Café Chaos: The Way the Cookie Crumbles

The Way the Cookie Crumbles is the second highly amusing, heartwarming book in the Café Chaos series. Written by popular children's author Catherine Wilkins, this fab book cannot fail to appeal to young readers with its laugh-out-loud story line and equally amusing illustrations and diary-style font additions by Katie Abey.

From the very first glance, even the most reluctant reader will inevitably be inspired to read about the chaotic adventures of Hope and her family. Hope Crumble lives with her family above their family owned and run café; however, serving coffee and cake for the Crumble family seems to come at a cost, and business seldom runs smoothly.

In the first book of this series we find Hope repeatedly being 'pulled' into helping her family solve problems in the café; so at the start of this book, Hope is determined to distance herself and enjoy 'time to be a child', leaving her family to sort it out for themselves. Unfortunately for Hope, chaos soon arrives in the shape of a lorry load of beans, when Hope's mum mistakenly over-orders.

Hope's family gather to discuss how they can possibly get through so many beans before they reach the end of their 'use by date' in two months' time and once again, Hope's problem-solving skills are put to the test, all while trying to balance school life, friendships and some not-so-nice bullies.

This is a fabulously funny, story and I think many young readers will find Hope's predicament and elements of her family life relatable. Some children may think that their family are preventing them from having their best life, but it's not until they look back do they realise that it's their family who helped make it their 'best life'!

A great book to share with a small group, or even as a class read, ideal for newly independent KS2 readers, particularly those who have enjoyed books by Jacqueline Wilson.

224 pages / Reviewed by Sam, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+

Café Chaos: The Way the Cookie Crumbles is the second in the fun, fast and family-orientated lively middle grade stories, featuring Hope Crumble and her chaotic café-owning family.

As usual, the daily dramas of keeping the Crumble Café afloat (and dealing with the unusual, eccentric and entrepreneurial ideas from mum, sister, Aunt Rita and annoying cousin, Connor) are time-consuming and exhausting for long-suffering Hope. Meanwhile, in school, Hope continues to cope stoically, and with increasing wit and bite-backs for school bully, mean-girl, Skyla, who parades her 'coolness' at every opportunity .

An over-order of beans at the café creates the next calamity in Hope's life as the pressure is on to sell (not spill) the beans before the use-by date. Cue hilarious and inventive ideas for bean recipes and competitions.

Cafe Chaos: The Way the Cookie Crumbles is a laugh-out-loud, positive and energetic read with funny and warm illustrations and an appealing and catchy narrative voice. A feel-good, read-for-pleasure delight.

272 pages / Reviewed by Jenny Caddick, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+