Katie and the Cupcake Cure: The Graphic Novel

Cupcake Diaries Graphic Novels #1

by Coco Simon, Glass House Graphics (Illustrator)

The bestselling Cupcake Diaries series is now available in graphic novel format! In this adaptation of the first book, after her best friend moves on, Katie finds a new group of friends and they form the Cupcake Club.

Katie is miserable when her best friend is invited to join the Popular Girls Club and Katie is left out. Is there an Unpopular Girls Club she can join? Luckily, Katie finds her way with a great new group of friends—Mia, Emma, and Alexis—and together they become the Cupcake Club. Sometimes starting from scratch turns out to be the icing on the cupcake.

Fun, bright, full-color graphic panels tell the story with the same humor and heart as the original novel.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Food, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Juvenile, Childrens

160 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 13, 2022

About the author

Coco Simon always dreamed of opening a cupcake bakery, but she’s afraid she would eat all the profits. When she’s not daydreaming about cupcakes, Coco edits children’s books and has written close to 100 books for children, tweens, and young adults, which is a lot less than the number of cupcakes she’s eaten. Cupcake Diaries is the first time Coco has mixed her love of cupcakes with writing.

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never been interested in reading the actual chapter books, but I must say that the graphic novels are actually pretty good! I can't wait to pick up the next few volumes and catch up with series.

[Fatma Al Zahraa Yehia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sweet colorful version of the famous series "The Cupcake Diaries". The story addresses friendship concerns in the preteen phase, as well as how children can deal with breaking up with long-term friends and forming new friendship.

I loved the mix of the tasty cupcake recipes with the simple beautiful portrayal of the transition between two phases (elementary and middle school), and how kids can deal with bullying and peer pressure.

[Kristen Kuntze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute graphic novel! The only thing I wish was different was the character Callie. It follows the trope of not wearing glasses makes you the popular girl. My niece, who wears glasses, has seen movies where this is portrayed and she asked why is it bad to wear glasses. Obviously fine Callie wants to wear contacts but wish it wasn’t tied to her wanting to be in the popular group.

[Genres and Journals *Tia* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute but not necessarily memorable. It was the type of graphic novel that I think tween girls will enjoy but that adults won’t find any value in…if that makes any sense…aka slice of life everyday middle school story with no mega emotional themes or epic moral lessons.

[Leila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this book! I started reading it and I was intrigued from the beginning! When I read the chapter books, I wasn’t very interested and they were sort of boring, which is surprising because usually I love the chapter book and not so much the graphic novel!

They did a great job expressing the original storyline but keeping everyone reading! I love the Cupcake club and how they communicate with each other, I also love their teamwork when making cupcakes and selling them.

One thing though…don’t like Callie 😅…srry!

[Heaven Adore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating - 4.5 stars

Okay, this was one of the cutest books I've ever read! The bright colors and designs were just too adorable. It was much like reading a comic book! I will say that I'm disappointed in the fact that some scenes were taken out or changed from the original book (hence, I didn't give it a 5-star rating), but the prime parts of the story stayed the same. I am totally going to read this again!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter loved this book and can’t wait for the next one in the series to come out!

[Mandi with Red Quill Editorial · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this as a 3-books-in-1 combo from Costco for my oldest daughter for Christmas. She read them all during Christmas break and asked me to read them too because she loved them so much. The graphics are adorable and depict cute stories about middle school girls with relatable life struggles and experiences (single parents, working parents, blended families, plus all the usual middle school drama and the dynamic of shifting friendships). These girls unite in a new friendship group to form the Cupcake Club where they make cupcakes for special events, turning into a small business. Each of the three books we read focuses on a different girl from the group, highlighting her perspective and experience, but they all shared the uniting theme of friendship conquering all. My 9-year-old daughter felt the topics were incredibly relatable and deep with a realistic but happy ending for each book.

[Kortney Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this while at the library with some kids in my family. Cute coming of age middle school struggle kinda graphic novel.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

surprisingly really good probably my second favourite graphic novel. How they win the fund-raiser is my favourite part

[Scarlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it would be a lot more kiddish than it was. It was actually a really good uplifting read😊

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Oh my goodness, that was so cute! I never read the original series, but I was drawn to the adorable cover and art style so I picked it up. The story was very relatable, and I liked how each of the parents were very active and involved in their kids’ lives. Too often in ya or middle grade, the parents aren’t around at all. Katie was very close to her mother and it was so sweet. This was so cute that I have already put the next 3 releases on my TBR — can’t wait! It reminded me of the BSC but with cupcakes. And the art style was great.

