Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Review: Cupcake


Rachel Cohn. Cupcake. Simon Pulse: 2007.

Cupcake continues the tale of Cyd Charisse, the fast-talking, independent-minded heroine of Cohn's Gingerbread and SShrimp. In this third installment, we find CC living with her gay half-brother Danny in New York City getting ready to start on her adult life.

Even though I have nothing in common with Cyd Charisse's rebellious ways, I find this trilogy utterly delightful. I'm am particularly charmed by CC's unconventional voice and punk rock style. This series deals with very adult situations in such an honest, whimsical manner that I can't help but fall in love with it. Cohn has crafted vibrant characters that make real-world places and situations feel like fairy tales in which acceptance of others and living in harmony with family and friends are happily every after. It's the kind of world that makes me appreciate my own family of choice and the connections and choices we make in this world. It's a story of growing up and finding yourself and making a home among like-minded people and I love it for that.

This book reminds me of Dangerous Angels but feels more realistic in its portrayal of punk rock aesthetic New York with real-life actions and consequences than Block's fairy tale punk rock Los Angeles. I highly recommend it! I also love this cover, and I really wish I had these covers for Gingerbread and Shrimp as well!


5 comments:

  1. Never heard of this series. Seems interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've never read these ones, but I LOVED Rachel Cohn and David Levithan's Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, and I also enjoyed Francesca Lia Block's Weetzie Bat. It sounds like I would like these too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I really liked this series, I agree the third book is probably the best, though I really like the first book as well. Like CVL I'm also a big fan of Nick and Norah, as well as Naomi and Ely. I keep meaning to check out You Know Where to Find Me, but haven't gotten around to it yet...

    ReplyDelete
  4. I definitely recommend the series, and I too Love Nick and Norah! I haven't read You Know Where to Find Me yet, either.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I only read the first one back when it came out (however many years ago that was) and I always wanted to read the rest.

    ReplyDelete