Ready, Set, Dough! - by Kelly J Baptist

About the Book

Sixth-grader Zoe sets her sights on winning a laptop by becoming the top cookie-dough seller in her class, but as she becomes more obsessed with winning, she begins to lose sight of what is really important.

Book Synopsis

Zoe Sparks is an eleven-year-old with boundless enthusiasm, embarking on a mission to become the top cookie-dough seller in her school's fundraiser, and aiming to win a coveted laptop. But Zoe's laser-focus on winning may put her at odds with her best friend and family.

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! Soon, her win-at-all-costs attitude causes problems with her family and her best friend, Felix when she misses out on their important milestones. Zoe's a top cookie-dough seller, but is winning the prize worth it?

Review Quotes

"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

About the Author

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.