Arc Review: Nixie Ness: cooking star by Claudia Mills

Image: Holiday House

Nixie Ness: cooking star by Claudia Mills. After-School Superstars series #1. 118 p. Margaret Ferguson Books/ Holiday House, June, 2019. 9780823440931. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

Nixie Ness is one happy third-grader. She loves to bake and baking is doubly fun when she does it with her BFF, Grace. She and Grace have been best friends since they were two and they do everything together. They are in the same class, sit together at lunch, play soccer together on the weekend and, best of all, get to spend each day after school together at Nixie's house until Grace's mom gets home from work. Life couldn't get more perfect. 

Then, Nixie's mom gets a job in a bookstore and Nixie learns she'll be attending after-school camp. When she learns that Grace will not be attending camp, Nixie is upset. When she learns that Grace will be going home with Elyse, a classmate, Nixie is devastated. How can they remain best friends? What if Grace becomes best friends with Elyse? How can Nixie get rid of this friend stealer?

Still, she must admit that After-School Superstars is fun. She's teamed with Vera, Nolan and Boogie. When she's there, she can almost forget her troubles. But when Vera makes shy attempts to extend the friendship past after-school camp, Nixie shuts her down out of loyalty to Grace.

Move over Ramona, Junie B. and Clementine. There's a new spunky heroine on the scene. Nixie is spirited and appealing in this gentle story about changing friendship. Elementary readers will relate to Nixie and her humorous and sometimes cringeworthy attempts to save her friendship. The dialogue is spot-on. The unfinished sketches and spot art will add appeal in their finished form. A recipe for Morning Glory Muffins is provided at the end of this satisfying story. Where can I sign up for After-school Superstars camp?