Basil & Dahlia: A Tragical Tale of Sinister Sweetness (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781665944236)

Two orphan siblings with truly terrible luck battle an evil celebrity chef in this uproarious illustrated middle grade romp with the dark humor of A Series of Unfortunate Events and The Beast and the Bethany.

It's hard to imagine things could get worse after one's parents die in a greenhouse explosion. But that is precisely what happens to Basil and his younger sister, Dahlia. They escape from the social worker who wants to split them up to different foster homes by jumping off a moving train, only to find themselves wounded (Dahlia) and bedraggled (Basil) and without a soul to care for them. What's more, they're lost in the wilds of New York City.

Famished and alone, they wander into Cravings, the delectable bakery owned by Laurel Fox, disgraced celebrity chef with a soft spot for poor, hungry orphans. When she offers them luxurious accommodations and all the 馗lairs they can eat, Basil and Dahlia dare to hope their luck has changed at last. But the savvy reader will know it can't be as simple as all that! Laurel Fox is out for redemption, and she'll do anything to get the sinister secret ingredient she requires.

Author: Joy McCullough
ISBN-10: 1665944234
ISBN-13: 9781665944236
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Language: English
Published: 05/21/2024
Pages: 288
Format: Hardcover
Size: 8.25h x 5.50w x 0.67d

Review Citation(s):
Booklist 03/01/2024 pg. 56
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 04/01/2024
Kirkus Reviews 03/15/2024
Publishers Weekly 04/29/2024
School Library Journal 05/01/2024 pg. 70