Midsummer's Mayhem
by Rajani LaRocca
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Can Mimi undo the mayhem caused by her baking in this contemporary-fantasy retelling of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream? Eleven-year-old Mimi Mackson comes from a big Indian American family: Dad's a renowned food writer, Mom's a successful businesswoman, and her three older siblings all have their own respective accomplishments. It's easy to feel invisible in such an impressive family, but Mimi's dream of proving she's not the least-talented member of her family seems possible when show more she discovers a contest at the new bakery in town. Plus, it'll start her on the path to becoming a celebrity chef like her culinary idol, Puffy Fay. But when Mimi's dad returns from a business trip, he's mysteriously lost his highly honed sense of taste. Without his help, Mimi will never be able to bake something impressive enough to propel her to gastronomic fame. Drawn into the woods behind her house by a strangely familiar song, Mimi meets Vik, a boy who brings her to parts of the forest she's never seen. Who knew there were banyan trees and wild boars in Massachusetts? Together they discover exotic ingredients and bake them into delectable and enchanting treats. But as her dad acts stranger every day, and her siblings' romantic entanglements cause trouble in their town, Mimi begins to wonder whether the ingredients she and Vik found are somehow the cause of it all. She needs to use her skills, deductive and epicurean, to uncover what's happened. In the process, she learns that in life, as in baking, not everything is sweet.... show lessTags
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Member Reviews
In a Nutshell: A middle-grade fantasy retelling of Shakespeare’s ‘[b:A Midsummer Night's Dream|35531190|A Midsummer Night's Dream|William Shakespeare|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498674332l/35531190._SY75_.jpg|894834]’. Loads of fun, though I don’t know if youngsters will understand/appreciate the adapted elements. Don’t read this book when hungry!
Story Synopsis:
What with men and women placing strange bets and chasing each other for love, the original Shakespearean work is not exactly middle-grade friendly despite its comic elements. It is a complicated storyline and with quite a few characters. (I remember how irked I had been to discover that the three female leads all had names beginning with H - Hermia, Hippolyta, and Helena. So confusing!)
To take such a story and adapt it to a middle-grade audience needs talent. To do so in your debut work needs guts. This author seems to have both in abundance.
I won’t reveal much about how the Shakespearean content has been modified and incorporated into this book. It is worth experiencing for yourself. I'm not sure if middle graders will actually get all the nuances of this retelling without being aware of the original work; I know hardly any middle-grader who reads Shakespeare! To them, this will just be a hilariously entertaining story filled with magic and humorous scenes (There are quite a few of those!). If any adult readers want to try this novel, then they are also in for a treat, but they will be able to appreciate the creative choices better if familiar with the original. (If reading Shakespeare is a scary idea, just read a summary of the play online. That ought to suffice.)
The book doesn’t restrict itself to being a blind scene-by-scene adaptation but brings in several novel factors. Mimi’s passion for baking is explored well in almost every chapter. I adored how the author utilised her own Indian roots to add a desi ‘flavour’ to the baked goodies.
(Tbh, I also despised this choice because reading about all those yummy Indian delicacies left my stomach growling! I mean, if a book talks about scones and cream puffs, my reaction is almost nonexistent. But bring kulfi and gulab jamun in the medley, and I will drool more than a Saint Bernard does. show less
Story Synopsis:
Eleven-year-old Mimi is the youngest in her family, and according to her, the least talented. Her father is an accomplished food writer, her mother a successful entrepreneur, and her three elder siblings also shine at whatever they do, be it dance or drama or sports or playing an instrument.show more
The only thing that Mimi can do
decently is bake. Her dream is to become a celebrity chef like her idol, Puffy Fay, who is from the same town.
When a local café announces a baking contest, with the grand prize being an internship with Fay himself, Mimi knows that she has to do her best to win it. But her dad has suddenly lost his gastronomic abilities after a recent trip and her siblings are acting funny, so Mimi has to rely on her new friend Vik, a boy who she meets in an unexplored part of the woods near her home, for help and ideas.
Will Mimi be able to fulfil her dream?
The book is written in the first person perspective of Mimi.
What with men and women placing strange bets and chasing each other for love, the original Shakespearean work is not exactly middle-grade friendly despite its comic elements. It is a complicated storyline and with quite a few characters. (I remember how irked I had been to discover that the three female leads all had names beginning with H - Hermia, Hippolyta, and Helena. So confusing!)
To take such a story and adapt it to a middle-grade audience needs talent. To do so in your debut work needs guts. This author seems to have both in abundance.
I won’t reveal much about how the Shakespearean content has been modified and incorporated into this book. It is worth experiencing for yourself. I'm not sure if middle graders will actually get all the nuances of this retelling without being aware of the original work; I know hardly any middle-grader who reads Shakespeare! To them, this will just be a hilariously entertaining story filled with magic and humorous scenes (There are quite a few of those!). If any adult readers want to try this novel, then they are also in for a treat, but they will be able to appreciate the creative choices better if familiar with the original. (If reading Shakespeare is a scary idea, just read a summary of the play online. That ought to suffice.)
The book doesn’t restrict itself to being a blind scene-by-scene adaptation but brings in several novel factors. Mimi’s passion for baking is explored well in almost every chapter. I adored how the author utilised her own Indian roots to add a desi ‘flavour’ to the baked goodies.
(Tbh, I also despised this choice because reading about all those yummy Indian delicacies left my stomach growling! I mean, if a book talks about scones and cream puffs, my reaction is almost nonexistent. But bring kulfi and gulab jamun in the medley, and I will drool more than a Saint Bernard does. show less
In a Nutshell: A middle-grade fantasy retelling of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream’. Loads of fun, though I don’t know if youngsters will understand/appreciate the adapted elements. Don’t read this book when hungry!
Story Synopsis:
What with men and women placing strange bets and chasing each other for love, the original Shakespearean work is not exactly middle-grade friendly despite its comic elements. It is a complicated storyline and with quite a few characters. (I remember how irked I had been to discover that the three female leads all had names beginning with H - Hermia, Hippolyta, and Helena. So confusing!)
To take such a story and adapt it to a middle-grade audience needs talent. To do so in your debut work needs guts. This author seems to have both in abundance.
I won’t reveal much about how the Shakespearean content has been modified and incorporated into this book. It is worth experiencing for yourself. I'm not sure if middle graders will actually get all the nuances of this retelling without being aware of the original work; I know hardly any middle-grader who reads Shakespeare! To them, this will just be a hilariously entertaining story filled with magic and humorous scenes (There are quite a few of those!). If any adult readers want to try this novel, then they are also in for a treat, but they will be able to appreciate the creative choices better if familiar with the original. (If reading Shakespeare is a scary idea, just read a summary of the play online. That ought to suffice.)
The book doesn’t restrict itself to being a blind scene-by-scene adaptation but brings in several novel factors. Mimi’s passion for baking is explored well in almost every chapter. I adored how the author utilised her own Indian roots to add a desi ‘flavour’ to the baked goodies.
(Tbh, I also despised this choice because reading about all those yummy Indian delicacies left my stomach growling! I mean, if a book talks about scones and cream puffs, my reaction is almost nonexistent. But bring kulfi and gulab jamun in the medley, and I will drool more than a Saint Bernard does. show less
Story Synopsis:
Eleven-year-old Mimi is the youngest in her family, and according to her, the least talented. Her father is an accomplished food writer, her mother a successful entrepreneur, and her three elder siblings also shine at whatever they do, be it dance or drama or sports or playing an instrument.show more
The only thing that Mimi can do decently is bake. Her dream is to become a celebrity chef like her idol, Puffy Fay, who is from the same town.
When a local café announces a baking contest, with the grand
prize being an internship with Fay himself, Mimi knows that she has to do her best to win it. But her dad has suddenly lost his gastronomic abilities after a recent trip and her siblings are acting funny, so Mimi has to rely on her new friend Vik, a boy who she meets in an unexplored part of the woods near her home, for help and ideas.
Will Mimi be able to fulfil her dream?
The book is written in the first person perspective of Mimi.
