book cover

Café Chaos

by Catherine Wilkins, illustrated by Katie Abey

Interest age: 9 to 11
Reading age: 9+

Published by Nosy Crow

  • Funny

About this book

On their first day at secondary school, Hope and her best friend Leila are horrified that the bully from primary school, Skyla, hasn’t moved away after all. 

Hope already has a lot on her plate. The family café, Café Crumble, needs money and needs it fast. Her cousin, who’s living with them, thinks he knows everything to do with business, while her sister only thinks about acting.

So when Hope’s new-found popularity is threatened by Skyla, and flamboyant Auntie Rita demands to live in Hope’s room too, Hope’s life becomes pretty chaotic. Will dressing up as a giant ice cream really save the cafe and her popularity? 

This very relatable story comes with a large serving of humour, despite poor Hope having to navigate family crisis after family crisis. There’s a lesson to be learnt about not always feeling that she has to be the sensible one, and in how to deal with bullies.

Her friendship with Leila is also an inspiration. If your friend has your back, you can do anything. This is warm, real and funny, from a Lollies Award-winning author.  

About the author

Catherine Wilkins, author of My Best Friend and Other Enemies, is a writer and comedian. She grew up in Hertfordshire and now lives in London. She writes jokes and stories which she performs around the country to strangers in the dark, trying to make them laugh. Catherine has always wanted to write funny stories for children and is finding the whole process more exciting than that time she bungee jumped. Which is pretty exciting. If you think about it.

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