From Kelly J. Baptist, the award-winning author of Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero, comes a story about Zoe Sparks, an over-enthusiastic cookie-dough seller who wishes to win a laptop from her school fundraiser. Of course, there’s unexpected competition, bad music, strained friendships, and over-the-top ideas that go horribly wrong.
Spunky sixth-grader Zoe Sparks has discovered a unique way to get the laptop of her dreams—to win it! If Zoe can sell more tubs of cookie dough than anyone in her school, the laptop is hers. It’s the first step to becoming a prize-winning journalist! But her win-at-all-costs attitude is starting to drive a wedge between Zoe, her best friend Felix, and her family. Zoe may be a top cookie-dough seller in her class, but is winning the prize really worth it?
BIO
Kelly J. Baptist is the inaugural winner of the We Need Diverse Books short-story contest. Her story is featured in the WNDB anthology Flying Lessons & Other Stories and inspired her first full-length novel, Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero and its sequel, Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day. Kelly is also the author of the picture book The Electric Slide and Kai and the middle-grade novels The Swag Is in the Socks Eb & Flow. Kelly lives in southwest Michigan with her five amazing children.
REVIEWS
“Baptist uses humor to explore themes of navigating family, school, and community; this story will resonate with anyone who has dreamed of winning big.” -- The Horn Book
“Baptist crafts a spunky, focused female character who has tons of drive, great goals, and funny insight….A fun, relatable realistic fiction title recommended for all middle grade readers and collections.“ -- School Library Journal
“Baptist explores themes of class and wealth disparity through Zoe’s stubbornly determined first-person POV, and enriches the narrative with distinct and unforgettably rendered characters.” -- Publishers Weekly
“A funny, heartfelt romp, with a charming protagonist at its heart.” -- Kirkus Reviews
[H] Crown Books for Young Readers / October 17, 2023
0.87" H x 8.43" L x 5.59" W (0.6 lbs) 176 pages
[P] Yearling Books / September 24, 2024
0.5" H x 7.5" L x 5.1" W (0.25 lbs) 176 pages
For ages 8 to 12