"Dodging Cupcakes is an enjoyable, heartwarming, inspiring middle-grade novel..." —The Children's Book Review
"Pashley seamlessly integrates Mindy's STEM projects so that they appear as part of the overall fabric of her life, making for easy inspiration for scientific-minded readers." — Kirkus Reviews
Mindy moves from the city to her grandmother's farmhouse in a small Midwestern town, coping with her grandmother's recent passing. At her new school, located in an abandoned hotel, she faces a quirky principal/librarian who is a little too gung-ho about Pirate Book Day and befriends a mysterious boy in a locker who gives her advice. Mindy sees a chance to make friends during the school's carnival fundraiser when she partners with Charlie, the most popular boy in school. Charlie’s wants a booth selling cupcakes, but Mindy, eager to fit it, builds epic games to show off her inventive ideas and her skills.
However, her games backfire dramatically, causing the other kids to stop talking to her. Where did she go wrong? Would she ever feel like she belonged? Could she ever call this place home? Drawing from her grandmother's memories, she works her way back into the carnival. But when the carnival donkeys run loose, the games are overturned, and the crowd starts screaming, it is up to Mindy to save the carnival and keep the school from shutting down—permanently.
Dodging Cupcakes is a humorous, middle-grade fiction where a spirited 12-year-old girl embarks on an unforgettable journey filled with laughter, friendship, and self-discovery. The story is set against the backdrop of a quirky school in an old motel. Themes of feeling out of place and trying too hard unfold as she partners with Charlie for the school's carnival fundraiser, she aims to impress her classmates with more than just a cupcake booth. Their budding friendship and Mindy's trials of STEM-inspired carnival games offer relatable lessons on risk-taking, accountability, and the power of teamwork. The story delves into deeper issues such as dealing with grief and the loneliness of single-parent children while maintaining a tone of humor and hope.
