them! I also appreciated the depictions of both Laila and Lucy having to struggle through moments of weighing their ambition/desperation against their sense of right and wrong.
Overall, The Cookie Crumbles is a cozy and sweet (pun intended) mystery that’s a joy to read. I have some students who have enjoyed the book Arsenic and Adobo, and The Cookie Crumbles is a book that I would want to put in the hands of students who are interested in that less gritty style of mystery (and they’re actually the intended audience). With so many chilling murder mysteries on the YA market, I’m grateful for texts like this that have those mystery elements with a middle grades reader in mind.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this text! This is a book that has made it into my classroom library.
I think this is a wonderful whodunit read for a middle grades reader. Sure, adult readers may quickly identify the culprit and get frustrated over the lack of adult supervision and support, but we’re also not the intended audience. There are suspensions of disbelief that need to happen to enjoy a lot of media, and I don’t mind the ones in this. I also think a younger reader will enjoy looking at the clues and trying to figure out who is guilty from a bunch of potential suspects. I loved reading the different descriptions of the cookies…and really wanted to taste many of them! I also appreciated the depictions of both Laila and Lucy having to struggle through moments of weighing their ambition/desperation against their sense of right and wrong.
Overall, The Cookie Crumbles is a cozy and sweet (pun intended) mystery that’s a joy to read. I have some students who have enjoyed the book Arsenic and Adobo, and The Cookie Crumbles is a book that I would want to put in the hands of students who are interested in that less gritty style of mystery (and they’re actually the intended audience). With so many chilling murder mysteries on the YA market, I’m grateful for texts like this that have those mystery elements with a middle grades reader in mind.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this text! This is a book that has made it into my classroom library.
June 27, 2024
In THE COOKIE CRUMBLES, Lucy and Laila have been inseparable since kindergarten, but unless they can both figure out a way to gain admission to an elite private school, they’ll be headed to separate schools in the fall. When talented baker Laila is invited to participate in the Golden Cookie baking competition for a chance to earn a coveted scholarship to the school, she jumps at the opportunity. Aspiring journalist Lucy comes along in hopes of writing an article about the competition that will impress the school’s admission committee and secure her place at the school. When one of the competition judges appears to have been poisoned after eating Laila’s cookies, fingers are pointed at her. The duo must figure out who they can trust and who is behind the poisoning so they can clear Laila’s name.
The dual point of view writing gives readers insight into both Laila and Lucy’s thinking—and lets readers see the action that transpires beyond the competition floor while the competitors are hard at work. A fun cast of characters who all have motives for wanting the judge out of the way will keep middle grade readers thinking until the culprit is finally revealed. This is exactly the type of book my school’s mystery readers have been asking for and I know they’ll devour it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of the book to read and review.
The dual point of view writing gives readers insight into both Laila and Lucy’s thinking—and lets readers see the action that transpires beyond the competition floor while the competitors are hard at work. A fun cast of characters who all have motives for wanting the judge out of the way will keep middle grade readers thinking until the culprit is finally revealed. This is exactly the type of book my school’s mystery readers have been asking for and I know they’ll devour it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of the book to read and review.
October 4, 2024
Laila has qualified for the Golden Cookie Baking Championship, if she wins she will get a full ride scholarship to Sunderland Academy, a school there is no way her single parent mom could afford on her own. Lucy, Laila’s best friend, has already been accepted but she can only go if she gets a journalism scholarship as well. Lucy decides to go with Laila to the baking competition to cheer her on and also to write a story about it to add to her scholarship application portfolio. The competition is being judged by two celebrity judges, one of which is ill tempered and mean and another that is gentle and kind. When disaster strikes it turns out that Lucy will be reporting on an attempted murder instead of a baking contest and that Laila might be the prime suspect. Can Lucy and Laila crack the case, bake into the winner’s circle, and attend the school of their dreams?
Fast paced with memorable characters, readers that love baking and mysteries will find a lot to appreciate about this book. While the stakes of the cooking contest and the details of the crime seem more than a bit far-fetched, young readers will still enjoy the story.
Optional purchase for any library serving children in grades 4th through 6th.
M.S.
Children's Librarian
Fast paced with memorable characters, readers that love baking and mysteries will find a lot to appreciate about this book. While the stakes of the cooking contest and the details of the crime seem more than a bit far-fetched, young readers will still enjoy the story.
Optional purchase for any library serving children in grades 4th through 6th.
M.S.
Children's Librarian
Read
June 10, 2024disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
This was such a fun time & a reminder of why middle grade fiction is so special. Best friends Lucy and Laila enter a baking competition in order to earn a spot at an elite academy, but then their much admired and infamous mentor, Chef Remi, is almost murdered!
I loved the tension in their friendship as they begin to feel unsure of the other’s whereabouts for part of the competition. I think it rang true to young female friendships, especially amidst such a stressful, unbelievable situation that they are in. I also loved that Lucy used her journalism skills to unravel what really happened, and who had a real motive to hurt Chef Remi.
The mystery was a delight to unravel, I loved getting to know these characters, and I was so happy to read such a fun story by two talented writers, Tracy Badua & Alechia Dow. What an excellent collaboration!
My noted content warning is for attempted murder, no one dies🫶🏽
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
This was such a fun time & a reminder of why middle grade fiction is so special. Best friends Lucy and Laila enter a baking competition in order to earn a spot at an elite academy, but then their much admired and infamous mentor, Chef Remi, is almost murdered!
I loved the tension in their friendship as they begin to feel unsure of the other’s whereabouts for part of the competition. I think it rang true to young female friendships, especially amidst such a stressful, unbelievable situation that they are in. I also loved that Lucy used her journalism skills to unravel what really happened, and who had a real motive to hurt Chef Remi.
The mystery was a delight to unravel, I loved getting to know these characters, and I was so happy to read such a fun story by two talented writers, Tracy Badua & Alechia Dow. What an excellent collaboration!
My noted content warning is for attempted murder, no one dies🫶🏽
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
December 8, 2024
"The Cookie Crumbles" is a middle grade mystery that tries to give fair play rules for solving what happened to a much disliked chef when he collapses during a cookie competition and foul play is suspected.
The circumstances of why all the kids are trapped in a prestigious academy with no parental supervision and no adult oversight except for three adults who are not meant to be caregivers is just one of many instances straining credulity of the setting, but whatever allows Laila and Lucy to begin their investigation can be overlooked.
I do think the miscommunication between the friends was a bit contrived, especially if they knew each other for so long, and that choice was a detriment to the story.
For me, it was obvious who the attempted murderer was at the start (let's be honest, middle grade books aren't going to make a child a cold blooded attempted murderer so that takes out 3/4ths of the suspects right away). The red herrings were mostly plausible, although not strong enough to be a real consideration. Mostly I would say the book could be carried by the dual friendship of its protagonists.
The circumstances of why all the kids are trapped in a prestigious academy with no parental supervision and no adult oversight except for three adults who are not meant to be caregivers is just one of many instances straining credulity of the setting, but whatever allows Laila and Lucy to begin their investigation can be overlooked.
I do think the miscommunication between the friends was a bit contrived, especially if they knew each other for so long, and that choice was a detriment to the story.
For me, it was obvious who the attempted murderer was at the start (let's be honest, middle grade books aren't going to make a child a cold blooded attempted murderer so that takes out 3/4ths of the suspects right away). The red herrings were mostly plausible, although not strong enough to be a real consideration. Mostly I would say the book could be carried by the dual friendship of its protagonists.
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