Night of Cake & Puppets: Daughter of Smoke & Bone
By Carrie R. Wheadon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Re-release of romantic series companion adds keen art.
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What's the Story?
In NIGHT OF CAKE & PUPPETS, Zuzana the puppet maker has a serious crush on Mik, a violinist. She sees him nightly at the Marionette Theater in Prague but can never work up the courage to even introduce herself. Sick of feeling so lovesick, she concocts an outrageously complicated plan to reel him in. It's a scavenger hunt all over snowy Prague with puppets, hints of magic, and a bar filled with upended coffins for tables. Along the way, Zuzana worries about two things: Will Mik want to follow the trail to the end? And if he does, what will she finally say to him when he gets there?
Is It Any Good?
This artful and hip meet-cute story keenly illustrated by the author's husband is guaranteed to make you long for first kisses and dessert. Readers of the Daughter of Smoke & Bone series who love main character Karou's petite and spunky puppet-maker best friend, Zuzana, are treated to the tale of her blooming romance with Mik the violinist. Her elaborate plans to snare him take readers to the curious corners of Prague. The scavenger hunt will remind art-house movie lovers so much of Amelie. And in both Night of Cake & Puppets and Amelie, the female protagonists have no idea what to do once they have their crush's attention, adding to the delightful romantic tension.
Author Laini Taylor has been one of the strongest writers in young adult literature for a while now. She skillfully and quirkily -- with puppets, of course -- draws out the tension of one night's quest for love and connection in a way that leaves a long-lasting impression. No one describes the lead-up to a kiss quite like she does. With peacock prints in the snow and so much more.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the parallel perspectives in Night of Cake & Puppets. How does Zuzana see Mik? How does Mik see Zuzana? Does that make you closer to the story to see both perspectives?
The first edition in 2003 didn't include illustrations. How do illustrations add to this story? Would you be as interested in the story without them?
Will you read more books by author Laini Taylor?
Book Details
- Author: Laini Taylor
- Illustrator: Jim Di Bartolo
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Arts and Dance , Puppets
- Book type: Fiction
- Publishers: Little , Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: September 12, 2017
- Number of pages: 256
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: September 2, 2017
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