The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

Aimee Bender

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, by Aimee Bender, is a story about family and problems we face that we keep a secret. Rose, the main character, is eight, turning into nine years old. On her ninth birthday, Rose’s mother bakes her a lemon cake. But, instead tasting love and happiness in her cake from her mother, Rose tastes depression and despair instead. The only way Rose described as her “mother wanting to find herself.” But, this hidden ability is not only confided in her mother’s cooking, it’s extended to everybody. Rose is able to taste the true emotion of the makers of the food, even farms and factory made foods. Rose has nobody to confide to throughout the book. Her mother shows obvious favoritism to her brother, who we believe has chronic depression, while her dad is distant and only plays the part of dad, instead of being a dad. The only person Rose has is her brother’s best (and only) friend, George. Although George believes Rose when she tells him about emotions in food, he still isn’t able to be there for her throughout her adventures. With Rose’s mother later on having an affair, her brother disappearing, and her dad and her still distant, Rose finds herself and finds happiness in other things.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, is a book that depicts a person’s hidden feelings perfectly, but has a weaker resolution to the story. Although this story has an intriguing introduction, most of the problems in the story remain unsolved and unclear. The grand reveal of the book was disappointing because there was a lot more the story could, and wanted to be. But, the writing itself was beautiful, as well the words being strung perfectly, making you love the book instantly. This also made it once you finished the book, you would believe it was an amazing story, and a book you would read again, but, once you really think through the book, you realize that the characters are very two-dimensional, and that a lot more depth into the story could be added. But, again, this is my personal opinion, so there will be other readers who would love this story. Although I’ve talked a lot about things I didn’t enjoy in the story, it was still written beautifully. I think that The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, has a lot of potential, and will please many readers whose book taste is more fitting for this story.

Grade Level:

- Suggested: 5th-7th

- Advanced: 4th

Genre: Fiction

Key Elements: Food, emotions, depression, disappearance

Possible Themes: Everybody has a hidden face

Overall Rating: 3/5

Happy Reading!

-The Book Lover-

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