Author: Rebecca Carvalho
Publication Date: November 1st, 2022
Number of Pages: 368 pages
Geographical Setting: Olinda, Brazil
Time Period: present time, not given in the book.
Series (If applicable): N/A
Plot Summary: Grandchildren Pedro and Lari are rivals within their family bakeries: Salt and Sugar. This feud has been going since each of their great grandparents opened the businesses. However, when Lari's beloved grandmother dies, she and her mother are left to try and keep the bakery going. However, with a big market cooperation coming into town to threaten the livelihood of their small community, Lari must team up with Pedro. A thing her grandma would consider a betrayal. However, Pedro and Lari will soon realize that there is more to life than just family feuds and rivalry. They will find out that love is both sweet and salty when it comes to making your own choices in life.
Subject Headings: Young Adult Fiction
Humor (Fiction)
Romance
Brazil
Family
Baking
Appeal:
Funny with the antics between the two main characters, especially when crashes into cakes and flower getting dumped on your head happen within cooking clubs. It was like listening watching a romantic comedy movie and it kept me engaged throughout the story.
Family-oriented: This really tugged on my heart strings, especially with the recent loss of both my grandparents. I looked at this thinking it was a Romeo and Juliet spin, and it was. However, I got more of a family-oriented story than just a love story. It's the love of family's who connect through food and memories. It also gives both families a chance to see how far the feud has gone to cause rifts between the ones you love the most, and that its never too late to patch things up.
3 terms that best describe this book: Heartfelt, Funny, Charming
Similar Authors and Works (why are they similar?): Cafe con Lychee by Emery Lee is similar with connecting food and connections; however, this represents LGBTQIA+ and Puerto Rican culture. Both boys have lived in family bakeries, but now their lively hood is threated by a newcomer in the form of a fusion coffee cafe.
Nicola Yoon has many books such as Everything, Everything and The Sun is also a Star, that focus on minority groups facing difficult challenges. However, finding love in a difficult time can bring more than just two people together.
3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors
Cooking the Brazilian way : culturally authentic foods including low-fat and vegetarian recipes by Alison Behnke
Brazil : a cook's tour by Christopher Idone
Brazil on the Rise, The Story of a Country Transformed by Larry Rother
3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors
A pho love story by Loan Le
Somewhere between bitter and sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp
A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey
Hi Bre,
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how the author adopted the idea of star-crossed lovers, which, as you mention, evokes the basic plot of Romeo and Juliet, but adapted it for this story, changing the setting of the novel and the ending (I presume, from your summary, that this novel does not end in tragedy the way Romeo and Juliet does). Is the setting of this novel an important appeal factor? Does Carvalho intersperse Brazilian culture throughout the book, or do setting and culture play a more background role? I found your comment about how this book read like a romantic comedy intriguing; it sounds as if the tone were less humorous, then the novel might appeal to a different set of readers, that is, readers who enjoy more straightforward romance rather than a comedic romance. Would you agree with this assessment? I agree that your fiction and nonfiction choices would appeal to individuals who enjoyed Salt and Sugar because of the elements of culture, cuisine, and romance.
Lexi,
ReplyDeleteFor me personally, I always like retellings that take place in different counties. I have not had anything from South America, so I thought it would be interesting take of a Brazilian Romeo and Juliet. When I was looking for background information on the author, she grew up in Northern Brazil and her book has culture all through the book as well as the type of food you would find in the culture. There were parts of the story that reminded me of the movie "Little Italy", and seeing those scenes play out I couldn't help but think this could be a comedy, but it does take serious tones when it comes to loss. So, I agree with you, depending on the reader it can be viewed in different ways.
Bre
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Bre -
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the plot and your description of this book! I saw it come into my library a few months ago and now I think I will definitely have to check it out. It kind of makes me think of a Hallmark movie and the kind of plot that is just calming and fun. I also think it is really smart to have some Brazilian cookbooks as relevant non-fiction books since food is such a big part of Salt and Sugar. What was it that made you want to pick up this book?
Sydney,
DeleteI think that is why I was drawn to it because it played out much like a Hallmark movie. It really kind of picked me honestly, I had a very long list of YA's I've been wanting to read and when I finally capped it to about 14, I was narrowing them down. When it came down the final 7 most of them were either on a long wait list or too thick for me to read in time. So, I listened to the audio sample and while I was listening to it, I kind of had a special connection to it. While reading it, I had just lost both my grandparents whom I was very close with and these families each had to deal with loss in some way or other. So, you can say in a way I felt connected to my grandparents through this book. I will tell you there were parts I was in tears because I could see myself in Lari's position.
I was always told by my grandparents that things don't happen by accident even if we don't agree or understand why. The same goes for people, I've been missing my grandparents so much recently, and in reading this book I found a sense of peace I'm trying to gain back and start a new chapter with them, even if they are not physically here.
Great Question,
Bre