[Cadee · Rating 5 out of 5]

"One of my favorite books and now it's a comic book type book. I love that! It was fun to see the cartoon people that I imagined in my head making cupcakes. Hope they keep remaking the rest of the series." -Cadee, age 10

[Asiya Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a really good book

[Julie Akeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute book, enjoyable series.

[Miriam Dobrinska]

It was okay, the cupcake diary books are not my go-to book ideas.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweetness cures so many ills in this fun tale about friendship, determination, and...for all things...cupcakes.

Katie has no clue what's going on with her best friend, but ever since she returned from her summer camp right before the first day of middle school, she's been giving Katie the cold shoulder. Instead, the girl has joined the 'mean' girls to form a Popular Girls Club. They make it more than clear that Katie does not belong. But soon, Katie meets several new girls, and the four of them decide to start their own club, the Cupcake Club. What starts out as a cupcake every Friday soon turns into much, much more.

This is a graphic novel for the lower end of the middle grade audience and swirls around everyday school life and friendship's ups and downs. Katie is a nice girl, who simply hasn't turned her interests to boys and fashion like some of those around her. The situation is one that many readers will relate with, especially when Katie's troubles concerning her once best friend arise. There is some bullying and taunting, which readers will also recognize and sympathize with. Even the forming of new friendships is nothing new and soon overshadows the more negative sides.

The graphics are done with a bubbly sweetness, which gives them a cuter atmosphere than those for older readers. They fit the friendship and cupcake atmosphere wonderfully. Each scene does a nice job at letting the story flow, balancing out well with the text. It's easy to read, draws in, and comes across very naturally.

It's a wonderful read about girls, friendship, and middle school and is sure to delight graphic novel fans. I received a DC and enjoyed getting to know this fun group of friends.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katie is excited for middle school because what could possible go wrong? As long as she has her best friend, Callie, by her side, she has nothing to fear. When the first day of school rolls around, however, Callie is walking to school with a group of other girls, and completely dumps Katie. Even though Katie isn't invited into the PGC, Popular Girls' Club, as Callie is, she still manages to make new friends with Mia, Emma, and Alexis. Katie loves her new friends and they even decide to start a Cupcake Club. They join hands and all their baking talent to try to make the most money for the school's fundraiser event. Will they be able to pull off making and selling over 200 cupcakes?

The art in this graphic novel is a definite win. The cover alone will draw many of our students to pick this one up. I especially liked the storyline, the friendships (both good and bad) in this book, and the example of how one friend can stand up for another and be there for one another as well. The reality of how friendships sometimes do change as a child moves from elementary to middle school was addressed well.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the top reviews of the source material of this book says "it was a lot like a cupcake itself... sweet, pretty, and maybe a little void of nutrition." And that was exactly how I felt about the first Cupcake Diaries graphic novel. It was very cute and fluffy, and I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to! The artwork was fun, cartoony and easy to follow, with vibrant colours. The story was simple but relatable, and I can see middle-grade kids really enjoying it. It kind of made me think how adults must have felt about my Baby-sitters Club books when I was young. But even though I am (ahem) slightly older than the target demographic, I enjoyed this one so much that I have put the second one on hold at the library!

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katie is having a rough transition to middle school. Her best friend went to camp over the summer, and ever since they haven't talked much and then Callie ignores her at school. Thankfully, Katie makes some new friends who she shares a lunch table with, and who get really excited about the cupcakes Katie brings. As a school fundraising opportunity/competition comes up, the girls decide to try their hand at doing a cupcake stand. But can they make enough in time, and will they be any good?

A relatable story about changing friendships in middle school and bonding with new friends over common interests. It was fun to see the girls baking together, and Katie growing as a person over the course of the book. The illustration style is a sure winner with the middle grade crowd, and I think this will be even more popular than the original text only series. Hand this to the contemporary graphic novel fans and the foodies.

No content issues.

[Sarahs Reads ToKids · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a really good story about how friendships can change as friends grow up. This story follows Katie starting middle school and losing her life-long, family friend Callie. Callie went to camp over the summer and didn't keep in touch with Katie while she was gone. Now that Callie is back from camp and they are getting ready to start middle school, Callie hasn't reached out or made time for Katie. And Katie keeps holding out hope that they are still friends and will get through this hurdle in their friendship.

But things change. People change and life goes on. Katie ends up making new friends but can she still keep her old friend, Callie?

The best audience for this story would probably be readers entering an intermediate, middle, or junior high school. But I think any level of middle grade reader would enjoy this story about friendship.

Also younger fans of Kayla Miller's Click series might also enjoy this story too.

