"The Secret Ingredient" review

I'm about to break into a box of McVitie's milk chocolate digestives and it seems the perfect thing to enjoy as I write this review. They are true comfort food and make an afternoon feel warm, cozy, and relaxed. I would say the same about Laura Schaefer's new book "The Secret Ingredient."

I fell in love with Laura's book series when it was a single book, "The Teashop Girls." In that first story we met a girl named Annie and her friends who help Annie's grandmother save her business, the "Steeping Leaf" tea shop. The book painted a beautiful picture of a Madison, Wisconsin and a welcoming shop that we all wish we could visit. Annie and her friends worry about the typical problems of middle school girls and navigate relationships and friendships.

"The Secret Ingredient" brings us back into these girls' lives as they prepare to enter the ninth grade. In the meantime they are all trying to make the most of their summer. Genna is recently back from theater camp and tries to balance a new long-distance relationship but also self-doubt about her appearance. The book touches on some of the issues young girls (and, actually, all adolescents), face with body image. Annie's friend Zoe spends her days cultivating her garden, exploring the community farmers' market, and working to convince the schools in her town to embrace the use of local and fresh foods in their lunch program. I should also mention that Annie's grandmother continues to run her shop and is enjoying the start of a new relationship. And now the star of the book, Annie.

Annie is entering a contest -- a scone making contest. In order to win she must create an original scone (in which she intends to use a secret ingredient) and gain the most readership for her new blog. The winner will get a trip for four to London. Throughout the book she struggles to create a special scone, deal with an online bully, manage friendships, and decide if the neighborhood boy Zach is a potential boyfriend or saboteur.

It is a truly charming book and, as a bonus, you will be treated to some wonderful scone recipes. You'll find everything from the expected (chocolate chip and plain ) to the unusual (parmesan strawberry!, bacon, and cookies-and-cream). Take an afternoon with a hot pot of tea, some sweet treats, and this delicious little book.

For more about Laura and her books, you can check out our interview with her from March of 2009 and June of 2011.