What with men and women placing strange bets and chasing each other for love, the original Shakespearean work is not exactly middle-grade friendly despite its comic elements. It is a complicated storyline and with quite a few characters. (I remember how irked I had been to discover that the three female leads all had names beginning with H - Hermia, Hippolyta, and Helena. So confusing!)
To take such a story and adapt it to a middle-grade audience needs talent. To do so in your debut work needs guts. This author seems to have both in abundance.
I won’t reveal much about how the Shakespearean content has been modified and incorporated into this book. It is worth experiencing for yourself. I'm not sure if middle graders will actually get all the nuances of this retelling without being aware of the original work; I know hardly any middle-grader who reads Shakespeare! To them, this will just be a hilariously entertaining story filled with magic and humorous scenes (There are quite a few of those!). If any adult readers want to try this novel, then they are also in for a treat, but they will be able to appreciate the creative choices better if familiar with the original. (If reading Shakespeare is a scary idea, just read a summary of the play online. That ought to suffice.)
The book doesn’t restrict itself to being a blind scene-by-scene adaptation but brings in several novel factors. Mimi’s passion for baking is explored well in almost every chapter. I adored how the author utilised her own Indian roots to add a desi ‘flavour’ to the baked goodies.
(Tbh, I also despised this choice because reading about all those yummy Indian delicacies left my stomach growling! I mean, if a book talks about scones and cream puffs, my reaction is almost nonexistent. But bring kulfi and gulab jamun in the medley, and I will drool more than a Saint Bernard does. show less
A perfect warm, summery middle grade book. The stakes are meaningfully high, but not stressfully high. The protagonist learns important emotional lessons about working hard and being herself and being open to unexpected friendships, all earned in the story -- the reader never feels whacked over the head with it. The Midsummer Night's Dream parallels are fun and well-constructed, in a way that will work for kids who are unfamiliar with the story but (mostly) aren't too obvious for adults who know it well. And the baking descriptions are... scrumptious. Pack some fresh-baked cookies and read this in the park.
I'll be selling this to my [a:Wendy Mass|99650|Wendy Mass|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1235153849p2/99650.jpg] and [a:Joan show more Bauer|190441|Joan Bauer|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1208885950p2/190441.jpg] fans, not to mention all the kids who are obsessed with Great British Bake-Off and Master Chef Jr.. show less
I'll be selling this to my [a:Wendy Mass|99650|Wendy Mass|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1235153849p2/99650.jpg] and [a:Joan show more Bauer|190441|Joan Bauer|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1208885950p2/190441.jpg] fans, not to mention all the kids who are obsessed with Great British Bake-Off and Master Chef Jr.. show less
This middle-grade novel about trying our best in the face of failure and the messy nature of relationships isn't perfect (the lead-up to the ending is especially clunky) but it's a quick, enjoyable read. It's set in a kind of bizarro, Shakespeare-infused Concord, MA, and I have an affinity for stories set in places I know. I am really looking forward to trying the recipes at the back of the book!
Mimi ("Mimi Mouse") is the youngest of her siblings, and Riya, Anjuli (Jules), and Henry are all outstanding in their talents (singing and dance, soccer and drumming, and theater and guitar, respectively). Mimi loves baking - a passion she shares with her dad, who's a food critic - and when a new cafe opens in town and announces a contest for young bakers, it's Mimi's chance to shine. But all of a sudden, her dad changes: he wolfs down food indiscriminately, calling it all "scrumptious." Some of Jules and Riya's friends have started to behave oddly, too, and Mimi traces the change back to some cookies she baked with honeysuckle she found in the woods with her new friend, Vik. In fact, the woods themselves have changed: though Mimi show more thought she knew every inch of them, all of a sudden there are strange creatures (a wild boar, a cobra, a pitta bird) and a banyan tree - none of which are native to Massachusetts. What is going on? It's tied to a real-life version of A Midsummer Night's Dream, the play Henry's in. There are few surprises for the alert reader, but it's still a pleasure to read about Mimi (and her delicious recipes) and her Indian-American family. Some recipes are included.
