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Bigger than a Bread Box

by Laurel Snyder (Goodreads Author)

4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 · rating details · 1,718 ratings · 270 reviews

A magical breadbox that delivers whatever you wish for—as long as it fits inside? It's too good to be true! Twelve-year-old Rebecca is struggling with her parents' separation, as well as a sudden move to her Gran's house in another state. For a while, the magic bread box, discovered in the attic, makes life away from home a little easier. Then suddenly it starts to make th...more

Hardcover, 223 pages

Published September 27th 2011 by Random House Books for Young Readers

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Newbery 2012

10th out of 136 books — 546 voters

Bigger than a Bread Box by Laurel Snyder

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own M... by Catherynne M. Valente

Middle Grade Novels of 2011

2nd out of 124 books — 125 voters

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May 27, 2011 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars

As much as I loved PENNY DREADFUL, I think this is my favorite Laurel Snyder book yet. Heartbreaking, hopeful, and full of magic, it's the story of a girl whose life changes when the lights go out and her parents have one last argument before her mother loads the kids into the car and drives out of the state. When they land at her grandmother's house in Georgia, Rebecca has to deal not only with her parents' separation but also the angst of a sudden move, switching schools, and then...a magical...more

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Jan 09, 2012 Phoebe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-grade, fantasy, magical-realism, intergalactic-academy-reviews, sci-fi

Full review at The Intergalactic Academy.

Bigger than a Bread Box might seem to be of a stretch for an Intergalactic Academy review. After all, it’s apparently a fantasy title, not a science fictional one. In a way, this story–about a middle school girl who finds a magical, gift-granting bread box–might see a little typical, too. Like fluffy wish fulfillment, not a story with heft or bite.

But Rebecca Shapiro’s world is far from saccharine. Her dad drives a taxi–or he did, until he wrecked it. Her...more Full review at The Intergalactic Academy.

Bigger than a Bread Box might seem to be of a stretch for an Intergalactic Academy review. After all, it’s apparently a fantasy title, not a science fictional one. In a way, this story–about a middle school girl who finds a magical, gift-granting bread box–might see a little typical, too. Like fluffy wish fulfillment, not a story with heft or bite.

But Rebecca Shapiro’s world is far from saccharine. Her dad drives a taxi–or he did, until he wrecked it. Her mom works nights. Rebecca herself is quiet and a little nerdy, but her universe is a fairly secure one. Until one day, when her mother stuffs Rebecca and her baby brother Lew into their car and drives off to her grandmother’s house in Atlanta, leaving Rebecca’s father behind.

Rebecca reacts with very honest adolescent rage at her mother for upsetting daily life. She hides out in her grandmother’s cluttered attic. It’s there that she finds the eponymous bread box, and unwittingly makes her first wish–for a book to read. The core premise here is a bit like the kid’s classic Half Magic. You’ve got kids, and wishes, and the magic only follows very specific rules (in Half Magic, only half of a wish was granted; here, any item wished for must fit in the bread box itself). But thematically, it’s very different from Edward Eager’s tale. Eager’s kids were wishing out of boredom. Soon, Rebecca, thrust into a new school ruled by a spoiled queen bee, is wishing out of desperation: for electronics, for pens and lip glosses to give out at school, and candy to trade at lunch, and fries from the diner back home. She’s essentially trying to plug up the holes in her life with magic. Unsuccessfully, of course. It’s that kind of book. Think Edward Eager meets Louise Fitzhugh.

Like Fitzhugh and her contemporaries, Snyder deals absolutely honestly with the Rebecca and her situation. She’s volatile, rebellious, forgetful, a little selfish, and absolutely sympathetic. She’s also bright. This is as much a novel about embracing your inner geek as it is about magic, and its in exploration of this theme–complete with discussions of the Law of Conservation of Mass and Epicurus–that Bigger than a Bread Box takes on a decidedly SFnal tone.

But the focus remains on Rebecca’s plight, as she attempts to undo the damage that her magic has done and make reparations for her mistakes. The end takes us to some very interesting, unexpected, and affecting places, and in a sense the novel’s conclusion is deliciously open-ended. It hits all the right notes, especially the most important one: honesty.(less)

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Oct 18, 2012 Laurel added it · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

I voiced this audio edition of my own recent novel, and it was an amazing experience. I cried while recording it. I wonder if you can tell where!

6 likes · like · see review

Dec 29, 2012 Tripp added it

Shelves: first-person, middle-grade, past-tense

Rebecca Shapiro is 12, lives in Baltimore with her parents and younger brother Lew (2), and is working on her math homework when the lights blink off and her family comes apart. Within days, her mother has packed the car and driven herself and both kids to her mother's house in Atlanta, while she figures out her life. This sudden uprooting is disastrous for Rebecca, who is angry at her mother and at her own helplessness.

