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The Cookie Crumbles

by Tracy Badua

Friendship, baking, and a competition mystery

Regular price $12.56 USD
Regular price $20.94 USD Sale price $12.56 USD
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AlbakiReads Editorial

Friendship, baking, and a competition mystery

Laila and Lucy’s lifelong friendship faces a practical crossroads: they expect to attend different high schools, and each has a reason to pursue a place at Sunderland. The Golden Cookie competition offers Laila a route to the school’s culinary program and Lucy a chance to strengthen her journalism portfolio. When a judge collapses after tasting Laila’s creation, the contest shifts into a mystery, with Laila under suspicion and a storm blocking outside access. Baking, ambition, and the strain of an impending separation all meet within the competition setting, giving the investigation personal stakes for both friends.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Middle-grade readers interested in friendship stories set around a baking competition.
  • Readers who enjoy mysteries involving an accusation and a search for the culprit.
  • Young readers drawn to stories about school ambitions and journalism or culinary interests.

Themes

FriendshipBaking competitionMystery and suspicionSchool ambitionsJournalism and culinary interests

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

The Great British Bake Off meets Knives Out in this fun and propulsive middle grade novel following two best friends who must solve the mystery behind a baking competition gone awry.

Laila gave Lucy a cupcake on the second day of kindergarten, and they've been inseparable ever since. But the summer before eighth grade, they find out that since they live on opposite sides of town, they'll go to different high schools. Yuck!

Then Laila's invited to compete at the Golden Cookie competition, which awards its winner admission and a full ride to the prestigious Sunderland boarding school, and it's the perfect opportunity. Sunderland doesn't just have an elite culinary program; it's also home to an elite journalism track, if only newscaster-hopeful Lucy could build up a strong enough portfolio to impress the scholarship committee.

But when one of the celebrity judges collapses after sampling Laila's showpiece, rumors of foul play swirl, with Laila rising to the top of the suspect list. Even worse, a major storm has effectively cut off all access to the outside world.

Can the girls find the real culprit and clear Laila's name before it's too late?

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Customer reviews

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AlbakiReads
Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

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Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

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Olivia

Smooth.