The Teashop Girls Book Review

I recently learned about a newly published book called The Teashop Girls by Laura Schaefer. After getting my hands on it, I ended up reading the entire 248 page book in one sitting because I simply could not put it down.

The Teashop Girls is a story about an 8th grade girl named Annie Green who has a passion for tea. This passion quite possibly comes from her grandmother’s love of a good cuppa and who also owns a teashop called The Steeping Leaf. Annie wants nothing more than to work along side her grandmother at The Leaf. However, after only a few days of being The Leaf’s new barista, the teashop is at risk from having its doors closed forever.

Annie and her BFF’s, Zoe and Genna, tackle the new task of “Operation Save The Leaf,” in between their already busy teenage lives of chores, homework, extracurricular activities, and, of course, boys.

This book is G-rated and written for ages 8-14. I think the author does a very nice job in keeping the reader’s interest. She even goes so far as using the teenage lingo such as “like” in the appropriate places.

Regarding the characters, there is someone for everyone to relate to in this book, whether you are a pre-teen or teen reading this book or a parent or adult reading it with your kids. Annie is the organized, on the ball, making lists for everything type of girl (kind of like me – what would the world be like without post-its?). Zoe is the athletic type with parents who expect nothing but the best. Gen is the aspiring artist/actress type who loves doing things in the most dramatic way possible.

The book has an overall warm tone to it. There are lessons to be learned as well as information about tea. A brief history of tea along with other facts, recipes, etc. are scattered around the book. I think this book is excellent for young readers who are interested in tea and/or food because it not only has tidbits about tea in the book, but also incorporates the characteristics of tea into the story. Even if you favor something else in your cup besides tea, the story itself is just plain cute.

The Official website of The Teashop Girls, which includes the author’s bio, excerpts, and more: http://teashopgirls.webnode.com/