A thought provoking story with wonderful family and friend dynamics continues in Book Two of the Donut Dreams series by Coco Simon. In Book 2, we have Lindsay’s (from book 1) cousin’s story. Kelsey and Lindsay are both entering middle school and both work in the Donut Dreams Shop of the ‘Park’, their grandparents restaurant in the small town of Bellgrove.
Kelsey is not a fan of change. Middle school has change written all over it. One of the first changes Kelsey faces is having two of her friends try out for a different sports. Kelsey likes field hockey, as does her friend Sophia. Her friends Bella and Riley have decided to go out for soccer. Kelsey’s circle of close friends is expanding from elementary school and she’s not sure how she feels about that. Then, Casey nominates Kelsey for the sixth grade class representative. What will that even entail?
Meanwhile, on the home front, Kelsey’s mother invites her motherless cousin, Lindsay, over for their family’s special Friday night event because Lindsay’s little brother is sick. Ugh, change.
Kelsey does not make the A Team in field hockey, but is on the support team. Kelsey’s happy with it. She is not competitive. She will have “all of the fun without all the pressure.”(79)
Now, Mom wants Lindsay go with them on their special mom and me weekend, too. ” ‘ I don’t want to share Mom with anyone more than Jenna and Molly, because sharing her with them is already too much… ‘ ” (99)
Kelsey will realize how much her family is there for her, carrying the theme family always has your back from book one.
In the end Kelsey comes to find people :
- who want to help you,
2) here to listen,
3) let them in,
4) not knowing everything is okay,
5) not having solutions is okay,
6) kindness will always win out and you’ll stay true to yourself.