A Baker's Guide to Robber Pie

Twelve-year-old Evie Baker, whom cover art depicts with light brown skin, is a natural-born storyteller dreaming of real-life adventure beyond her bland-feeling town. Trading in dull school lectures about monstrous creatures for the thrill of finding one, she seeks to catch a Fel--a large, magical crow-like being that would "give you their magic if you made a deal with them"--using one of her family's famous raspberry tarts as bait. But Evie gets more than she bargained for when a band of elusive thieves and the infamous Robber Lord show up at the same time the Fel does. Through a sort of witness protection program, Evie is whisked away from her parents and best friend to the royal city of Reinstadt. But Evie is determined to find the truth and get back home, and with only presumed-white message runner Max and white-haired, dark-skinned maid Gisa as allies, she must navigate secret identities, deep-rooted prejudices, and hidden villainy. Overstuffed passages sometimes slow this middle grade debut, but Sangster (She Who Rides the Storm) writes in a jaunty, irreverent third-person voice that befits the book's clever and principled protagonist. Ages 9-12. Agent: Ben Grange, L. Perkins. (Feb.)

Gr 5-8--Evie Baker loves to tell stories; tales of pirates, magic, and trickster crows. On Saint Hart's Day, Evie and her best friend, Cece, have a plan to venture into the forest to steal their own magic from the legendary Fel. However, as they set out on their grand adventure, a group of robbers derails their plan and Evie and Cece are whisked away to safety by the Queen's guard. Evie is transported to the capital to stay with a family friend. As a daughter of bakers, Evie takes on the role of baker to the noble Hollow family and is embroiled in a centuries-old struggle between the royal family and the magical Fel. With help from new friends Max and Gisa, Evie embarks on an adventure to catch the Robber Lord and uncover the truth of the Fel. Mistaken identity, trickery, and thievery combine to create a story more elaborate than anything Evie could have ever imagined. Unfortunately, Sangster's ambitious middle grade debut misses the mark. On the surface it is a fun adventure story; however, none of the plot lines or characters are fully fleshed out. This creates some confusing moments and periods of stagnation throughout. Main characters are cued as white. VERDICT A secondary purchase where adventure and fantasy books are popular.--Maryjean Riou

This middle grade novel is as charming as it is mouthwatering ... Readers who are as adventure-seeking as Evie will want to join her as she takes on magical enemies with only her wits and baking skills. — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB)