The Great Cookie War

by Caroline Stellings

Life in her traditional Mennonite community is peaceful if a little dull for twelve-year-old Beth, who dreams of being an artist. One day excitement shows up in the form of a determined lawyer from New York who insists she needs a family cookie recipe to win a million-dollar lawsuit.

Beth’s parents are bemused, but her grandmother is determined that the recipe will not leave her kitchen. As Beth tries to balance her love for her family and faith with the promise of adventure in New York, she learns that she is stronger than she believes.

Genres: Middle Grade, Canada

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 13, 2021

About the author

Caroline Stellings is an award-winning author and illustrator of numerous books for children and young adults. She has received many honours for her work, including nominations for both the Geoffrey Bilson Award and the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award, and she has won both the ForeWord Book of the Year and the Hamilton Literary Award. Her picture book Gypsy’s Fortune (Peanut Butter Press) was chosen as a Best Bet by the Ontario Library Association. Caroline has a Masters degree from McMaster University. She lives in Waterdown, Ontario.

Reviews

[Rosh (on a medical break)]

In a Nutshell: Some hits, some misses.

Story:

Twelve year old Beth wants to be an artist. However, as a girl in the Mennonite community, her life is runs on a set schedule and art isn’t part of it. However, one day, a New York lawyer named Paula Logan makes an appearance on their doorstep, demanding Grandma’s cookie recipe in order to win a multi-million dollar lawsuit. Grandma is determined not to allow her recipe book out of her sight. Acting as the mediator is cookbook author Edna Staebler, who tries to make peace between the two parties and provide a happy ending to everyone.
The entire story is written in the first person perspective of Beth.

This little middle grade fiction is based on actual events. My search online led me to the following information. Edna Staebler had published her bestselling cookbook, Food That Really Schmecks, in 1968. It was based on Old Order Mennonite recipes from Waterloo County, Canada. In the early 1980s, Proctor & Gamble sued Nabisco, claiming that Nabisco had violated its patent for a baking process that made cookies both crisp and chewy. Bevvy Martin's recipe for Rigglevake cookies in ‘Food That Really Schmecks’ came to the attention of lawyers from both sides as an example of crisp and chewy cookies that could be said to be in the public domain. Lawyers collected cookie recipes through advertisements in Mennonite and Amish newspapers and Old Order Mennonite women were paid to bake demonstration cookies. Edna, while remaining neutral yet amused, helped facilitate these interactions. In 1989 the dispute was settled out of court. (More details HERE.)

As a children’s book, this story fares decently well. The cookie war is brought to life in an interesting way that might amuse children at corporate behaviour. Of course, this basic cookie war is jazzed up with Beth’s artistic dreams acting as a source of family conflict in the story. Beth shows a lot of courage and determination in following her dreams while still complying with her family’s traditional requirements. This adjusting behaviour would be a good reminder for all children that family is still important. The characters in Beth’s family are interesting. Grandma of course is the formidable head and caretaker who doesn’t shy away from vocalising her feelings. So children might be happy with this book.

The adult in me though is left a little at odds. Here are a few minor points that make me unsure of my feelings:

• The story in the book matches most of the actual cookie war incident except that the company names are fictionalised. But the book claims that Paula Logan didn’t win her case; this was a misrepresentation in my eyes, though it might not make a difference to children.

• The author’s note mentions that author Caroline Stellings communicated with Edna about “the cookie war” and knew that she would write this story someday. Considering that Edna passed away in 2006, this book sure took a long time coming. But somehow, either because of the time lag or because of trying to simplify the story for children’s ears, there is a slight undertone of artificiality throughout the book.

• I wasn’t aware of the Mennonite people. So I did a bit of research on them before I could begin this story. Some of the facts that came up online seem to be contradictory to the content of the book. For instance, the Mennonites in this book are staunchly against electricity. But the internet says that the Amish are the ones who don’t use electricity while the Mennonites do use it (and other forms of technology.) Of course, the story is set in the 1980s and it’s quite possible that their beliefs were different then. (Incidentally, the book doesn’t mention the timeline of the story at all. I realised the time period only because of my search for the real life case.)

