Everything on a Waffle
First edition book cover
AuthorPolly Horvath
Cover artistGina Freschet
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreChildren's novel
PublisherFarrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date
April 4, 2001
Media typeHardcover and Paperback
Audio CD and cassette
Pages150 pp
ISBN0-374-32236-8
OCLC43845530
LC ClassPZ7.H79224 Ev 2001

Everything on a Waffle is a 2001 bestselling children's novel, written by Polly Horvath and published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. The book was critically acclaimed[1] and won a variety of awards,[2] including the 2002 Newbery Honor.[3] A sequel, One Year in Coal Harbour, was published in 2012.

Plot summary

Everything on a Waffle, set in a small Canadian community of Coal Harbor fishing village, tells the story of an eleven-year-old girl named Primrose Squarp. One night, a storm hits their town. Her father is out to sea during the storm, so her mother leaves Primrose with a neighbor while she takes a boat out to go find him. Primrose's parents disappear in the typhoon, but Primrose refuses to believe they are dead and doesn't attend their memorial service.[4]

While she defends her family's survival, her custody situation moves around from aging neighbor Miss Perfidy to her preoccupied, but caring Uncle Jack. The only thing that remains constant is her enjoyment of a restaurant called the Girl on the Red Swing, where each menu item is served on a waffle. Restaurant owner Kate Bowzer takes Primrose under her wing. She teaches her how to cook (recipes are all cited in a notepad). She doesn't question or criticize her, even through her odd predicaments, such as accidentally setting the class guinea pig on fire.

Primrose is taken from the custody of her uncle Jack after a series of accidents, including losing a toe and part of her finger. Uncle Jack is said to be fighting "tooth and nail" for custody of her. As a foster kid, she is put into the home of an older couple, Evie and Bert. Although they are all fond of each other, Primrose does not seem able to develop an attachment to them, likely because of her history of unstable living.

While in foster care, the mental state of Primrose's former guardian, Miss Perfidy, quickly deteriorates. While Primrose is visiting her in the hospital, Miss Perfidy dies, but Primrose does not exhibit much of a reaction.

Through her oddities and accidents, Primrose becomes a town curiosity, with neighbors questioning her emotional state. She gathers many stories from many people regarding times when they have "just known" something was true, even though they mightn't have had proof. This helps develop the main theme of this strange story: hope is not crazy. But even through all of this, Primrose never gives up hope in finding her parents and being a normal family again. Primrose is eventually returned to her uncle, but remains in contact with Bert and Evie, as they see her as a granddaughter figure. Later on, her parents come back, which is a real shock to everyone in town. Uncle Jack faints upon seeing them alive, and Primrose embraces her parents. They reveal that the storm had washed them up on a shore, where they had survived until they flagged down a passing-by ship.

Awards

Awards for Everything on a Waffle
Year Award Result Ref.
2001 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for Fiction and Poetry Honor [5]
Mr. Christie's Book Award: English, Ages 8 to 11 Winner [6]
2002 ALSC Notable Children's Book Selection [7]
Newbery Medal Honor [8][9]
Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Winner [10]

References

  1. ↑ "Everything on a Waffle". Barnesandnoble.com. Archived from the original on 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
  2. ↑ "Everything on a Waffle". Polly Horvath, Inc. Archived from the original on 2008-01-10. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
  3. ↑ Lipson, Eden Ross. "Retold 'Three Pigs' Wins Top Children's Book Prize", The New York Times, January 22, 2002. Accessed May 3, 2023.
  4. ↑ Margolies, Jane. "Children's Books", The New York Times, June 17, 2001. Accessed May 3, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Past Boston Globe–Horn Book Award Winners". The Horn Book. 2022-01-10. Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  6. ↑ "2001 Mr. Christie's Book Award Recipient: Polly Horvath". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  7. ↑ Schulte-Cooper, Laura (2007-02-26). "2002 Notable Children's Books announced". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  8. ↑ "Everything on a Waffle | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2021-12-06. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  9. ↑ Wasson, Paige (2007-02-26). "Park, Wiesner win Newbery, Caldecott Medals". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2015-12-17. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  10. ↑ "2002 Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize Recipient: Polly Horvath". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on 2022-09-30. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
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