by Kevin Kelly
First published 2016
Kasia arrives at her grandparents' house carrying everything she owns. The nine-year-old must now live with these strangers who speak Polish and smell like flour. Her grandmother Busia spends all day in the bakery downstairs, kneading dough and serving customers. Kasia tries everything to get Busia's attention, but the old woman seems more interested in her ovens than her granddaughter. The Polish language grates on Kasia's ears. The strange foods taste wrong. She wants her old life back. Then Paczki Day arrives, and Busia needs help making the traditional filled donuts. Working side by side in the warm kitchen, Kasia begins to see her grandmother differently. She learns the stories behind the recipes and discovers why Busia guards these traditions so carefully. Through sugar and yeast, the two find their way to each other.
Genres: family-life, coming-of-age, contemporary, cultural
Vibes: cozy, emotional, intimate
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Busia's Bakery
Period: 20th-century
44 pages · Paperback · CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform