Crushes and Crumb Cakes

About this book

At the underfunded Cedar Grove Community Center in contemporary Portland, the Chemistry Kitchen Club is a sanctuary where kids learn science through baking. Twelve-year-old Amina Khan has grown from a shy newcomer into the club's confident junior mentor, known for her quick wit, warm brown skin, and the bright turquoise ribbon tying back her curly black hair. When budget cuts threaten to close the club, Amina is paired with Jordan—an impulsive twelve-year-old with messy sandy-brown hair and wild ideas—to build an interactive, color-changing 'Connection Cake' for the city Youth Innovation Fair. As they navigate failed batches and stolen glances across mixing bowls, Amina experiences the giddy thrill of a first crush. The story unfolds across parallel timelines: in 2024, Amina and Jordan must overcome a rival group's sabotage to win a crucial grant and save a safe space for kids like Amina's anxious eight-year-old brother, Zayn. In alternating chapters set in 2021, a lonely nine-year-old Amina learns the 'hidden recipe' for friendship from her own mentor, thirteen-year-old Sophie. By drawing on the lessons of her past, Amina learns to bridge her responsible mentor persona with the courage to embrace vulnerability, accept support, and take a chance on a special connection.

Book details

Genres:

Spicy Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Middle Grade

Language:

en

Published:

2026-04-30

Content rating:

PG-13