I loved this book.  It’s an exciting adventure set in a simpler day and age–and a treat to read after the recent flood of dystopian novels.

When Polly Portman dies, and leaves her prize-winning pie crust recipe to Lardo, her portly cat, pie bakers far and wide begin a frantic search for the recipe that is bound to give them a victory in the baking contest that Polly has dominated for years.

Polly’s niece, Alice, inherits Lardo, but can’t figure out how a cat can reveal a recipe.

With their bikes to get them around town, Alice and her friend, Charlie, set out to solve the mystery, basing their search on methods perfected by TV hero Sky King.

Middle grade students will enjoy the adventure, and the whole family will enjoy the great pie recipes, (those of Aunt Polly, no doubt) that conclude each chapter.