Bread. Wizard. Really I shouldn't have to tell you anything else but I will because I am so kind-hearted. Gingerbread. Army. Convinced yet? This a book full of magic and wizards, and people who only can do a bit of magic and not the mountain-moving type of magic. Mona can magic dough to not burn, and even make gingerbread dance. When she finds a dead body in her aunt's bakery, she soons finds herself accused of murder and in the middle of..well quite a mess.
IT IS A CRIME NO ONE HAS RECOMMENDED ME ANYTHING BY T. KINGFISHER!
The writing style and topics are enough that it can easily be enjoyed and consumed by any age, be it middle grade or even adult. (I myself, being a tax-paying variety of human, fell in love with this story from the very first page) Delving into corruption, the true price of being a hero, and adults who fail had me immersed and even misty eyed.
The characters are humorous, and while sometimes first person can be a bit repetitive, Mona's sarcasm and observations kept it fresh and never dull. My favorite character from this book is obviously Bob, the true hero of the story. A close second is Mona's gingerbread familiar.
Truly a read that will cheer you up, and much like the stickiness of raw dough, it won't let you go until you're done.
Read this. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go root out every book that Kingfisher has ever written and add it to my tbr.