Sweet and Spicy

Gingerbread

by Rachel Cohn

Last month, I fell hard for Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares, coauthored by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn. I learned from the book jacket that it was the third book the pair wrote together, the first being Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist. A little more research pointed me to a few titles that Cohn had authored independently, one of which was Gingerbread, which I actually owned but had never read.

Summary

As a love child born to a woman having an affair with a married man, the only time Cyd Charisse has met her father was when she was 5-years old and got to have lunch with him at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. He gave her a doll and some gingerbread, a treat which inspired the name for her doll.

Cyd’s troubled beginning in life seems to have set the tone for her later years. When Gingerbread readers first meet her, Cyd has just been kicked out of boarding school and has returned to her home in San Francisco where she lives with her mother and stepfather. Her uber-controlling mother is driving her up the wall, and once she realizes that her boyfriend isn’t as sure about her as she is about him, Cyd is ready for a change. In a rather fortuitous act of timing, her father (the real one!) has recently asked if she could come visit him in New York for a bit. Her mother relents, and Cyd finds herself off to a city she has only thus far dreamed about inhabiting. What follows is less of a quest for distraction and play time, and more of a journey of self-discovery and understanding about herself and the people in Cyd’s life.

Worth staying up past bedtime?

Gingerbread was a pleasant surprise for me. I didn’t think I would like it at first (Cyd is quite tough, and for some reason her initial attitude grated on my nerves), but I was quickly won over. Cyd can be tough to like - she is defiant, rebellious, and totally honest - but under her tough exterior, she is caring and smart, and just wants a little love and respect, as well as some understanding about her rather screwy life. Definitely a book worth staying up for.

Recommended for ages 13 and up.

Oh, Bull!

The Story of Ferdinand

by Munro Leaf

illustrated by Robert Lawson

There are some books that I am happy to read over and over again, simply because the story or characters make me smile every time. The Story of Ferdinand is one of those books, and I have to admit that I've had days where I pull it off the shelf at the library simply to lose myself in its lovely simplicity for a few moments.

Summary

Ferdinand is not your typical bull. While the other bulls in his pasture like to run and jump and butt heads, Ferdinand is content to sit quietly under his favorite tree and smell the flowers. One day, a group of matadors come to check out the bulls and choose one for the big bullfight that's coming up in Madrid. An unfortunate incident involving a bee results in Ferdinand being carted off to Madrid, where he finds himself being cheered (and feared!) by all the excited citizens at the bullfight. However, when Ferdinand makes his entrance in the ring, he happily plops down to enjoy the scent of the flowers that all the women have in their hair for the occasion. His sweet nature gets him carted right back to his pasture, where he is free to be his sweet, peaceful self.

Worth staying up past bedtime?

Ferdinand is absolutely worth staying up for! The Story of Ferdinand is one of those books that just makes me smile, and I'm happy to read it anytime. The illustrations are fantastic - simple black and white drawings, but very expressive, and detailed enough to hold your eye. Ferdinand himself is a wonderful character, and a perfect example of how appearances don't indicate everything about someone.

Recommended for any age.