Baker’s Magic

When 12-year-old runaway Bee is caught stealing a sweet bun from a bakery, the proprietor allows her to work off her debt, then invites her to stay on as his helper. Each kingdom in Bee’s world has a mage, a powerful wizard who assists the king, and Bee discovers that she has the ability to bake her feelings into the pastries she creates. Bee’s talent comes in handy when the kingdom’s orphaned princess, Anika, is forced to flee the evil mage who has taken over (Bee bakes fatigue into sweet buns, which puts the castle guards to sleep and allows Anika to escape). As Bee, Anika, and their friend Wil attempt to find a way to unseat Master Joris, they discover the trees the mage removed from Aradyn, find lost family members, and make new friends. Zahler (Sleeping Beauty’s Daughters) has created a cozy fantasy adventure with tension, twists, and sweet treats. Bee and her companions are quick-thinking and determined heroes, and their journey to right wrongs should appeal to a broad range of readers. Ages 9–12. [em]Agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Feb.) [/em]