[A Hopeless Romantic's Booklandia · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I saw the “Cupcake Diaries” title for this series, I immediately wanted go read it since I love cupcakes and reading books with baking. I didn’t realize that Katie and the Cupcake Cure was a middle grade graphic novel and I did briefly wonder if I was too old to read it, but then I just thought, “Oh, well.” and continued on anyway. It turned out to be a great decision because while I might be 31, I could definitely still relate to Katie with her friend and middle school trouble. Coco Simon definitely did a fantastic job of capturing what middle school can feel like both the highs and the lows. I really loved watching Katie and her group of friends strengthen their bond and grow their confidence. It was wonderful and while it’ll tug on your heartstrings, I also think Katie and The Cupcake Cure is mostly an awesome feel good story that most anyone could enjoy. I really loved it and I would love to continue on with the series too!

~ Sonja, 5 Stars

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I preread this for my daughter and I enjoyed it. However, this book follows Katie in her first year in middle school and it doesn't shy away from the rough parts of middle school- bullying, cliques, etc. so I don't think I'll have her read it yet (shes 6) . Anyway, Katie gets to middle school and her best friend has ditched her for the "popular girls club". She makes friends with 3 other girls and they eat lunch together and discover a love for cupcakes. Katie and her mom bake a lot so they start Cupcake Fridays. The girls all try their hand at baking and then when the school does a fundraiser, they make a ton of cupcakes. Having a rough go in middle school? Try the "cupcake cure"!

[Heaven Adore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating - 4.5 (still)

Yes, I actually re-read a book. Since I've been craving nostalgia recently, I was missing my MLP FiM comic book that I threw away in 2019, so I figured I'd read this. It's just absolutely adorable! When I read it the first time, I had wondered if I had read it so fast that I missed scenes. Why? Because there were scenes from the original book that were left out, and it's true because I noticed that they still weren't there. Honestly, that did make certain parts seem out of order and a little confusing if you didn't read the original series. Overall, though, this is such a fun, quick Middle Grade read for when you feel like reading something light-hearted.

[Sakura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize they had come out with graphic novels for these!! I adored the chapter books as a younger girl- although I've forgotten them almost completely by now, haha. So, I was reading this, as if it was a brand new story!! It's decent- cute, and has a good message, plus LOTS of cupcakes- but I did find the art a bit underwhelming. It looks nice, but un-dynamic... I feel like they could do a little more with posing the characters. Regardless, that doesn't stop it from being a good read for kids, I would recommend!

(This book contains bullying. I would give it an age rating of All-Ages!)

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel is very cute! The graphics are colorful and the story is very relatable regarding middle school friendship and mean girl drama. I like that Katie still wants to be friends with her old bestie Callie even when she gets sucked up into the popular clique. Katie’s new circle of friends is great! I enjoyed how they bonded over cupcakes and worked together on their fundraising booth. My nearly 5yo daughter rated this book 5 stars. A bit predictable and sort of generic, but still, I thought it was a solid read.

[Diana Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle grades graphic novel, skewing on the younger side. It's nice the girls have some autonomy and the middle school setting sets that up nicely. Now, we just need the parents to back off a little. (Like an adult must preheat the oven for them, put the cupcakes in/out of the oven)

Love the full color art, very nicely and consistently done. Diverse representation in characters, teachers, family dynamics, etc.

I had recently read #2 in this series, so I knew where the story was heading, but still enjoyed the journey!

[Mrs.MakesReadingFun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoping this will be a new favourite in our school library.
Great for younger readers- grade 3-6.
Bright, vivid illustrations with expressive characters.
Friendship drama and struggles, without being too upsetting to read about (sometimes kids just need a break from the "real drama" they're facing!).

The new friends Katie meets in middle school are all lovely, and have unique personalities. I like how the girls stand up for each other and how they work through their problems. Their new cupcake club is so fun, and I loved the fundraiser at the end!

We already bought books 2 & 3

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s Katie’s first day at middle school and her best friend decided to ditch her for the new crowd of popular and mean girls. Needless to say, it was a rough first day for Katie. But the only thing that brightened her day was a cupcake from her mom. It was the cupcake cure. This leads to a series of more cupcakes for her new friends. And that turns into the Cupcake Club.

Filled with cute and colorful illustrations, story shows the trials of middle school, new friendships, and the delicious cupcakes that are made.

A good read!

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read the original paragraph books, but I assume this is a good adaptation/update. A cute (if sanitised, from what I remember of school) story about getting over cliques and bullying through the power of persistent kindness. Also, cupcakes! Wish I could fix everything with cupcakes these days, but my diet says otherwise... :(

Great art and story! Would recommend to anyone in school with friend/frenemy troubles.