Cafe Chaos

Wr. Catherine Wilkins

Ill. Katie Abey

Pub. Nosy Crow

Age Range - 8+

Running a bustling café is Hope’s family’s dream – it’s just not hers! While Dad and Gran battle it out in the kitchen, Mum tries to balance the books while serving quiche to hordes of hungry pensioners. Meanwhile Hope’s dramatic sister Stacey is determined to turn all of life into a stage and her “wishes-he-was-on-Wall-Street” cousin Connor decides to buy novelty costumes to advertise the business. And then Auntie Rita rocks up…

"Everybody needs a Leila in their life, and everybody should aspire to be the Leila in someone else's."

The cover of the proof copy - a sheer expanse of Barbie pink with Katie Abey's exquisite illustration of Hope (the main character) in the corner - is essentially what kept Cafe Chaos at the top of my TBR pile since it arrived some weeks ago. Book covers and judgery, you know the story. Turns out I was right about it though.

One of my New Year's resolutions is to read more. This half term, I set myself a mini goal of reading a book. I figured if I can just knock back one book across the course of the week, at least I've achieved something. Daily gym visits - not happening. No junk food till the summer - not happened. Barely scraped by a full day before breaking that one. Reading a book at least seemed achievable. Enter Cafe Chaos. The premise - the misadventures of a family that runs a cafe. When it comes to "grownup" books, I only really read Stephen King, so I usually know what to expect: profoundly well-drawn characters, small town America, and the creeping dread of the restless dead. With children's literature, you never know what to expect next. One day it's a town terrorised by a sea monster, the next day it's an emotive robot, the day after that it's a family-run cafe and ice-cream costumes.

So really, what can I say about Cafe Chaos? It is, quite simply, a joy. It is one of the most joyous books I have ever read. Hope is bright and funny and warm-hearted and unheard, lost in the noise of the cafe (figuratively and literally). She's the easy child, never has any problems. Except, of course, she does have problems. She's just started high school, with all the crazy playground politics it entails. Luckily, she has her gorgeous best friend Leila - without doubt one of my favourite characters ever to grace the page. Everybody needs a Leila in their life, and everyone should aspire to be the Leila in someone else's. I won't say any more. Anyone reading this should go in with as few spoilers as possible. I want everyone to enjoy it the same way I did!

What I will say is this: it's funny. Actually, it's not just funny. It's witty. There's a real intelligence to the humour, and the author clearly credits her audience with the ability to appreciate that humour. It's not puerile. It's not crass. It's properly funny, and I LOVE that about it. For example, there's a recurring joke in which Hope's mum asks various family members to recite the family motto, and she is always met with a barrage of wrong answers.

"What's our family motto?" she asks.

"Get off your phone when I'm talking to you?" I offer jokily.

"No." Mum cracks a smile.

"Everybody has to try for a wee before they get in the car?" I continue.

"No." She chuckles. "Family first."

It made me laugh every time. There is also a recurring joke relating to Grandma Margery's anecdotes that I won't spoil here. It's just lovely. I love it. There's only a handful of children's books that have really resonated with me, really left a lasting impression. Those who know me will know that one such book is Troofriend (of which I am the official number one fan). The Unadoptables is another. How to Become a Planet is another. I'm thrilled to be able to add Cafe Chaos to that prestigious list. It's full of important messages about family, about being true to oneself, about acceptance. It is absolutely full of heart, and I shall enjoy recommending it. The best news is that the Nosy Crow page for Cafe Chaos says "...more café capers in upcoming Café Chaos stories!". I honestly cannot wait for more! 😃 It comes as no surprise. Reading the first book felt like visiting old friends. Bring on book two!