Hudson Avery used to be an all-star figure skater destined for greatness. Now, after throwing a competition after the discovery that her father was cheating on her mom, she has forged a new identity as Watonka's very own teen Cupcake Queen. Spending her days and nights baking delicious confections at her mom's diner, Hurley's, Hud is content to lay low and leave her past and potential behind.
Her tune changes when an invitation to skate for a huge scholarship arrives in the mail and an opportunity to train on a real rink comes from the school hockey team. Between juggling diner shifts, school, cupcake baking, teaching moves to the hunky hockey boys, and sort-of-kind-of dating two of them, Hudson barely manages to find time to work out a new ice routine, let alone keep it a secret from her mother.
Inevitably, something has to give. But what will it be? Will Hudson remain the loyal Cupcake Queen? Or will she pursue grander dreams by skating? Which boy will she choose? Can she date and still maintain her friendship with fellow Hurley waitress girl Dani? Will she ever get the heck out of Watonka? Does she, in fact, even really want to? Mature readers will relish finding the answers in this sweet and complicated tale of dreams, independence, and cupcakes. Sarah Ockler writes a very realistic host of characters and plenty of tasty twists and turns throughout Bittersweet. 400 pages. 978-1442430365 Ages 14 and up
Recommended by Molly Crumbley, Librarian, Maryland, USA
