Basil & Dahlia

By Joy McCullough, Shane Cluskey (Illustrator)

Orphan siblings face a sinister chef with a dark secret in a battle for survival.

3.9/5 Goodreads · 138 ratings

288 pages

$17.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

After a tragic accident, siblings Basil and Dahlia flee from being separated into foster homes, landing in the clutches of a disgraced celebrity chef in New York City. Promised comfort and endless éclairs, their hopes rise, but danger lurks. Laurel Fox, the chef, seeks redemption at any cost, and her sinister secret ingredient could spell disaster. Can Basil and Dahlia outwit her and find safety, or will their luck run out? Dive into a tale of dark humor and unexpected twists as the siblings navigate a world where nothing is as sweet as it seems.

From the publisher

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 éclairs 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.

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