Graff has created a world very much like our own, but just a little bit magical. In this version of Poughkeepsie, New York, many lucky people have Talent, one skill that makes them special. Eleven-year old Cady, an orphan who lives with the kindly Miss Mallory, can look at a person and immediately know and bake their ideal cake. Miss Mallory’s talent is finding just-right parents for orphans, but so far, she hasn’t felt that perfect-parent pull for Cady. While Cady is the star of this tale, the novel integrates an expertly developed cast of supporting characters who all have their own amazing stories. Not until the very end does the reader see how their paths intertwine. The plot twists deliciously around an irresistible peanut butter factory, an evil Talent thief, a very important hair pin, and a rare powder-blue suitcase that could hold the key to everything. Sprinkled throughout is a generous helping of cake recipes, perfectly suited for each of the characters, just begging to be tried.
I love books that take life as we know it, and present it in just a slightly different way. This story has a distinctly realistic feel, but there's that little magical aspect that turns your expectation on its head. An unpredictable and unusual story that entertains AND makes you think.
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