Young Adult Book Reading Challenges discussion
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The Cupcake Queen
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Kim
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Feb 04, 2013 08:40AM
After her father's betrayal, Hudson turns to making unique cupcakes. Why do you think she turned to cupcakes? Are cupcakes significant in any other way?
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Hudson says that she turned to cupcakes to lose herself and to help her get over what had happened - her father's betrayal of the family and her betrayal of her skate club. But there's no real explanation about why she chose cupcakes. Maybe it was just easy to do because her Mom owns a diner and she had all the materials at hand. She could just as easily have lost herself in something else - knitting, sewing, baking muffins, embroidery, bead work...My guess is that Hudson ended up baking cupcakes because a) the book was written in the middle of a huge cupcake fad, or b) the author is obsessed with cupcakes.
LOL! That is definitely a practical answer. Do you think the story would have had the same sort of feel to it if it was knitting then?
Kim wrote: "LOL! That is definitely a practical answer. Do you think the story would have had the same sort of feel to it if it was knitting then?"After I wrote that, I started to think about the various events in the book and I'm convinced that it just would not work as well with sewing, knitting, or any of the other things I suggested - not even baking muffins would have worked as well.
Hudson's cupcakes saved the diner on one occasion earning Hudson the name "Cupcake Queen". And...(view spoiler) But, both of those could have been achieved with muffins or some other easily portable food item. What makes cupcakes essential to this book are the chapter headings. I don't believe any other food lends itself as well to all the variations we find in those imaginary cupcake designs.
Grace wrote: "Kim wrote: "What makes cupcakes essential to this book are the chapter headings. I don't believe any other food lends itself as well to all the variations we find in those imaginary cupcake designs...."Did you like that element? Some have stated that they want recipes.
What I really liked about the cupcake element is that it was one of the ways that Hudson used to connect with her brother. Most of the time, Hudson is acting like a second mother to Bug, but when it comes to cupcakes it seems more like a pact between siblings. She may use her Cupcake Queen persona to hide from the rest of the world, but it also strengthens her relationship with her brother, especially when they were first facing their parent's break up.
Kim wrote: "Did you like that element? Some have stated that they want recipes. "Yes, I like that element. It seems to me that the chapter headings ARE the recipe. You start with a basic cupcake - find the recipe for those anywhere - then play around with the icing, different forms of chocolate, sparkles, and cut, flip, or mangle the cupcake in some way to express your feelings/thoughts.
After all, Hudson transformed 210 basic vanilla cupcakes into something amazing (according to the book) simply by adding icing to them.
Grace wrote: "After all, Hudson transformed 210 basic vanilla cupcakes into something amazing (according to the book) simply by adding icing to them ..."I chalked that up to the power of suggestion. But, you give me hope that I too can be a "Cupcake Queen" ;)
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Angie wrote: "This book has inspired me to visit my local cupcake shop! When I am done with the book I will post some pictures!"Yummy! I have to say that I've been disappointed with cupcake shops in the past. Cupcakes always sound better than they actually taste to me.
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I think the cupcakes were really a fun part of the story. It reminds me a little of the movie Chocolat (with Johny Depp). Amazing movie if you haven't seen it. I understand Hudson getting away from real life while doing this. For me it's being out in nature doing yard work. I just love it. I could be outside for hours and hours in the warmer weather.
I do think that the cupcakes make her closer with her brother. I don't think it makes her closer to her mom though. Her mom just sees it as a money maker. I thought it was TERRIBLE that she pawned off those store bought cupcakes as her own for that birthday party. How sad that that girl thought she was getting some amazing cupcakes and that Hudson allowed them to pay the same price for them.
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Yes, I like that element. It seems to me that the chapter headings ARE the recipe. You start with a basic cupcake ..."
You are right about the cupcake recipes easily found online! Good point!
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Angie wrote: "Anyone else planning on stopping by their local cupcake shop???? Post pictures if you do!"My daughter-in-law is planning to open a bake shop of some kind in the next few years. Cupcakes are her specialty but I don't know if she will open a cupcake shop.
Her birthday is coming up so I gave her Bittersweet and I'm hoping she'll be inspired by the chapter headings and will attempt to replicate some of those cupcake designs.
Grace wrote: "Angie wrote: "Anyone else planning on stopping by their local cupcake shop???? Post pictures if you do!"My daughter-in-law is planning to open a bake shop of some kind in the next few years. Cupc..."
That's such an adorable idea!! :)
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My daughter-in-law is planning to open a bake shop of some kind in the next few years. Cupc..."
How fun!!! I thought today when I was in the shop that it would be a fun job. This shop is right across the street from the high school so all the teens were stopping in for a cup cake too! Probably helps them stay in business.
Angie wrote: "Ok... so I made it to my local cupcake shop today!!! Here are some pictures! "
They look fabulous. How did they taste?
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How fun!!
That's fabulous. Our Summer Reading Program theme this year is "Reading is so delicious". This totally fits into it. Thanks for sharing!
Angie wrote: "I do think that the cupcakes make her closer with her brother. I don't think it makes her closer to her mom though. Her mom just sees it as a money maker... "I know Hudson's mom overworked her a lot when things got stressful, but at the beginning of the book Hudson always mentions how proud her mom is of her cupcakes. She brags about them to everyone, not because she wants to sell them, but because her daughter made them. I think at some point she had mentioned that her mother thought of the cupcakes as her grandchildren, she was so proud. So I do think it brought them together on the level that ice skating no longer could.
Also, at the author's bio at the back of the book, it says Sarah Ockler is a "chamption cupcake eater!" Maybe we know now why she chose cupcakes. :) I loved the cupcake descriptions at the beginning. I thought they were adorable! And yes, I definitely need to stop by my local cupcake shop now!
Jennika wrote: "So I do think it brought them together on the level that ice skating no longer could...."I think the cupcakes are actually something unique to the new family dynamics once Hudson's father left. It's clear that ice skating was really only something that the family with her father shared as her mother never really cared about it, so it's nice that they have something else that's truly there's without the father.
Kim wrote: I think the cupcakes are actually something unique to the new family dynamics once Hudson'..."This is true. I should have worded my sentence differently! I should have said it brought them together on a level that ice skating never did. That's my fault. :)
