MBR Bookwatch Review

​Gary's Bookshelf Review at MBR Bookwatch

Becky and I are honored to have our book reviewed by MBR Bookwatch.

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Gary Roen's review

"​Bullies get their due in "the Haunted Bakery of Seven Pines" The authors bring together characters into a most interesting situation combining a haunted mansion with a bully who wants to prove he is not afraid of anything by spending the night in a vacant home that has had many legends told about it for many years. The solution to the aggressive behavior of certain kids is handled in a most unique way that makes for an interesting read that is enhanced by the artwork of artist Sudipta Dasgupta. There are many symbolic renderings for readers to pick up on in "the Haunted Bakery of Seven Pines that increase the enjoyment of this work for all ages to appreciate." 

​Gary Roen Senior Reviewer You have complete permission to utilize the review in any manner you deem useful for marketing and promotion.

Read the original review HERE

About the story

​According to the hundred-year-old legend, children disappeared in Seven Pines every year to never be found again. People suspected that the old bakery in the woods was under the spell of evil forces and warned their children not to go near the old building.
Best friends Albert and Timmy were mean bullies, and nobody liked them. One day a group of children that were fed up with the daily torture of name calling and pushing and shoving, dared them to go into the old building at night to see if it's really haunted. Albert accepted the dare and although Timmy had his doubts, he went along with his best friend.
What will they find in the old bakery?
Is the legend true and they will disappear forever as many children did who had entered the building?
Literacy Enrichment Kit included

The background of the story

The Haunted Bakery is a part of Becky's childhood, she lived in the small town of Seven Pines Virginia where The Battle of Seven Pines was fought. Deep in the woods stood an old building built of stone and brick and in the basement, there were old brick ovens. People assumed it was an old bakery during the Civil War. Children dared each other to go into the building at night and scared each other with the legend that was told in every generation.
Becky had the rough outline of a story of two boys who went into the bakery at night, on a dare. When Becky showed the rough manuscript to Erika, she accepted the challenge of making the sketchy ideas into a great story together with Becky.
​With Sudipta Dasgupta's wonderful illustrations and Lorraine Carey's professional editing, the story based on an old legend of the haunted bakery comes to life.

A few more reviews from Amazon

It's not cool to be a bully
June 24, 2018
By Grace Augustine
Albert, the school bully, talked his friend Timmy into being just like him. They were the "cool" boys...always calling other classmates names, and puffing out their chests. That was until one day one of the other students challenged Albert and Timmy to prove they weren't just the words they slung at others. This challenge led them into more trouble than they were already in...an abandoned bakery, an evil witch, and boys who were scared spit-less fill the first half of this epic children's novel. This is a classic tale of the good kids against the bullies, important life lessons are learned in an unconventional way through an unlikely ally. The Haunted Bakery of Seven Pines is a lovely story for elementary and middle schoolers.

History Lesson
June 25, 2018
By Bev
This book melds history and fiction while also weaving a moral into the story. Hauntings from Becky Robbins’s childhood are resurrected, and incorporated into a children’s book that is based on an actual “haunted” bakery in Virginia, but is a vessel to intrigue and instruct readers. Anti-bullying literature must grab the reader’s attention early on, and the Haunted Bakery certainly delivers. The book has a lesson to teach but is also light hearted and fun...and scary!! Love this little book filled with history and histrionics and a lesson to be learned.

This book was a fun read and had a wonderful lesson for 5-12 year-olds
June 25, 2018
By Christina Weigand
This book was a fun read and had a wonderful lesson for 5-12 year-olds. When the school bullies are challenged to visit a haunted house they are surprised at what they find. They will learn a valuable lesson about bullies.
Five to twelve year-olds will learn valuable lessons about bullying. This can be a good tool for teachers and parents to be used in teaching children about bullying without being preachy or having it look like they are being taught a lesson.
Children will enjoy this fun tale of mystery and intrigue as the bullies take up the challenge and learn a lesson.


Toinette
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is a fun story that teaches an important lesson.June 30, 2018
This is an important book. The fact that it's a fun story with lovely illustrations is just a bonus. It's obvious that the central theme of this story is bullying but there's more to it than that. While the main characters of the story are, Albert and Timmy, two school bullies, there are other characters in the story who could also be considered bullies as well. Plus, there's also a witch worth mentioning.
At the beginning of the story, we see Albert and Timmy bullying the other kids, but it's pretty clear that this isn't a behavior that they do simply out of spite. Both boys have experienced some form of bullying themselves in the past and therefore they’re simply ‘beating the other kids at their own game.’ I think this is a wonderful dynamic to explore in children's fiction. I think it's a good idea to explore in any type of fiction. I think too often people feel that a bully is just a bully, but often there's more to the story. And then there's the evil witch. Perhaps there's more to her story as well.
While the action of the story begins with a dare that sends Albert and Timmy on their adventure into the haunted bakery, there are underlying tones to the story that you might miss if you don't pay really close attention. To young readers, the fun, mystery, and adventure of the story will pull them in, along with the colorful images, but adults will appreciate the other significances of the story, hopefully prompting them to discuss them with the young readers.
Aside from the central theme of bullying, the story also touches on aspects of: asking and seeking help from others, accepting help from others, accepting others as they are and for their differences, and even acknowledging the changes in times. Considering the social climate of modern times, being able to look back at the past and see how things have changed and or improved is important. I feel more people should take time to look at the past for improvements while continuing to strive for even better in the future.
I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, which has in no way affected my opinion or overall rating.
I think this is a fun story that teaches an important lesson. I highly recommend it to elementary classroom teachers, parents, and anyone else seeking a way to help deal with bullying.

Teresa Fudala
5.0 out of 5 starsBully Buster
July 2, 2018
The Haunted Bakery is a great book! It deals with bullying and I have two small children and their attention span is very limited. I read the book to them and they sat through the whole book and it was like they were mesmerized by the illustrations. I recommend this book and give it 5 stars.

Sandra Watts
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful book to read to your small children.
July 2, 2018
A wonderful book to read to your small children. I work in a Pediatric dental office and I have this book in our office. A well written book and wonderful illustrations. A great price for a great book!!!!