Primrose Squarp simply knows her parents did not perish at sea during a terrible storm, despite what the other residents of Coal Harbour believe. For all practical purposes, Primrose is an orphan, and there's no great clamoring of prospective adopters. After realizing the impracticality of continuing to pay Miss Perfidy (a mothball-scented elderly lady) an hourly wage to baby-sit her, the town council places her with Uncle Jack, who reluctantly takes her in. Primrose does warm up to him, but her true sanctuary is a local restaurant called The Girl on the Red Swing, where everything--including lasagna--is served on a waffle, and where the proprietor Miss Bowzer offers a willing ear. Through a mixture of eccentric humor and probing philosophy, author Polly Horvath makes Primrose's search for peace and understanding a most memorable one.
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"I was surprised that everything didn't come together at the end in a more implausibly-holistic package. As it was, a lot of things were left hanging, which was perhaps more realistic, but this book (and this author) is not noted for realism."
— Mark (4 out of 5 stars)
" I was at Goodwill buying piles of books for my 6-year-old son and in addition to books he'll like now, I buy books I think he might like later. I didn't care for the cheesy, cartoonish cover, but it was a hardcover and it had a Newberry Honor Book sticker on it, so I figured for 69 cents, it was worth the risk. I pre-read it and was surprised that it wasn't nearly as corny as the cover. In fact, I enjoyed the book quite a bit and it was a quick evening's read. Eleven-year-old Primrose Squarp (love that name) lives in the small, harbor town of Coal Harbor in British Columbia, where the main sources of income are whaling, fishing, and the navy. One night, when her father is out at sea, there is a big storm and her mother is so worried that she takes a small boat and goes after him, but neither return. The rest of the book is how Primrose copes with this. She refuses to believe that her parents are dead. She thinks they must be stranded somewhere and will come back. The many colorful characters in town deal with her unremitting optimism differently. Some tease her, some try to convince her they're dead, some just accept her optimism for what it is regardless of what they themselves believe. Primrose is a wise and funny girl, but not precociously so and not in an irritating or unrealistic way. She just knows what she knows and she's not going to be swayed by others. And like many kids whose survival depends on reading people, she's perceptive about human nature. The title comes from a local dive restaurant, run by Miss Bowzer, a salt-of-the-earth woman who smokes while she cooks and serves everything on a waffle, including steak and fish & chips. "Miss Bowzer said it gave the restaurant class. Also, she liked to give the customer a little something extra." Miss Bowzer was one of my favorite characters. If you're expecting the book to be heart-wrenching or moving or sentimental, you'll be disappointed. It is from the perspective of an 11-year-old who is rarely surprised by anything and has little time for heart-warming sentiment. I like her summing up: "And it was always like that in Coal Harbor. Some people got old and some died. I left parts of myself some places and found others unexpectedly. New people appeared on the scene and others disappeared before I had a chance to say goodbye. All kinds of ordinary people gave their whole hearts to things you wouldn't think you could give your heart to." "
— Shannon, 1/25/2014" A fun, light novel in the vein of Kate DiCamillo's _Because of Winn-Dixie_. I enjoyed it a lot! "
— Stephanie, 1/21/2014" I like this book and I think it has a good message. "
— Dazzle.ll, 1/16/2014" A lovely quirky novel full of a quiet humour and great recipes - I do wonder though if everything really can be served on a waffle! "
— Jeffrey, 1/10/2014" This book is awfully silly and funny! "
— Cynthia, 1/8/2014" It was horrible...only the ending is okay. Would definitely NOT recommend it to anyone. Well I guess if you like cook books, this would be a good book, because it talks about cooking and gives you a recipe "
— Jenny, 1/4/2014" Everything on a Waffle is a good book. I like the plot line of this story because the author that wrote this really thought about it. I can see why it got the Newberry Award now. I think that if I were able to tell the author something to do better it would be to change the ending. The ending of this book isn't the best. It kind of makes you want to know what is going to happen next and I think that that is a good way to start a book or finish a book that is in a series. And this book isn't in a series. Also I think I would change the book by making it longer than the short one hundred and fifty pages because more detail would help keep the story going. This book has some really good parts some okay parts and some bad parts but over all I would rate it three out of five stars, I liked it and I hope if you chose to read it you will like it too. "
