Bliss by Katherine Littlewood

Bliss, by Kathryn Littlewood.  HarperCollins, 2012, 374 pages.  Age/interest level: 10-14.

Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12

Recommended for: ages 10-14

Bottom Line: Bliss mixes fantasy elements with a likeable family and the art of baking, with fun but somewhat predictable results.

We know from chapter one that the Bliss family is a little different.  That is, Purdy, the mom, has a cellar full of unusual ingredients (like lighting in a jar and tincture of Venus) gathered on the sly to use in the extra-special recipes out of the Bliss Cookery Booke.  The Booke has been in her family for centuries, but the kids (Rosemary, Thyme (Ty), Sage, and Parsley (Leigh)) don’t know about it–yet.  They do know their mom can stir magic into certain baked products if there’s a need.  In spite of her unusual mother, Rosemary (Rose) doesn’t feel especially magical; she’s the plain Jane of the family who wants nothing more than to be appreciated by busy parents and flashy siblings.  And it would also be nice to catch the eye of dreamy Dustin at the local auto repair.  But her life is about to change in a big way . . .

When her parents answer an urgent request that requires their absence for a few days, the kids receive a surprise visit from a fabulous, charismatic, gorgeous creature who rides up on a motorcycle and claims to be their Aunt Lily.  Lily is everything Rose would like to be, but just maybe Lily isn’t everything she claims.  Before long the Cookery Booke is discovered, the kids take matters into their own hands, and hijinks ensue in a pleasant if somewhat predictable manner.  It’s a twist on the Sorcerer’s-Apprentice theme that feels a bit frantic at times and amateur at others (when an author has characters scream when they could just as easily yell or shout, it’s a sure sign she’s trying too hard).  I couldn’t quite believe the characters or motivations, but it’s fun enough, and Rose battles a strong temptation and makes a right choice at the end.

Note: A Dash of Magic, the sequel to Bliss, is getting good reviews and stirs another enchanting ingredient into the mix: Paris!  That’s where the entire Bliss family travels to get the old Cookery Booke back from Aunt Lily and win an international bakeoff.

Cautions: None

Overall rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

• Worldview/moral value: 3
• Artistic value: 3.5

Categories: Middle Grades, Magical Realism, Character Values