5 Middle Grade Books for Aspiring Bakers

Save the Cupcake! (Confectionately Yours Series #1), by Lisa Papademetriou
It’s hard to adjust to middle school when you’re too worried about your dad’s new girlfriend or your mom’s job situation, and when Haley’s best friends start to pull away from her, life doesn’t get any easier. Hayley may not have the perfect life, but she does usually have the perfect cupcakes, thanks to the countless hours she spends creating new recipes. Hayley is just a young girl dealing with real life problems, with as heart and humor and sweetness. This story kicks off a series about the talented young baker’s middle school adventures, and the book is complete with real-world recipes you can test out.

Peace, Love and Cupcakes, by Sheryl Berk and Carrie Berk
Kylie knows that everyone loves cupcakes, and she hopes starting a cupcake club will mean that everyone loves her too. Kylie’s able to recruit three of her classmates, but her plan doesn’t go as expected since it seems her bully is immune to the lure of tasty treats.  But while the bully is immune, it appears the rest of the world is not as the cupcake club grows into a thriving business. The story also includes detailed descriptions of baking and recipes, which aspiring pastry chefs will enjoy.

Baker’s Magic, by Diane Zahler
Baking is already a sort of magic, so it’s no wonder the two have been combined with such success in this story of twelve-year-old runaway Bee. After she is caught stealing a sweet bun, the bakery owner offers her a job, where she learns to bake. But Bee doesn’t just bake any old treats—as she learns, she discovers she has the ability to bake her feelings into her desserts. This fantasy novel truly has it all: pirates, princesses, evil mages, and even a recipe.

The Baking Life of Amelie Day, by Vanessa Curtis
Isn’t it every young baker’s dream to be invited to compete in a national baking competition? Well, Amelie is living that dream. But that doesn’t mean her life is all candies and cupcakes: Amelie is living with Cystic Fibrosis. Some days, Amelie’s pain is so bad she can barely breathe, and her mother fears the competition may be too much for her. But Amelie vows to not let anything stop her from getting to the competition and doing what she loves: baking. Amelie’s recipes are included throughout, and thanks to her thoughtful and truthful voice, readers really get a sense of what it’s like to live with a disease while attempting to pursue your dreams.

Cake Pop Crush (Wish #1), by Suzanne Nelson
Ali loves making cake pops, which should be great news since her dad owns the Say It With Flour bakery. But she can’t convince her dad to let her sell them. To make matter worse, despite having the coolest name for a bakery I’ve ever heard, Say It With Flour is struggling to make ends meet after a new coffee chain rolls into town. Soon enough, Ali discovers that the new (cute) boy in class is the son of the new shop’s owner. And he’s also a baker. This, of course, leads to the ultimate bake-off between the two. It’s a very fun and funny read that includes several recipes young readers can try.