Twelve-year-old Wilma Sue discovers the ultimate comfort
food in Joyce Magnin’s CAKE (Zonderkidz), a sweet
tale complete with icing, surprises, love, and just the right amount of nuts.
Mary Poppins meets Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle in this new story
by the celebrated author of Carrying Mason. Wilma Sue seems destined to hop
from one foster home to the next-until she is sent to live with sisters and
retired missionaries, Ruth and Naomi. But do they really care about Wilma Sue,
or are they just looking for a Cinderella-style farmhand to help raise their
chickens and bake cakes?
As Wilma Sue adjusts to her new surroundings and to
helping Naomi deliver “special” cakes to the neighbors, she discovers
something strange that happens to people who eat the cakes. Did Mrs.
Snipplesmith’s chair really rise off the floor? Was that a gold fish in the
lemonade?
Wilma Sue starts looking for answers and secret
ingredients in these mysterious cakes. While doing so, she makes a new friend,
Penny, and discovers what it feels like to be truly loved.
But when Penny and her mother hit a rough patch, Wilma
Sue decides to try her own hand at baking a special cake-with disastrous
results. Then tragedy strikes the chickens, and all fingers point to Wilma Sue
– just when she was starting to believe she had finally found a permanent home
with Ruth and Naomi.
Magnin takes Wilma Sue and readers on a journey to find
faith in themselves and those around them. Fans will learn, along with Wilma
Sue, that it’s not yummy desserts and magic that cures, but two very special
ingredients: love and hope.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Joyce Magnin is the author of five novels; including the
popular Bright’s Pond series and the 2011 middle grade novel Carrying Mason.
She is also a frequent speaker and writing instructor. Magnin lives with her
son in Havertown, Pennsylvania.