Quotes
"If you learn anything about that guy Shakespeare, it should be that he pretty much borrowed every tale he told, but retold it so beautifully that his version's the only one that anyone remembers." (302) show less
Quotes
"If you learn anything about that guy Shakespeare, it should be that he pretty much borrowed every tale he told, but retold it so beautifully that his version's the only one that anyone remembers." (302) show less
Wow, so much here. Definitely a labor of love, which appeals to me even more than all the content. And the content alone makes it worth reading for so many reason. There's creative baking, and a successful Indian-American family, and flavors of magic, and Shakespeare, and a mystery, and awesome illustrations (need to check if author has done graphic novels), and themes of friendship, courage, self-identity, etc.
I particular appreciate how the author worked it out that the child had to have these adventures and solve problems on her own... but thank goodness not doing it the easy way by making her an orphan. (Mom has a demanding career, and Dad is a victim of the magic .) She even did the smart thing and tried to talk to other adults, show more and the reason that didn't work fits perfectly in the story, too.
If I were a child age 9-11 or so I would immediately reread this. So, 3.5 stars rounded up.
Includes three recipes, two of which I'd be willing to bet we could make and not find elsewhere.
"I go, I go; look how I go, Swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow."
Highly recommended to all families.
Clean and safe enough even for most seven year old children if you want to read together. show less
I particular appreciate how the author worked it out that the child had to have these adventures and solve problems on her own... but thank goodness not doing it the easy way by making her an orphan. (Mom has a demanding career, and Dad is a
If I were a child age 9-11 or so I would immediately reread this. So, 3.5 stars rounded up.
Includes three recipes, two of which I'd be willing to bet we could make and not find elsewhere.
"I go, I go; look how I go, Swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow."
Highly recommended to all families.
Clean and safe enough even for most seven year old children if you want to read together. show less
What a delightful middle grade read. Since I'm going with a food theme for my upcoming Virtual Book Talk time, I have been trying to find books with food at the center of them. So enter in this debut novel!
Mimi LOVES creating unique flavor combinations. Food just brings her such joy. It is what she feels gives her purpose. And she is super excited about having an entry in a food competition for young bakers.
But then things get weird for Mimi. She meets a strange boy in the words. She encounters all sorts of herbs and flavors. PLUS her dad has started eating every piece of food in sight. And people appear to be under a spell. How does all of it tie up??
This book is part homage to food competition shows (and Mimi's obsession with show more celebrity chef Puffy Fay reminds me of a mix of Guy Fieri and Gordon Ramsay) and a take on Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Considering I am unfamiliar with the story, I got confused with "Midsummer's Mayhem" towards the end of the book. But in the end, everything DID make sense.
I am obsessed with the recipes mentioned in the book. My mouth salivated as I read. And the chocolate chip thyme cookies with orange zest.....yeah I am going to be making those! show less
Mimi LOVES creating unique flavor combinations. Food just brings her such joy. It is what she feels gives her purpose. And she is super excited about having an entry in a food competition for young bakers.
But then things get weird for Mimi. She meets a strange boy in the words. She encounters all sorts of herbs and flavors. PLUS her dad has started eating every piece of food in sight. And people appear to be under a spell. How does all of it tie up??
This book is part homage to food competition shows (and Mimi's obsession with show more celebrity chef Puffy Fay reminds me of a mix of Guy Fieri and Gordon Ramsay) and a take on Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Considering I am unfamiliar with the story, I got confused with "Midsummer's Mayhem" towards the end of the book. But in the end, everything DID make sense.
I am obsessed with the recipes mentioned in the book. My mouth salivated as I read. And the chocolate chip thyme cookies with orange zest.....yeah I am going to be making those! show less
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- Original publication date
- 2019-06-11
- Important places
- Massachusetts, USA
- Dedication
- For Mira and Joe, who prove every day that magic is real
And for Lou, who will always be my best friend - First words
- The song from the woods first called to me on a bright June morning while I sat on the back porch swing rereading my favorite cookbook.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)And then, I remembered.
- Publisher's editor
- Ilgunas, Charlie
- Blurbers
- Appelt, Kathi; Messner, Kate; DasGupta, Sayantani; Dee, Barbara; Dairman, Tara; Meriano, Anna (show all 8); Dionne, Erin; Rhuday-Perkovich, Olugbemisola
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