Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book. Post contains affiliate links; if you make a purchase, I may earn commission. Opinions shared are mine.

Finding kid-empowered realistic fiction for middle childhood can be a challenge.  Many stories base the plot on fantasy elements, such as talking animals or magical items.  Other stories rely on history to generate interest.  I’m new to the Quinny & Hopper series, but starting with book 3 wasn’t a problem. Quinny & Hopper: Smart Cookies is a great standalone!

The main characters in this book are typical children in a third-grade public school classroom.  Their peer interactions are described via two perspectives: Quinny, a rambunctious Junie B. Jones-type of girl, and Hopper, an introspective quiet sort of boy.  The 3rd graders and their siblings take over the neighborhood in an old-fashioned type of way. The kids are all involved in the care of the neighbor’s chickens.  Parents (and a babysitter) are busy carpooling groups of kids to soccer practice, skating lessons, and swimming at the Y.  It’s quaint and charming, but there’s more behind the scenes.

Kids of all ages will find something to relate to.  Author Adriana Brad Schanen vividly describes everyday occurrences such as the angst of weaning a child from her Binky.  When the principal at WVES enacts the new “healthy snacks” rule, it’s fun to see how the students find a voice.  There were many teachable moments in the story, too.

There were some parts of the story I didn’t like.  Quinny’s parents were very indulgent of her behavior, even when she was sassy and almost defiant.  Academic achievement was downplayed with the characters viewing themselves as either “smart” or “dumb.”  Quinny’s eventual success with math was hard-earned, but she still regarded her progress as “almost.”  The story line had so many different angles that it was difficult to stay focused on one outcome.  Quinny & Hopper: Smart Cookies would make a good read aloud, though, for parents or teachers who want to read one or two short chapters at a time. The dual perspective provides an interesting view of each situation, and it opens a door for good discussions about friendship, compromise, and acceptance of each other.

Oh, and it also inspired my daughter to bake a batch of her delicious sugar cookies.  She uses the Betty Crocker pouch mix and they’re DELICIOUS!  Be sure to have some Smart Cookies on hand when you read this book.