• One point in the writing bugged me a lot. Time and again, there is a mention of the word ‘Mennonite”. I understand that this is a story that brings to us the inside view of a different culture. But the story is from Beth’s first person pov, who belongs to that very community. For instance, why would she call her friends “my Mennonite friends”? Wouldn’t they simply be “my friends”? These kind of statements sounded very odd, as if the author wanted to make sure the kid readers remembered whose story they were reading.

• There is a lot of stereotypical portrayal in the content. And this isn’t restricted to the Mennonite people and their beliefs. Paula Logan is as clichéd a lawyer as you can find in fiction. This isn’t an ‘Own Voices’ book, and that seems to have made a big difference to the authenticity. I would love to hear the opinion of a Mennonite on this book.

All in all, this might be an enjoyable book for children but I wouldn’t want their heads to be filled with stereotypes. So if parents/guardians could balance this read with some accurate information, it would be better. The world is full of hackneyed thinking about smaller cultures and I don’t want the future generation to continue in the same vein.

I heard the audiobook narrated by Christine Brubaker and she reads the book wonderfully, though she sounds a bit too old to be narrating from a twelve year old girl’s perspective. Still, this is not a major complaint. She made the book enjoyable with her performance.

I’m still confused about how many stars to allot to this story so I’ll just go to the middle rating with 3 stars. I liked it but I had a lot of issues with it too.

Thank you, Second Story Press and NetGalley, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.



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[MissBecka Gee]

3.5 ⭐ rounded down.
This is a historical fiction middlegrade book.
That's a first for me, but won't be my last in the genre.
It was a really cute way to introduce a little known story, to a wider mass of people.
I felt like some of the characters were a bit over the top (The grandmother especially), but not enough to ruin my experience. I do wish it had more of a backstory; the book felt rushed through most of it.
Thanks to NetGalley & Second Story Press for my DRC.

[Manybooks]

Well, before I actually am going to start my review of Caroline Stellings’ The Great Cookie War, I should probably point out that I was reading a prior to final publication PDF file sent to me by the author and that the author, that Caroline Stellings is also a Goodreads friend.

And yes, I have for the most part very much enjoyed The Great Cookie War and in particular the Kitchener/Waterloo Ontario place setting, with me especially (and as a reader who completed both her MA and her PhD in German literature at the University of Waterloo) absolutely adoring the oh so many KW landmarks encountered and recalling with fond nostalgia my own weekly visits to the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market and my conversations with Old Order Mennonite vendors (but I am unfortunately also remembering how far too often and just like Caroline Stellings describes in The Great Cookie War, woefully ignorant tourists would visit the Farmers’ Market main buildings not so much to purchase produce but more to gawk at the Old Order Mennonites in their traditional garb and to bombard them with relentless, sometimes downright rude and insulting, impertinent questions).

But to tell the truth, as much as I find the setting of place wonderful and delightful in The Great Cookie War, how Caroline Stellings deals with actual time, I do have to consider this sometimes a trifle confusing. Because although I personally am well aware of the fact (and mostly from reading magazine articles and the late Edna Staebler’s journals) that the so-called great cookie war (and in actual reality) happened in the mid 1980s, I do not think that this is sufficiently textually presented, that albeit the storyline of The Great Cookie War certainly says to me the latter part of the 20th century, I for one would really want more time-based specifics which clearly point out the 1980s (as yes and in my opinion, the intended audience, middle grade readers, might easily not be able to fully realise from the rather scant temporal clues given when exactly The Great Cookie War occurs, when it takes place, and I guess that I really do miss a more solid sense of in particular date of year time).

Now with regard to the story itself, yes indeed I have definitely found Caroline Stellings featured narrative, I consider her text for The Great Cookie War both fun and engaging (as well as also quite educational with regard to Old Order Mennonite culture and their religious philosophy), how Old Order Mennonites shun modern conveniences and farm, live and worship without cars, without electricity, without fashion, movies and the like, all depicted by Stellings as for the most part in a positive enough light, but I am also and indeed very much happy that there are equally some textual criticisms meted out, that for example, main protagonist and first person narrator Beth’s extremely rigid in her Old Order Mennonite way grandmother does get her share of author (and by extension) narrator based criticism and that I indeed also appreciate that young Beth wants to be an artist and that this is glowingly positively presented in The Great Cookie War (and that the Old Order Mennonites being rather down on this is definitely seen as something inherently negative and problematic).

And I do really and truly love main protagonist and first person narrator Beth’s voice and how she as a very young teenager feels rather torn between her Old Order Mennonite culture and wanting to also experience modern life, such as movies, art and the like (and while I do find that annoying New York lawyer a bit one-sided and overly exaggerated, well, since she, as that particular New York lawyer was in reality according to the correspondence Caroline Stellings had with Edna Staebler exactly like she is being portrayed in The Great Cookie War, I really can only shake my head and to also feel sorry for Beth and her family for having to put up with this, to have to put up with the lawyer’s attitudes, with her silly questions, with her cluelessness about Old Order Mennonites and their ways and means). But yes, combined with Edna Staebler’s role (from Food That Really Schmecks fame), I have indeed really and massively enjoyed my reading time with The Great Cookie and that even with my issues with Caroline Stellings not having a very strong sense of a specific time frame in her presented text, for me, this is but a very minor issue, and thus, with regard to both my and my inner child’s reading pleasure, indeed, a solid four stars is my rating for The Great Cookie War.

Finally, the only addition to The Great Cookie War that I would personally like to see would be an included recipe for those rigglevake cookies and perhaps even for some of the other traditional Mennonite foods textually mentioned by Caroline Stellings (as they do all sound really delicious).

[Kathie]

I enjoyed the historical fiction perspective of this story, and found it interesting to learn more about Mennonite culture. It does not appear to be an ownvoices story, though, so I will not be reviewing it.

[Becky]

First sentence: At night when darkness fell, and the winter winds swept across the open meadow, the wild things would come to the edge of the clearing. Mama left scraps for them; she said they were searching, always searching. At such an hour, our fieldstone house felt safe, and warm—a refuge, an island of light and love in a cold sea of darkness. And yet, at such an hour, so many things crept into my mind, uninvited thoughts, thoughts I didn’t want to have.

Premise/plot: The Great Cookie War is set in a Canadian Mennonite community in the early 1980s. Beth Betzner, our twelve year old heroine, LONGS to be an artist. But her creative hobby isn't always--often is not--appreciated by her immediate family. There are many skills that help with one's duty within the community--but drawing, sketching, painting aren't seen as super valuable. Even if her family supported her art habit, the family couldn't pay for her art supplies and lessons. But an opportunity presents itself to Beth--and the rest of the family--when a New York lawyer comes to town one winter.

A cookie war is coming. Yes, a COOKIE war. Two big-name companies are getting ready to battle it out in the court system. Does one company's patent on both a crispy/chewy cookie prevent the other company from making its cookie?. The big city lawyer says NO. Chewy/crispy cookies have existed for centuries and can't be patented. The proof may be in this OLD family recipe book in the possession of the Betzner family.

The problem? The family does NOT want to loan out the book to either side. The family does NOT want to appear in court for either side. Money is not the issue. Far from it. But Beth is tempted....especially when out and out offered the chance to fulfill her dream.

Who will win the great cookie war?

My thoughts: I really LOVED this one. There are plenty of Mennonite (and/or Amish) books published for adults--usually romances. There are hardly any children's books starring Mennonites (and/or Amish) characters. This one is a COMING OF AGE book with some ADVENTURE thrown in. Will Beth, our heroine, be courageous when put to the test?

I also LOVED that it is based on a true story.

In a Globe and Mail article from 1985, June Callwood called it “The Great Cookie War.” For cookbook author Edna Staebler and her Old Order Mennonite friends in Waterloo, the whole thing was foolishness! The recipe for rigglevake cookies had, after all, been scribbled in Bevvy Martin’s little black book for decades. Why all the fuss now? When it was published in Edna’s bestselling and world-famous Food That Really Schmecks, no one could have known the brouhaha that one little recipe could create. But it did.
The situation began eleven years after Schmecks had been published. Procter and Gamble (P&G) had put eighteen million dollars into bringing a new cookie to market, one that would be crispy on the outside, but chewy in the middle. They patented their secret recipe in 1979. When rival Nabisco began baking similar cookies, P&G sued for infringement of copyright. And both sides were desperate to get their hands on that little black recipe book. Why? Because it was from that book that Edna Staebler copied the recipe for rigglevake cookies, and rigglevake cookies are crispy and chewy at the same time. And since the recipe was published in Schmecks, Nabisco argued that P&G had no case.
Through it all, Edna Staebler fiercely protected her Mennonite friends and eschewed offers from radio and television stations—she even declined the chance to appear on the Jay Leno show. Caroline Stellings kept up a personal correspondence with the cookbook author, and was so impressed by her charismatic personality, that she always knew that one day, she would write a book about Edna Staebler and her involvement in “The Great Cookie War.”

