About two years ago, Laura Schaefer’s first novel, The Teashop Girls (Paula Wiseman, 2008) came out. Even though I live near Madison, Wisconsin, where the book is set, I somehow missed its release.
So when I discovered it a few weeks ago, I made up for lost time. I read it and soaked in the Wisconsin references. Then, I shared it with my daughter, who is today’s guest reviewer.
As you’ll see below, Gwen likes Starbucks coffee. But she also likes chai and green tea and said that if Madison really had a teashop called The Steeping Leaf, she’d be a regular customer.
So take it away, Gwen!
Reviewer: Gwen
Age: 13
I like: Playing basketball and volleyball. Listening to all types of music. Playing piano, singing and fixing my hair. I like to go on YouTube and watch funny videos. I love to hang out with my friends and go shopping. Starbucks rules!
This book was about: The Teashop Girls is about a girl named Annie Green who tries to help save her grandmother’s teashop that has been in the family for a long time. Annie absolutely loves tea, so she and her two best friends, Genna and Zoe, became the Teashop Girls when they were young and have stuck to their handbook of club rules ever since. As the best friends work to keep the teashop going, the girls deal with boys, growing up, and finding their Zen.
The best part was when: The best parts in the book were the different recipes, side stories or old tea advertisements. Whether they are about Zoe’s Power-Up Tea Smoothie, Lipton’s Teas, or All About Japanese Tea Ceremonies, they are definitely entertaining and fun to read and maybe try. I also liked how in the beginning of each chapter, there was a quote about tea by many different writers or famous people.
I laughed when: I laughed when the girls were dissing a mean boy named Zach who goes to their school. He and his major rich parents were going to buy the teashop and maybe get rid of it (plus he was just rude and obnoxious) so they didn’t really like him.
I was worried when: The grandmother was feeling sick for the day because I thought something bad was going to happen to her.
I was surprised when: Zach’s parents decided to buy the teashop and stabilize the rent.
This book taught me: If you put your mind to something, you can make big things happen.
Three words that best describe this book are: “Fun.” “Real.” “Yummy.”
My favorite line or phrase in this book is: “I understood, at that moment, why Genna loved boys so much. I gulped.”
Other teens reading this book should watch for: Other teens should watch for the other characters and their personalities. For example, there is a man who comes to the teashop, and he likes to read big, old books. He gives Annie a book, but that’s pretty much the only main time you hear about him. It’s interesting, because I can just picture this old man, pocket-watch type of person with antique glasses, always hidden behind a giant book that’s falling apart at the binding.
You should read this book because: It’s lighthearted, and there is a good message behind the story.
Thanks, Gwen!
If you’d like to learn more about author Laura Schaefer, visit her website. Or check out her profile at Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.
One cool thing about this book are the dessert illustrations sprinkled throughout. They’re courtesy of Sujean Rim. You can learn more about her on this website.
