What is Clara's Secret?

As the music comes to an end, I let out a long deep breath. A breath I had held the moment she began to dance.

Georgie just wants to dance. She's desperate to take lessons, but ever since her parents decided to move it's the last thing on the "To Do" list- plus money is tight, and they can't afford to enroll her in ballet class. Her level of unhappiness is increased by the woes that come along with adjusting to a new town, and she really misses her best friend, Amber. At least she's able to visit her fun grandmother, Jane, at the nursing home. Life for the residents at Willow Lakes is pretty dull, but Georgie enjoys baking her delicious pies for Jane, and she's excited when she finds out that Jane's roommate, Eve, danced alongside the Paulina Strofsky, the famous ballerina who preformed as Clara in the Nutcracker ballet. Eve's recollections about her life traveling with the Russian Ballet inspire Georgie to come up with a plan to make money to pay for dance lessons. When Amber comes to visit, the two girls put their heads together, and the adventure begins. After a failed attempt to sell bedazzled tees, and then a botched beauty incident, Georgie and Amber are even more determined to come up with an ingenious idea. Word about Georgie's famous pies gets around, and things really start to heat up. Will Georgie be able to afford dance lessons? What happened to Paulina Strofsky? Why did Eve stop dancing? What will happen to the residents of Willow Lakes if Georgie and Amber keep trying to raise money? You will have to read this enchanting book to find out! 

Pie and Other Brilliant Ideas by Karen Pokras Toz is a delightful story. I really enjoyed the relationship that developed between Georgie and Eve, and found Eve's memories of the Russian Ballet fascinating. Georgie and Amber's efforts to raise money for dance lessons were insightful and clever, and I laughed out loud at some of their ideas. This is a captivating story, and the characters are very relatable. Karen Toz's storytelling is charming and her message is artfully delivered; Don't stop following your dreams, for one day they will find you. 

Has anyone else read Pie and Other Brilliant Ideas? Or have you read another book by Karen Pokras Toz. We would love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading : ) ~ F 

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