Donut Days by Lara Zielin

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: August 2009
Age Range: Young Adult
Pages: 256pp
Format: printed manuscript
Source of copy: from author - Lara Zielin

Emma has a lot going on. Her best friend's not speaking to her, a boy she's known all her life is suddenly smokin' hot and in love with her, and oh yes, her evangelical minister parents may lose their church, especially if her mother keeps giving sermons saying Adam was a hermaphrodite.

But this weekend Emma's only focused on Crispy Dream, a hot new donut franchise opening in town, where Harley bikers and Frodo wannabes camp out waiting to be the first ones served. Writing the best feature story on the camp for the local paper might just win Emma a scholarship to attend a non- Christian college. But soon enough Emma finds the donut camp isn't quite the perfect escape from all her troubles at Living Word Redeemer.

I adored Donut Days so much. It's a story that exudes both cuteness and profundity. If you're on a reading crisis this will for sure be your cure. It got me hooked at first words and I just couldn't help reading on and on.

The idea of the donuts was just so fun. I have to admit that I've never ever tasted a single donut in my life; despite that, reading about these sweet pieces was enough to turn me into a fan of them. But it wasn't just about how yummy they were described. The thing that got me excited, also about the whole story, was the camp. It brought the book the color of happiness, pure fun and good times together with your loved ones. I bet you will be just like me, during your progress of reading wish you would actually one of those who camped in front of a donut store waiting for the fresh donuts, or simply just to join the thrill.

But well, Donut Days wasn't all about donuts. It focused on belief, which, I thought, was delivered very well. Once again, I'm not into religion and I'm not a Christian so the concept of God is rather strange to me. However, I felt comfortable reading about it in this book. The situation was enjoyable - Emma, whose parents believed strongly in God and sister happened to be exactly like an angel, didn't take the Church and the Bible very seriously. She didn't hold much hope in God at all therefore was disapproved by her own family most of the times. But the problem didn't end here. There was also a best friend who she just lost, a boy she thought she didn't love but suddenly felt so much toward and a college fund she had to work on. All of that made the story attractive. At some point Donut Days felt a little typical, like the bad side vs the good side, but it wasn't a big problem to me.

Emma reminded me of Emma in What Would Emma Do? They got the same name and they talked to God the same way and both got themselves into sticky situations. What I liked about our main character here? She was honest, strong-willed and sometimes silly in a real nice way. I enjoyed seeing her getting all goofy in front of Jake or acting all jealous of Natalie and Molly's bond.

Another book with an open ending. Not exactly what I was expecting but everyone did find their own ways to face their troubles in lives, to keep their faith in God and remain together no matter how different they were. In other words, bright lovely story.

Rating: 3.5/5