The only good thing--or so it seems at first--is a breadbox, one of many, f...more Rebecca Shapiro is 12, lives in Baltimore with her parents and younger brother Lew (2), and is working on her math homework when the lights blink off and her family comes apart. Within days, her mother has packed the car and driven herself and both kids to her mother's house in Atlanta, while she figures out her life. This sudden uprooting is disastrous for Rebecca, who is angry at her mother and at her own helplessness.

The only good thing--or so it seems at first--is a breadbox, one of many, found in the attic. It has the power to grant wishes that adhere to certain restrictions; above all, the objects wished for must actually exist in the world. Much of the plot structure comes from the working out and exploitation of this magic item's powers, as Rebecca uses the candy, food, and gift cards provided by the bread box to buy herself popularity at her school in Atlanta, and then sees that popularity, and more, undone as the exact nature of how the item works, especially the fact that it takes items from elsewhere in the world to give them to Rebecca, becomes clear. In fact, there is a nice connection made between this and the Greek philosopher, Epicurus, who briefly appears as an answer on a test Rebecca takes about halfway through the story. This limitation on the magic's power becomes downright harrowing with a certain spoon Rebecca gets for her mother, a gift that leads the novel in a most unexpected direction.

That unexpected direction is indicative of Snyder's refusal to take easy paths in this story. The little old lady in the messy house is kind and lonely until that spoon hits the scene and she reacts with a pathetic and heart-wrenching fury, something rare for middle-grade fiction. The girl you think will become Rebecca's best friend and ally at her new school, doesn't. Not for any obvious reason, but simply because Rebecca is too emotionally wrecked to pursue friendship and the girl, Megan, is too cowed by the school mean girls, led by one Hannah. Megan's main role is to provide Rebecca background about Hannah, whichcomplicates rather than simplifies the task of sorting people into black hats and white hats.

Snyder does a good job of anticipating and defusing the most obvious criticism a reader might have: because the bread box is magic, why doesn't Rebecca simply demonstrate this fact to any of the various people who become mad at her as a result of objects provided by the box? The bread box is the engine that powers the plot, but the story is concerned with how real people make a mess of their lives and how difficult--sometimes impossible--it can be to undo the damage. At the end, Snyder gives a final unexpected move when Rebecca considers destroying the troublesome box. This is a path frequently chosen in stories that feature magic in an non-magical world--even Prospero destroys his ability to use magic by the end of The Tempest! Instead, Rebecca decides to take the bread box back to Baltimore, sensibly deciding that it might come in handy in some situations.

(less)

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Oct 07, 2011 Laurel rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author)

Your parents can't solve all of your problems. Sometimes your parents cause all of your problems.

The same goes for magic!

This book (written by me, so I'm not exactly objective) attempts to weave together elements of a real childhood (mine) and amazing magic.

Because I still believe in both.

(Along with Baltimore, Springsteen, poetry, and seagulls. A few other things I believe in deeply)

14 likes · like · see review

Jul 20, 2011 Wendy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-award-possibilities

This book is great, bigger than its plot, which means I'm going to find myself thinking about it often, and noticing different things on rereads. I don't know who to recommend it to, because it absolutely oozes pain. ("Oozes" isn't the right word, but I've spent enough time trying to think of the right word. "Wracked with" doesn't get across the feeling of pain coming out of the pages. But it's sharper than an ooze.) My parents never divorced, and I wonder if it might be too much for some of my...more

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Nov 11, 2011 Trudi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childish-delights, fantastical-speculative, judge-a-book-by-its-cover, 2011-reads, love-the-premise, coming-of-age

I was immediately drawn to this book for two reasons: the awesome cover art and the enticing premise. Both obviously appealed greatly to my inner child (who for once became enchanted by the possibility of whimsy, rather than the promise of something sinister). What can I say? My inner child bears a striking resemblance to this little dude:

This truly is a delightful romp of a story that shows wonderful imagination and great sensitivity. Rebecca is a sympathetic protagonist, at a point in her life...more

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Sep 18, 2011 Donalyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-fantasy, 2011-nerdy-book-club-award-nominees

I have always loved fantasy books. I dream that I could teach at Hogwarts and own a dragon. When I was young, I dreamed about what I would wish for if I was granted three wishes. I knew all the pitfalls in those be-careful-what-you-wish-for plots, and I knew I could do it right.

My daydreams were fanciful, but what I wished for most would never come true. It was just as implausible as my flying carpet, magic wardrobe, make me invisible fantasies-- I wished my parents weren't divorced and that we...more

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Jan 05, 2012 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cybils, middle-grade, fantasy, library

Be careful what you wish for definitely holds true for Rebecca, main character of Bigger Than A Bread Box by Laurel Snyder. Rebecca is uprooted from her Baltimore townhouse by her mother who decides to separate from her dad and live in Atlanta with Grandma. Rebecca doesn’t have an easy go of it as a new kid until she finds a magical bread box in the attic.

