The Pancake Trap - by Stephanie Young (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Join Maple and Margaret Sanford in The Pancake Trap as they learn that differences can be strengths, change can reveal who we truly are, and that love is thicker than batter.

Maple and Margaret Sanford might be sisters, but they couldn't be more different. Ten-year-old Maple is a pancake-obsessed griddle cook determined to save their grandma's failing restaurant, Dot's Diner. Margaret is a college-bound beauty queen who can't wait for their mom to sell the run-down restaurant. On the last day before Dot's Diner will be sold to the town's multimillionaire mogul, the girls are thrown into a dangerous food-themed treasure hunt, looking for gold left by runaway outlaw Crispy Cruller. Joined by a trusty friend, helpful robot drone, and adorable pup, Maple and Margaret will dive deep into the twisted caves and caverns underneath their town facing one syrup-sticky flapjack trap after another. With nothing more than their grandma's cookbook clues to guide them, will the Sanford Sisters be able to put their differences aside, find the loot, and save Dot's Diner before it's too late?

From the creators of Star Beasts, Stephanie Young and Allyson Lassiter's newest adventure is stacked full of fun foodie hijinks and features ten pancake recipes to make at home.

Review Quotes

"With a scavenger-hunt plot structure, comical dialogue, and a sweet story of sisterly cooperation, this cute, wacky puzzle mystery à la The Goonies will please kids hungry for laughs." -- "Booklist"

"A creative premise with a sweet emotional center[...] A solid choice for fans of offbeat mysteries."-- "School Library Journal"

"The Pancake Trap is a sweet and funny story that oozes a love for food, set in a whimsically illustrated world. The pancake recipes included in the book reminded me of how I learned how to cook as a kid. I'd recommend this book to any young reader."--Ann Xu, cocreator of Measuring Up

"The Pancake Trap is an adventure dripping with delight! Not only are there recipes here I am dying to try, but the story itself is a wonderful reminder that, even with the people we love, there's always a little more under the surface of what we think we know."--Meredith McClaren, cocreator of Crumble

"A syrup-laced treasure hunt with a Goonies-style vibe and lots of breakfast puns. Food-loving adventurers will quickly devour this book. And the various recipes that were baked in and sprinkled throughout the story were a tasty touch."--Brian Gonsar, cocreator of Dracula's Brunch Club

"Delicious recipes, intriguing mysteries, and laughs for days--The Pancake Trap has it all! One page I'd be laughing and the next I'd be itching to get in the kitchen to try some of the famous flapjacks myself! This hilarious story takes so many wild turns, I never knew what was coming next. The Pancake Trap is a delicious adventure you don't want to miss!"--Steph Mided, creator of Club Kick Out! Into the Ring

"Readers will finish The Pancake Trap feeling absolutely charmed--and hungry! A beautifully illustrated and tasty family mystery, with a generous topping of relatable sibling dynamics made this one hard to put down."--Andrea Bell, cocreator of Crumble

About the Author

Stephanie Young is a writer, pancake connoisseur, and pie baker. She likes the constellation Pleiades, mint chip ice cream, cats, and funny space lingo ("What the Hubble?")