The Power of Poppy Pendle

Poppy Pendle comes from a family of witches, but she wants nothing to do with magic. Her true passion lies in baking cookies, cakes, and pastries - much to the dismay of her parents who enrolled her in Ruthersfield Academy, a school for witches. At school and at home, Poppy faces pressure to embrace her magical abilities and follow the path her parents have laid out. She finds moments of joy in her local bakery, where she can practice her culinary skills away from the expectations of the magical world. As tensions rise between Poppy and her family over her future, she must make choices about who she wants to be and what dreams she will pursue. The story centers on themes of being true to oneself and standing up for personal passions in the face of family traditions and expectations. This middle-grade novel explores the universal struggle between fulfilling family expectations and following one's own heart, wrapped in a world of magic and mouth-watering baked goods.

Readers describe this as a charming middle-grade novel that balances magic with real-world themes of following one's passion versus meeting family expectations. Readers appreciated: - The baking focus and included recipes - Messages about being true to yourself - Relatable family conflict - Light tone despite serious themes - Strong character development of Poppy Common criticisms: - Predictable plot - Parents portrayed as unreasonably stubborn - Resolution feels rushed - Some find the magic system underdeveloped Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (280+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Perfect blend of magic and cooking" - Goodreads reviewer "Wished the ending wasn't so neat and tidy" - Amazon reviewer "My 9-year-old daughter couldn't put it down" - Barnes & Noble review "Like a magical version of Ratatouille" - School Library Journal reader review

Alchemy's Daughter by Lisa Brown Roberts A girl born into a family of healers struggles between pursuing her passion for cooking and meeting her family's expectations to follow their magical traditions.

Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch by Julie Abe A young witch with limited magical abilities finds her place in the world through her talent for baking while working to earn her witch qualification.

The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson A girl whose grandmother is a guardian of the dead yearns to break free from her destined path and create her own future through her love of cooking.

A Dash of Trouble by Anna Meriano A Mexican-American girl discovers her family's magical bakery where spells are baked into treats, forcing her to balance her newfound powers with her love of baking.

The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates: Magic Marks the Spot by Caroline Carlson A girl rejects her parents' plans for her to attend a proper finishing school and instead pursues her own path as a pirate, much like Poppy's rebellion against her family's magical expectations.

🌟 Like Poppy, author Natasha Lowe enjoys baking and includes several of her own favorite recipes throughout the book. 🎭 The story reverses common magical tropes by featuring a witch who doesn't want magical powers and instead dreams of being a baker. 🍪 All ten recipes featured in the book are real, tested recipes that readers can make at home, including Poppy's Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies. 🏰 The fictional setting of Potts Bottom was inspired by the historic English town of Lacock, known for its preserved medieval architecture and abbey. 🎬 The town of Lacock, which influenced the book's setting, has been used as a filming location for several Harry Potter movies and other period films.