Everything on a Waffle
Written by: Polly Horvath
Recommended for ages 10 and up.
$8.95 – Groundwood Books

Primrose Squarp is a young orphan living in a small town in British Columbia. Her parents have supposedly drowned at sea but Primrose refuses to believe that they are gone for good. After being looked after for many months by an elderly neighbour, Primrose is eventually reunited with her Uncle Jack, a bachelor, who takes on the responsibility for caring for his niece.

As with all small towns, Coal Harbour has its own gamut of characters including Miss Honeycut, Primroses’ guidance counselor (who has a crush on Uncle Jack); Miss Bowzer, the proprietor of the local restaurant and Primrose’s eventual mentor; Miss Perfidy, the old woman paid to take care of Primrose after her parents’ accident and Evie and Bert, the temporary foster parents with whom Primrose stayed for awhile.

The Girl on the Red Swing is the town’s one and only restaurant. The unique feature of this restaurant is that everything on the menu comes served on a waffle and I mean everything. Much of the story centres around this eating establishment.

As life goes on in Coal Harbour, Primrose continues to believe that her parents will be found. Her courage to believe and faith in miracles pays off with a happy ending that will bring tears to readers’ eyes.

Young readers who like a realistic story with quirky characters will thoroughly enjoy this Newbery Honor Book.