[Laura]

The Mennonite community is a bit like the Amish in that they eschew modern things, such as electricity and gas. The only things they have to buy are things they can not create for themselves, such as roof tiles.

Beth wants to be an artist, even though art, other than for practical purposes, is not something her community believes in. So, they can make a beautiful quilt, but paintings are frowned upon.

This is all background for a big city lawyer coming to get a family cookie recipe, and dangle the possibility of Beth getting art lessons, as a way for her to turn the recipe over to her.

This is a really quick read, and based on a true incident where two big cookie makers each claimed to have come up with a recipe that had been in the family for generations.

Beth is very relatable, and it is a neat feat to have the point of view be alien to most modern readers, and yet to have her remark on how modern things seem alien.

Most enjoyable book, with a look in on the Mennonite communiy.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[LA]

This middle grade novel is based on a true story that took place in 1985, about two major food corporations fighting over the patent for a certain type of cookie. The cookie in question had been around for a long time within the Old Order Mennonite community in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

The premise of the story sounded interesting and the fact that it took place near where I grew up and spent a lot of summer hours intrigued me. Landmarks like the West Montrose Bridge and the St. Jacobs Marketplace, are still popular tourist sites today as mentioned in the story. It was fun to re-visit these places in a fictional re-telling of an historical event.

I have friends who live in the Mennonite community mentioned and felt that the depiction of the attitudes and reception of strangers within this story portrayed them in a negative light. I’ve never felt unwelcome as an outsider and have had many a pleasant interactions with them – even those who are considerably older (such as Grand-maman Edna in the story). There appears throughout the story to be much animosity toward the New York lawyer, who granted wasn’t kind to them in the beginning, and vice-versa.

The narrative is told from the point of view of twelve year old, Beth. Some comparisons felt off (such as boxing matches, reading Victorian stories with séances, and court room procedures) for someone who had grown up sheltered from violence and from a community that does not enter a courtroom or use the legal system that’s available to all Canadians. As well, the internal struggles that Beth has and the questions she asks herself about her community seem to be far too advanced for her age and outside of what is expected of or taught within the community.

I was optimistic that Canadian spellings (since the story takes place in Canada) would be used rather than American spellings (cheque vs. check; grey vs. gray) - but they weren’t. Though a minor detail for some readers, it really pulled me out of the story.

I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Kristen]

The Great Cookie War was a fascinating story thank you so much #NetGalley and author Caroline Stellings for the opportunity to read and review the book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I didn’t realize until the very end note from the author that this charismatic tale is based on a true story and a real legal battle over the greatest cookie back in 1984 (crispy on the outside and soft and chewy in the middle). Knowing that the story is a true story, takes place in Canada, and is written by a Canadian author makes me like the book even more!

I haven’t had much opportunity to learn about the Mennonite or Amish culture so it was fascinating to hear about it from the perspective of Beth, a young girl who has grown up isolated in a community that still is choosing to live without electricity and modern technology. Beth is a dreamer who is searching for more meaning in her life and I think how she feels would resonate with many young readers. There was lots of character development and a good amount of conflict and surprises, and overall is a really unique, charming book.

The Great Cookie War is geared towards middle year children.

#TheGreatCookieWar #NetGalley

[Val]

Link to my book talk: https://youtu.be/Di5rQrpyJx4

I got to learn about Mennonites through this book. I like baking and this book title and cover appealed to me. I was not disappointed, the story includes great details and adventures.

[Priya]

I enjoyed this MG historical fiction book based on a real story about a fight between two cookie manufacturers over a recipe and the Mennonite family that they both approached to try and win.

Beth is a twelve yo who is respectful of the traditions of her Mennonite family and willing to follow the restrictions it imposes like the ban on technology of any kind etc. The only thing she cannot give up is her drawing and her dream of being an artist one day; something her daunting grandmother is completely against. When the family is approached by a lawyer who is representing a big company and asked for their family recipe for a special cookie, Beth is fascinated by the life the lawyer leads and the artists whose work she has seen. Though her grandmother refuses to get involved, Beth cannot shake off the desire to talk to the lawyer about a subject so close to her and she has to decide between family loyalty and the benefit to her own self.

I liked how Beth was portrayed as a young girl who loves her family but wants more than they think she needs to be happy. I was not aware of the faith she belongs to and its tenets so this was a learning for me too. The family seems happy in their own way and their life is a throwback to simpler times and the way they do things often evoked nostalgia for a tech free world, atleast for a while!
Their self reliance and connection to their fellow humans is something worth emulating.

Overall I enjoyed the story and learnt about the case it was inspired by as well and loved all the baking descriptions too!

[Kasey Giard]

Loved it! Such a sweet story about love, family, cookies, and courage.

[Becky B]

Beth and her family are quite surprised when their friend Edna shows up with a lawyer all the way from New York City interested in a cookie recipe in the family cookbook that’s been passed own for generations. It seems there’s a court case arguing that one company can’t patent a recipe for a certain type of cookie if another company can prove it’s been around long before the patent was filed. Beth’s family are Old Order Mennonites in Waterloo, Ontario. They live a simple life without electricity or other modern technology. It seems surprising that some major law firm would be so interested in a family recipe. Beth is more interested in what pieces of art the lawyer lady has seen in NYC. Beth loves art, but it isn’t a hobby her family really approves of. The lawyer tries to appeal to Beth to help convince her Grand-mama to let them use the family recipe book in the court case and offers art lessons in return. Beth really wants those art lessons, and she sometimes isn’t sure about the way her family lives, but should she hand over the family recipe book?

I was struck by how unique the plot line in this book was, and then I read the end note and found out this is all based on a true story! Edna was a real person who really wrote a cookbook containing recipes from her Mennonite friends, and the court case over the cookie patent and how a law firm sought help from friends of Edna was all true. Beth’s story and her wrestling about where she fits in the world and what she is capable of is the made up part. I was really confused when I started reading this because I have numerous friends who are Mennonites or grew up Mennonite and all of them used electricity and modern technology. I thought at first the author was getting them confused with the Amish, but I did some research and learned that there is a small sect of Mennonites called the Old Order that don’t use electricity or other modern technology. It might be good to talk to kids about how not all Mennonites live like Beth’s family so they aren’t surprised or confused when they meet other Mennonites who live very differently. This is based on a historical event that happened over 40 years ago at this point, but nothing in the book dates the events to that time period. It reads as if it could happen today. If you are looking for a realistic story that is a bit unique, based on a true story, and gives you a look at a unique culture, snatch this one up when it comes out.

Notes on content [based on the ARC]: One use of profanity (by non-Mennonite). No sexual content. There is a road accident that results in some potentially serious injuries but everyone ends up ok.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Barbra]

Beth isn’t always overly thrilled with her traditional Mennonite life, especially when it comes to pursuing her art. She helps around the home, goes to school and dreams about becoming an artist. One day while helping her parents at the local farmer’s market, a New York lawyer shows up asking for their help with a lawsuit involving a family cookie recipe. From that day on Beth’s adventures begin and she proves to everyone she is useful and smart, and she begins to appreciate her heritage.

[Jayce Senter]

Such a fun book. A great look at the Mennonite community. We don't often get a glimpse into communities like this and especially in a middle-grade format.

[Books, Brews & Booze]

This is a sweet middle grade novel that’s charming but could have been longer, in my humble opinion.

The concept is great: 12-year-old Beth lives in a Mennonite community and wants to be an artist, but feels stifled by the limitations her family and culture put on her.

She encounters a new adventure when a lawyer shows up seeking help, regarding a lawsuit and a family cookie recipe.

What I enjoyed:

That not just the younger child learned a valuable lesson… the parents did too. About having faith and trusting one another, and not jumping to conclusions.

