Salt and Sugar by Rebecca Cavalho - OPTIONAL

Salt and Sugar by Rebecca Cavalho, 394 pages. Inkyard Press, 2022. $19

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

17yo Lari Ramires and Pedro Molina are the grandchildren of two pastry bakeries in Orlinda, Braizil. Both bakeries are just across the street from each other. Their grandmothers were the best of friends, but an argument made them rivals for generations. Lari’s world changes when her grandmother passes away. A big supermarket chain has come into Orlinda and has offered to buy out small businesses. Both Lari and Pedro’s lives has turned upside down with both families trying to keep their bakeries going and competing with the big supermarket chain.

Rebecca Carvalho creates an entertaining romance between two characters that are challenged with learning how to get along not only for themselves, but for their families as well. Can they do that? A must read to know how it ends. Carvalho also entertains the readers with her knowledge of mouth watering Brazilian bakery pastries too. While the story is entertaining, I did feel that the consistent arguing that took place was too petty. I get that it was the ""drama"" of the story, it was too much. I did enjoy reading how the it ended.

Laura Trujillo 5th Grade DLI English Teacher