love Sugar Magic

Reviewed by: Mary Lehmer - Freeport Community Library, Freeport, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 13, 2018

Review

This sweet story is about 5 sisters. All of them, except the youngest, Leo, work in the family bakery shop. Leo is desperate to be part of the baking team so while her family begin baking for a big festival, she sneaks into the bakery to watch them. What she discovers is that not only are they bakers but they are also brujas- witches of Mexican ancestry. And, the cool thing is they can do magic which means she might be able to do magic as well. This is a fun fantasy that could really be called magic realism. Leo can not wait to try magic even though she knows she is not supposed to until she is older. Readers will totally empathize with her but will still cringe at the mistakes she makes. This story is just right for a young reader looking for a book with magic but not violence. There are many Spanish words and phrases through out the book that definitely add to the realistic feel of the story. The recipes in the back of the book are a big bonus as they are some of the same recipes that Leo and her family make- with out the magic of course:)

Overall Book Score: excellent