Learning about the Mennonite culture, of which I’m not familiar with.

What I wished for:


- More about the Mennonite culture. The book is quite short, but I would have loved to learn more about the culture in more detail.


Everything wrapped up so nicely in a bow, which is comforting, but did seem a little *too* perfect.

Apparently this story is based on a real lawsuit! It would have been cool to read more about that in the afterword.

Overall, a very cute book. A quick read/listen. Solid audio. Love the excitement at the end of the book and the bravery of Beth.

Thank you to Netgalley and Second Story Press, for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook.

[Dayla]

I received a copy from the publisher a LONG time ago.

First of all, I know this book wasn't for me. This is 100% a middle grade novel that isn't exactly accessible to adults (in my opinion) because of how much I had to suspend my disbelief with certain situations.

That being said, this story was a bit choppy. I admit that I went into this without having read the synopsis, but I typically do this with all of the books I read. But I expected...something else? What I got was a preachy book full of choppy writing and questionable characters--like that grandmother. God, she was awful. There's a scene where she is incredibly horrible to the MC and the "apology" is brushed over by telling us it happened rather than showing us. Which honestly sat wrong with me. We get the entire "I'm disappointed, you're horrible" speech, but not the apology that would make the grandmother take ownership of her abuse on the page for a young reader to see (and acknowledge that adults also need to apologize when they're wrong).

The story just didn't feel like something I wanted to invest my time with and to be honest, I don't know if I'd recommend it to the younger readers who come into the store. Simply because of how the MC is treated, or how choppy that writing was.

I can appreciate what this book is supposed to do and represent, but it was truly not something I enjoyed. I've read various MGLit titles before and this is one of the first times where I finished a middle grade book and felt so much ick.

I'm sure this will be great and relatable for a reader out there--definitely younger readers, and I hope they're able to appreciate it in a much better way than me!

Happy reading!

[Emilee (emileereadsbooks)]

Thank you Netgalley and Second Story for the gifted book!

Told from the perspective of a Mennonite twelve-year-old girl, this story is based on a true story from the 1980s about two major food companies battling over the patent for a type of cookie. The main character Beth is a dreamer that imagines more for her life than her family sees as appropriate, and this cookie war may enable her dreams but ruin her family.

I think the ending of this book is a bit rushed, but I still fully enjoyed the story and felt enmeshed in this Mennonite community. Beth is a strong minded girl who also respects and honors her heritage. I think kids can learn a lot about a different culture by reading this one.

Content Warning: Car Accident

[Ryan]

This is an interesting story coming out of Ontario Canada. This story is about a Mennonite girl and her family‘s tradition of baking cookies and snacks from a cookbook they’ve passed down through generations. Two big cookie companies are in the middle of a lawsuit and the big city lawyers want this recipe book to prove that a crunchy and chewy cookie were invented well before the big-name company patented it. What’s most interesting about this story is it’s based on true events that took place in 1986 when Nabisco and another famous cookie company had this actual thing happen. Over all this is a fun and short listen. It’s got a little bit of adventure, and a little bit of heart,.

[Stephanie Cook]

I found this book to be very insightful in regards to the Mennonite community. Personally, I didn't even realize that the Mennonite community existed; I thought it was just the Amish community. In case you don't want to look it up, the Amish are close-knit, don't want to be apart of other populations, tend to live very simply, and strictly follow non-resistance. On the other hand, the Mennonite would rather live as part of other populations, peacemakers, tend to live modernly, and are non-violent.

[Kelci Judas]

What a fun historical fiction middle grade read! I enjoyed this a lot and would definitely recommend this quick read! Plus, the cover is super cute!

[Ella Jacks]

I thought it was a cute pre teen little book.It only has 10 chapters so its a quick read.

[Cris]

This is a historical fiction for middle schoolers on The Cookie Wars that happened in 1980’s. I was given a audiobook to review by NetGalley and Second Story Publisher. I found the story interesting, and if I didn’t know of the story to begin with, I would have never known it was based on true events. Beth is a young Mennonite when her and her families life is rocked by a New York lawyer needing there help with a multi-million dollar case. Beth discovers what’s important, fame or family. Some characters seem a little over dramatic, but maybe that’s really the way they were. I would recommend the book to children.