Katie and the Cupcake Cure

Cupcake Diaries #1

by Coco Simon

This first book in The Cupcake Diaries is told through the perspective of Katie Brown.

We find Katie miserable on the first day of middle school. Her best friend Callie came back from camp boy-crazy and part of a whole new group of friends. When it's made clear that Callie is in the PGC (Popular Girls Club) and Katie is not invited to join, Katie suddenly feels incredibly alone. Katie realizes if she's going to survive middle school she needs to seriously regroup and find some new friends.

But how? She bites into the cupcake her mother packed her for lunch and for a second closes her eyes. The sweet treat makes her happy--finally something goes right! Looking around her table, Katie notices the other students seeming a bit lost, as well. Which gives her an idea . . .

With three new friends Katie forms a club as a way to spread the cupcake love and earn some cupcake cash.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, Friendship, Contemporary, Chapter Books

160 pages, Paperback

Published May 3, 2011

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

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed this book much more than I was expecting- it was a lot like a cupcake itself... sweet, pretty, and maybe a little void of nutrition. :) The messages I liked in the book: entering middle school, she is not boy crazy and there's no romance to the book; dealt with some "teen angst"-y issues, like your friend deciding she likes other friends instead, with a light and positive tone; her relationship with her mom was solid; the main character is a nice strong girl who isn't wrapped up in appearances; and mostly I loved the bonding over cupcakes! Now, I really want to go home and make some cupcakes with my munchkins to have those warm, fuzzy feelings in the kitchen :)

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book even though this was clearly written for younger kids. I think that Katie's new friends are way better than her old one. Anybody who wants to ditch you so they can hang out with "cool" kids is not worth your time. Plus I really liked how her new friends were completely okay with who they were. I just wish more people would have that attitude.

[ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to like these when I was younger and now reading them I can definitely tell they're intended for kids who are not in middle school - a lot of telling-not-showing and the usual middle school cliches.

[e.c.h.a · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sesuai dengan judulnya, buku ini telah menjadi "obat" dengan caranya sendiri;
- Obat dalam mengatasi kebosanan menanti pesawat menuju Denpasar.
- Obat yang mempercepat waktu dalam perjalanan.
- Obat dikala stres.
- Obat dikala lapar.

Kisah remaja yang sebenarnya dialami oleh banyak remaja di dunia. Perasaan "nervous" kala menginjak dunia remaja, beradaptasi dengan lingkungan baru.

Persahabatan antara Katie, Mia, Emma dan Alexis bermula di saat makan siang dan di awali oleh sebuah "cupcake". Dengan latar belakang berbeda, mereka pun saling mengisi. Saya suka dengan penuturan kalimat dari Penulisnya. Bergaya sangat remaja tetapi tidak berlebihan. Dengan konflik-konflik khas remaja yang dikemas apik. Siapa bilang remaja selalu labil? Buktinya empat sahabat ini bisa membuktikan bahwa dunia remaja pun bisa dilewati dengan positif.

Saya tidak sabar untuk membaca seri berikutnya dari "The Cupcake Diaries" ini, ingin mengenal lebih jauh dengan Mia, Emma serta Alexis. Buku ini memang pantas masuk sebagai buku favorit saya, buku teenlit yang tidak hanya sekedar "teen" tetap dari buku ini saya belajar banyak, salah satunya membuat cupcake hahahaha. Jadi siapa yang mau mencoba cupcake buatan saya?

[Alondra]

This book was about how 4 girls start a cupcake business at a bake sale.First they do it beacuse they volunteer.Then they realize that they actually like it and make a buisness.They make a buisness and they start off to a bad start they don't know how to make them and dont have ingridents.So they asked mom for money and went to buy the stuff at the store and then they sucesed beacuse mom helped out alot.I learned that don't give up and try hard.I would recomened this book to my friends and everyone else beacuse it is a good book and funny sometimes cause they don't know how to make the cupcakes.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and the kids loved it. I like the way the author handles bullying in general and the "mean girl" trope in particular. Nothing over the top, but her message is clear that everyday slights, passive-aggression, and belittling that often fly under adults' radars (especially at school) is not okay.

[Ella Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie and Callie have been friends as long as they each can remember. At the start of middle school, Callie has made new friends over summer break, but forgets to tell Katie. Katie discovers she’s been dumped by Callie on the first day of school. This makes Katie sad and she’s forced to make new friends. She meets three new friends and they discover their love for cupcakes. They decide to start a cupcake club.

This book held my attention because there were many challenges and the characters were funny.

[cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

my rereading continues

[chasc.taylor_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute graphic novel with good messaging for middle grade kiddos. I read this in one sitting. I’ll definitely continue with the series 🧁🫶🏾

[Athena Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is not what I expected it to be but it was really good and I love it so I rate it 10-10

[Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this with my 11 yr old daughter. It has great lessons in friendship, growing up and dealing with change. Also, we started craving cupcakes!

[talia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished reading this with my 11 year old cousin, Mari. It's a cute story about a girl named Katie who (predictably) loses her friend Callie in the transition to middle school and copes by making cupcakes!

While the narrative of a tough entrance to middle school is oh so common, Simon plays with and mocks some of the tropes. For example, the obnoxious clique members actually call themselves the "Popular Girls Club." Katie and the Cupcake Cure is a sweet, accessible, not particularly nuanced but still funny middle-grade story.

[Cadee · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I liked the book because I like cupcakes and dancing and I like competitions. I like the part in the book when the cupcake clubqon the contest with four hundred dollars. I liked the part when Katie wore a really PURPLE dress and it was so pretty. Katie's name is Cadee just like mine but spelled different." -Cadee, age 8.5

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katie never spent any of her summer vacation worrying about the start of middle school, so she is more surprised than anyone when her best friend, Callie, ditches her on the first day to join The Popular Girls Club (PGC). Katie is really upset, but she channels her sadness into baking cupcakes, a pastime she and her mom have shared over the years. Eventually, her cupcakes lead her to a group of new friends - Mia, Alexis, and Emma - who join with her to form a cupcake club and business.

Though this book is set in middle school, it’s actually written to appeal to a younger audience. Girls in grades 3 to 5 who enjoy the Baby-sitters Club, How I Survived Middle School and similar series are the most likely candidates to read this one, and their parents will be pleased to have them do it. Not only does the story portray involved moms who are strongly attuned to their daughters’ social lives, but the girls themselves have wholesome interests, positive attitudes, and strong work ethics. They’re not caught up in fashion, cliqueishness or (at least in this volume) boys. They maintain a sense of innocence and focus on the good they can do instead of how to exact revenge on their popular enemies.

The writing in this book is similar to that in other paperback series - mostly generic, with no real frills - but that isn’t necessarily a problem. Everybody needs a little fluff now and then, and younger tweens looking to ease into their summer reading will - excuse the pun - eat these up. Only two things might cause confusion. One is that the series is not written in diary format, even thought it’s called Cupcake Diaries. The other is that there is another series available now that is called The Cupcake Club, but which is not related to this series. It seems that no matter which one I’m searching for on Barnes and Noble’s website, I get the other one, so it’s a good idea to keep track of the authors if you’re looking for these in the bookstore or library.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute. Katie, whose interests are baking and certainly NOT fashion, boys or teen magazines, is a bit anxious about starting Middle School where she and her elementary school friends will be mergeing with other schools and thus not all in the same classes any longer. Katie is also wondering why her best friend Callie seems to be ignoring her. It's all about the typical preteen anxieties associated with a new school, making new friends, and finding her place in it all. For Katie, that's baking cupcakes and forming The Cupcake Club with her new group of friends.

I accidentally ended up reading book 2 in this series before this, the first in the series. They certainly can be read out of order even though each appears to be written on the heels of the one before, just a different central character. For whatever reason, this one seemed to have less substance but I really think that's just the novelty having worn off and I'm many decades older than the target reader!

I'd still recommend to a preteen. I really loved the clever way the author incorporated 'recipes' into the story, and of course there is a simple cupcake recipe included - pineapple upside down cupcakes and they sound delicious.

[Book Concierge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Digital audiobook narrated by Jesse Vilinsky


This is the first in the Cupcake Diaries series for middle-school children. Katie Brown is entering middle-school, and she’s understandably nervous. She’ll have to learn the layout of a new and bigger building, and instead of staying in one classroom all day, she’ll be moving from classroom to lab to gym. And it seems her best friend, Callie, is no longer her best friend. Callie’s been invited to sit at the Popular Girls table and Katie is definitely NOT invited to join the group.

This is a delightful read that deals with some of the harsh realities of growing up. Katie does find new friends: Emma, Alexis and Mia, and they form The Cupcake Club, pouring their energies into baking.

I can certainly see the popularity of the series. The situations are relatable for most kids, and Simon gives each of these girls a unique talent to bring to the mix. She shows them working well together and supporting one another. And she includes a delicious cupcake recipe, because who doesn’t love a cupcake?

Jesse Vilinsky does a fine job narrating the audiobook. She set a good pace and was believable as a young girl or as a teacher.

