Boy’s unusual power makes him the object of political struggle

Archie's parents want to have their cake and eat it, too.

Jane Fagan | May 27 2016 | comment

The Vanilla Slice Kidby Adam Wallace and Jack Wodhams
written for ages 9-12 | recommended
published in 2016 | Ford Street Publishing | 132 pages

When Archie was born, the doctor held him up by the leg and gave him a ‘light slap on the butt’ to see if he was alive! At this, little Archie's hand began tingling with anger and he immediately shot out one tiny chocolate cupcake into the doctor's face.

The main character - Archie Cunningham - is quite an amazing little boy who has the supernatural talent of creating sweet treats from the palms of his hands. His parents are mean and greedy, wanting only to capitalise on this strange talent by selling the cupcakes and building their fortune. Archie's selfish mother is particularly detestable - she will do anything to get as many of Archie's products into her mouth as possible with little or no regard for Archie.

However when a video of his incredible cup-cake making ability goes viral, he is head-hunted by certain powers behind a research and political centre. He fast becomes the recipe in a plan they have for world domination.

I enjoyed this book for its humour and lively writing style. It was fast paced enough to whip through and would be enjoyed by both accomplished and reluctant readers. It is true that there is not a great deal of character development in the story though. The book has been compared to the literary works of Roald Dahl and Andy Griffiths but I would say it doesn't quite make it to that level because the humour, whilst amusing, is not really subversive in any way and the story isn't as captivating as Dahl or Griffiths. Having said that, a great deal was packed into one book and the ideas behind it are quirky and refreshing.

A former children's librarian, Jane Fagan is currently a full-time wife and mother of two

- See more at: http://www.mercatornet.com/bookreviews/view/boys-unusual-power-makes-him-the-object-of-political-struggle/18133#sthash.NU69pJ3S.dpuf

Of the dozens of articles I have read this year about Donald Trump – and there have been some excellent ones – none, I think, is more telling than today’s Public Discourse article by Caitlin La Ruffa and Hilary Towers. Caitlin, a young wife and mother who runs the Love and Fidelity Network (America’s pro-marriage university movement) and Hilary, mother of five and a psychologist, challenge the presidential campaigner where, arguably, he is weakest: on the fundamental importance of stable marriage to a flourishing nation.

Their open letter is a tour de force. It’s polite but full of conviction as well as home truths for Trump and others who want to see America “great again”, including some of his angry followers and the odd ex-president. It surveys the fragile state of marriage in the US (as elsewhere) and the trends that have undermined it, but it also finds grounds for hope in the younger generation who have rallied to initiatives like Love and Fidelity – an organisation Trump once mocked. Great work, ladies! Yours is a message for the world, not just America.

Captain America fans will be interested in Rick Williams’ review of Marvel’s Captain America: Steve Rogers #1 – but, be warned, there are major spoilers. It seems Marvel might be the biggest spoilers of all…

Monday is the anniversary of the death by burning at the stake of the heroic (Saint) Joan of Arc – not one that we would normally observe, but we couldn’t resist a lovely tribute to her from Campbell Markham, a Presbyterian minister from Australia.

Enjoy!