A review by marylannireads
A Recipe for Trouble by Sarah Todd Taylor

adventurous hopeful informative inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 

Thirteen-year-old Alice Eclair is an accomplished pastry chef by day, working in her mother’s shop and creating delectable creations for Paris’ elite in the mid-1930s. Secretly, Alice is also a spy, working to solve clues and riddles that take her all around Paris. When her most complicated mission to date brings her face-to-face with the mysterious entity who has been leaving the clues, Alice is surprised to discover it is her beloved uncle, who was believed to have been dead for the past two years. Another mission is laid before Alice, and she must determine whether she has what it takes to retrieve the required documents before they can fall into the wrong hands. This fast-paced middle grade novel embraces the potential that can come from having a thirteen-year-old with enough tenacity to be an accomplished spy as well as the ability to diligently avoid the notice of adults in her environment. Alice is precocious, smart, and resourceful, knowing exactly what she wants and how to achieve her desires when people least expect her to do so. Red herrings are sprinkled throughout the novel, keeping readers engaged with each new development in the plot. French vocabulary and locations are abundant within the narrative, as well, immersing readers in Alice’s natural environment. The first in its series, this book is primed for subsequent stories, and readers will eagerly await the next installment. This book is best suited to confident middle grade readers who relish a touch of mystery and intrigue in the books they choose.