[Ayathma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the cupcake diaries series. Katie miserable on the first day of middle school. Her best friend Callie came back from camp boy-crazy and part of a whole new group of friends. When it's made clear that Callie is in the PGC (Popular Girls Club) and Katie is not invited to join, Katie suddenly feels incredibly alone.
he bites into the cupcake her mother packed her for lunch and for a second closes her eyes. The sweet treat makes her happy.
Which gives her an idea…With three new friends Katie forms a club as a way to spread the cupcake love and earn some cupcake cash!
THE CUPCAKE CLUB!!!!!

[Bethany Ergican]

A great middle grade story. Katie’s former best friend befriends some new girls at summer camp who turn out to be mean girls and form an exclusive “Popular Girls Club.” Katie deals with it all so well, forming new friendships and starting her own “Cupcake Club.” The cupcakes sounded so yummy - we need to bake some now 😋 I loved their challenge of baking 200 cupcakes for a school fundraiser. They had great problem solving skills and teamwork, and they ended up with a little business in the end. This book was really fantastic for young girls with all the topics it managed to tackle in a fun way.

[Heather Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely series for middle school readers. Baking and eating cupcakes is the background that brings together the various books.

As Katie begins at middle school, she is abandoned/snubbed by her lifelong friend . She is left with the challenge of making new friends. She comes up wit the idea of bringing cupcakes to school to share. The new friends begin to refer to themselves as the Cupcake Club.

Author Coco Simon (aka Tracy West) insightfully deals with issues that are common to middle school students. Cupcake Diaries is suitable for students reading about their age level

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty nice series. There sure are a lot!

[Sanjana Krishendath · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite book definitely recommend it for other children for their childhood

[Leia Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The girls picked this as a read aloud. Cute, predictable, and a little more complex than I expected.

[TayTay:0 · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5)

[Abigail Granados · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it so much so much drama loved it people need to read this book it's so good

[Mimi Karnasuta · Rating 5 out of 5]

for my children’s lit class, i had to write a paper on a book that resonated with me as a child. i wanted to flip through this just to remind myself of what happened but ended up reading the whole thing in one sitting. it’s so good. it’s always been good. 5 stars.

[Sarah Gamal · Rating 4 out of 5]

second french book finished yippie

[K. Monique Chaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best....Book...EVER. I like how their is a recipe on the back

[Amie Floersheim]

This book is told through the perspective of Katie Brown, the main character. Katie has a lot ups and downs through middle school, especially one her first day. It all starts when her best friend through life, Callie, makes new friends with the PGC (Popular Girls Club) group and totally dumps Katie. But she claims to be still the best friend of Katie. Then it gets better, she goes to lunch and starts a friendship with three new best friends, Mia, Emma, and Alexis. They make their own club called the Cupcake Club and grow within their friendship, "business", and life. Katie may have some struggles though life, but she has always got her cupcake cure and her amazing friends.

This book is considered contemporary realistic fiction because even though the characters are fiction, it is based on modern problems and situations that children my face today.
Classroom integration:
this book can be used because it talks about friendship and ups and downs in relationships and is very relatable for students (especially girls)

[Kogiopsis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book I picked up in hopes of using it at work - alas, it's one grade level above what works best for our program, so it is not to be. That said, I sat down to read it anyway, because what the heck... and it turned out to be a pretty cute way to pass a day's breaks.

Now, this book isn't really pushing boundaries, but there's a kind of innocent pleasantness to it that I really liked. Supportive friendships formed through baking, openness about differences in social class and family structure, and the hint that the four 'mean girls' will mature and come around over the course of the series.

Scholastic Book Wizard places this book at around a third grade reading level, and third-fifth grades are probably most appropriate for it. It's a book about starting middle school that takes a pleasantly upbeat, encouraging angle on it, and I'm sure it'd be great for the fifth grader on the cusp of a big change who needs just a bit of reassurance (and a recipe to try!).

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright, I'll admit that I am a bit...or a lot...older than the intended audience of not only this book but the entire series. My niece, however, is in the lower age of the suggested readers and I wanted to see if this book had the potential for her. I wasn't expecting to necessarily enjoy the book in the sense of being invested but after starting the book, I found myself wanting to continue and see what happened not only to Katie but the others in the book. The plot touches on something I think many can associate with; starting middle school and dealing with the changes that come with aging - and making/keeping friends. While I don't think the book would be bad for my 9 year old niece, I think the subject matter isn't quite where she's at yet. I would recommend this book to those either getting ready to or have already gone through the change of elementary school to middle school. Now ... I must go buy the second book in the series and see how it continues.