— Ellie, 12/31/2013" I learned that it's more what you make of the situation then the way you solve it. "
— Елена, 12/29/2013" 3.5 stars. If the author had left out three words (or phrases) I probably would have given this 4 stars. There are just some things I find offensive, especially when they appear in books for children. "
— Tammra, 11/21/2013" Awards Won: Newbery Honor (2002) "
— Mallory, 11/8/2013" A Kind of Sad Story. About A Girl Who Lost Her Parents At Sea. And Tries to Find Them. "
— Angie, 8/8/2013" it has a good ending... "
— Elizabeth, 7/7/2013" loved it- incredibly sweet with a strong female protagonist- I often suggest this one for family read alouds- because its a nice one to hear together. Funny and not boring at all. Jesse "
— Pack, 6/28/2013" Read this a few years ago. Such a good book. Didn't see the events coming. Awesome narration from the main character! "
— Emily, 5/30/2013" Felt like a modern-day, semi-serious Pippi Longstocking, in a very good way. "
— Sherry, 4/24/2013" This was a cute story with some interesting sounding recipes. It was fun to listen to and had some really funny moments, but nothing really thought provoking. "
— Tasha, 3/30/2013" There was no real conflict and i expected more foster parents or something, but i like all the mention of food and recipes. It had a happy ending, so i am really happy about it. "
— Kaito, 3/4/2013" This book is really intresting I got it because the cover look like its was going to be a funny book but its not turning out to be like that. "
— Vilma, 2/9/2013" My favorite book of all time. I like it for many reasons, the main one being how I never tire of reading it. "
— Azia, 1/7/2013" I read this book to India and we enjoyed it very much. Great read for a forth grader. "
— Sharon, 11/5/2012" I didn't really like this book but it wasn't horrible I liked Evie and Bert :) "
— Kinsey, 10/17/2012" Definitely a character driven story with some crazy quirky characters in it! "
— Ms., 9/11/2012" Cute story about a girl who loses her parents at sea, and how she copes. She's plucky and the characters are amusing, but somehow it's not enough, there's almost too much cuteness. "
— melody, 8/8/2012" This book was sad, but entertaining. It was a simple story that makes you feel fluttery inside. It has a feel good ending. "
— 10-11, 4/4/2012" I enjoyed this book - want to read more from this author "
— Carol, 10/18/2011" This was like my favorite book when I was younger! I totally forgot about it! "
— Molly, 10/13/2011" It was a good book but hard to understand. "
— Lauren, 9/23/2011" I liked it. I wasn't overwhelmingly awed by it. I think most kids will really enjoy it. "
— Diane, 7/30/2011" I Have been currently reading "Everything on a Waffle" so far i Really like it!!!!!!! "
— Jessica, 5/16/2011" I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would. I really liked how the main character really comes to understand people and why they behave the way they do. It was an easy quick read, but very enjoyable. "
— Michelle, 4/24/2011" loved it- incredibly sweet with a strong female protagonist- I often suggest this one for family read alouds- because its a nice one to hear together. Funny and not boring at all. Jesse "
— Pack, 4/23/2011" I loved this. It was weird and quirky in the kind of way I like. "
— Jessie, 4/4/2011" love the story, very quick resolution. "
— the, 4/3/2011" I didn't really like this book but it wasn't horrible I liked Evie and Bert :)<br/> "
— Kinsey, 3/28/2011" This was okay. I think I liked the author's The Trolls better. I do agree with Andrea, though, when she commented that it made her hungry. I thought it was clever of the author to include recipes at the end of each chapter. "
— Mary, 3/27/2011" I liked this book very much. I thought that it was sad but very exiting at the same time this is one of the books I would recommended to others. "
— Sahara, 3/4/2011" Entertaining, cute story. Easy read with feel-good ending. "
— Nicole, 2/14/2011" mother/daughter book club Feb 19th "
— Brianna, 2/8/2011Polly Horvath is one of the most highly acclaimed authors writing today. Her books include The Canning Season, a National Book Award winner and a YA Canadian Book of the Year; Everything on a Waffle, a Newbery Honor Book; The Trolls, a National Book Award finalist; My One Hundred Adventures, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, a Booklist Editors’ Choice, and a Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Book of the Year; and Northward to the Moon, an Oprah’s Book Club Kid’s Reading List selection. She lives with her family in British Columbia.
Kathleen McInerney won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration in 2011 and was a finalist for the Audie in 2010 and 2015. Her narrations have also earned several AudioFile Earphones Awards. She has performed in New York and around the United States in both classical and contemporary theater. Her credits also include television commercials, daytime drama, radio plays, and a broad range of animation voice-overs.