Everything on a Waffle

Everything on a Waffle, by Polly Horvath

A Newberry Honor Book, Everything on a Waffle has some interesting characters and moments that will keep you reading as you learn about human nature and believing in something so deep even without reason.

The title of the first chapter, as well as other chapter titles, is not very cryptic as to the contents of this story and how it starts. During a large storm in Coal Harbour, British Columbia, Primrose Squarp’s parents are lost at sea. The whole town pitches in to take care of her until her roaming Uncle Jack finally settles down to take in his estranged niece and at the same time try and turn Coal Harbour into a tourist hotspot. The school guidance counselor, Miss Honeycut, becomes worried when Primrose refuses to acknowledge that her parents are dead. She is convinced beyond a doubt that her parents are still alive somewhere and trying to get to her. Everyone looks down on her for this, especially Miss Honeycut, whose main concern is actually getting closer to Uncle Jack. Miss Honeycut tries to separate the pair and succeeds after Primrose loses a toe and part of her finger in two separate incidents. (I did not spoil the plot; just read the Table of Contents.) Primrose finds a friend in the cook Miss Bowzer at the local Coal Harbour restaurant, The Girl on the Red Swing, where everything you order is also served on a waffle. Even though there are consequences for refusing to believe what everyone tells her and having faith that her parents are alive, Primrose remains true to herself throughout.

Although I understand where the title of this novel comes from, I am a little confused as to why it was chosen for that purpose. I’ll admit that the title was something that drew me to read the book, as well as the cover illustration by Gina Freschet, but I believe it to be something cute without having really anything to do with the plot. However, much of the novel is food driven, adding a hint of originality and creativity on the part of the author. Each chapter ends with a recipe, collected by Primrose and put into a recipe notebook originally started by her mother before she disappeared. These recipes are from food Primrose has come across personally as well as from funny anecdotes, such as the neighbor who was so obsessed with boiling the perfect potatoes that she didn’t have time to look after her children. This creative feature is just one of the reasons this book was enjoyable. Each different character was truly unique and had something special to teach Primrose about people and what they do in certain situations in which they find themselves.

I would recommend this book to its intended younger audience, but would also recommend this novel to readers that love interesting characters to study or to any reader obsessed and driven by food. Some interesting arguments can be made about the people and events in this book, but I will leave it up to you to form them yourself.

“To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.”
- Victor Hugo