Read the rest of my review here

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Dec 09, 2012 Despair Speaking rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is actually 4.5 stars, not five!

I must admit, this book got to me. Bigger than a Bread Box is about Rebecca, a girl whose parents have been fighting a lot recently. When her mother suddenly brings her and her brother to their grandmother's house for a long stay, she is sad and very angry. She wants to go back to her father and is worried on how he's doing now that he's all alone. But her life takes an interesting turn upon finding a mysterious bread box in her grandmother's attic. The bread...more

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May 21, 2012 Stacy Ford rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-all, kennedy-2012

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 29, 2012 Barb Middleton rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic

Ever heard of a genie in a bread box? Me neither. There's no genie in this story but there is a magical bread box. It grants wishes. Sort of. It grants only certain kinds of wishes. Rebecca, who is 12-years-old, has to figure out what wishes are acceptable. And while this story has a magic bread box, it really is not a fantasy story. It is realistic with a magical element that only Rebecca knows about. Lately, I've been grabbing books that seem to be a grab bag of genres. The Apothecary starts a...more Ever heard of a genie in a bread box? Me neither. There's no genie in this story but there is a magical bread box. It grants wishes. Sort of. It grants only certain kinds of wishes. Rebecca, who is 12-years-old, has to figure out what wishes are acceptable. And while this story has a magic bread box, it really is not a fantasy story. It is realistic with a magical element that only Rebecca knows about. Lately, I've been grabbing books that seem to be a grab bag of genres. The Apothecary starts as historical and is quite realistic before turning on the fantasy and mystery elements. Falling In is a fantasy that seems very realistic. Breadcrumbs starts out realistic and then turns into a fairy tale. But... none of these plots are like this book. Summer of May is probably the closest except May is a lot more angry at her mom than Rebecca.

All is not well between Rebecca's parents. Dad is sleeping on the couch because her mom is mad at him for losing his job. They don't talk much any more. When Rebecca's dad doesn't recognize her mom's birthday, she packs up Rebecca and her two year old brother, Lew, and drives from Baltimore, Maryland to Atlanta, Georgia to stay with her mother, Rebecca's grandmother. Her mom is in such a rush to leave that Rebecca doesn't get to say "Goodbye" to her best friend. Or anyone at school. She hardly gets to say "Goodbye" to her dad. Her mom drives off with the car door open in the middle of her and her dad's goodbyes. Rebecca originally thinks it is a vacation but when they get there her mom tells her that Rebecca is going to go to school there. Naturally, Rebecca is furious. Her mom did not explain that she and Rebecca's dad were separating. When Rebecca finds a bread box that grants wishes, she uses it selfishly and unselfishly. When the wishes start to backfire, she tries to fix them and makes even a bigger mess than initially.

Rebecca is a likable character who tries to fit in as the new girl at school. The author captures the cliques that are going on at school and how Rebecca knows what she needs to do to be "in." Rebecca also recognizes the fickleness of being "in" and "out" of the group based on the leader of the clique either liking or not liking someone. She knows that the leader, Hannah, is mean but follows along for the security of belonging to a group.

Rebecca misses her dad so much that she spends time babysitting her brother, Lew, who also misses his dad. Rebecca knows Lew is too young to express those feelings but when he cries because she said the word, "daddy," she knows that she isn't the only one suffering from her parents separation. Lew is adorable. I love how the author captures a two-year-old's language with words like "nuffing and Shooshee and otay." It reminded me of my daughter calling convertibles "bloken" cars.

The internal changes going on with Rebecca and her mother are the strength of this story and push the plot along at a good pace. I was able to figure out the plot fairly easily in spots and then I didn't see some of the twists coming at all at the end. I like how the author doesn't paint Hannah as a one-dimensional bully and the ending was creative with the addled Adda. There is a lot going on in this story with themes of bullies, stealing, separation, siblings, friendships, mother-daughter relationships, and cliques.

If you like stories that are more character-driven than plot-driven and have an emotional punch to them then you can't go wrong with this book. You may not find a genie in your bread box, but you will find magic in this well-told story.

Reading level 5.7(less)

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Nov 02, 2011 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

"A middle grade book about Bruce Springsteen songs and seagulls and divorce and a magical bread box." Author acknowledgements, love it!

I have been on a middle grade reading kick lately and Bigger than a Bread Box by Laurel Snyder is the book that got me going. This is a smart, poignant story of growing up and realizing that happy endings are not always easily found.

Synopsis: A magical breadbox that delivers whatever you wish for—as long as it fits inside? It's too good to be true! Twelve-year-ol...more "A middle grade book about Bruce Springsteen songs and seagulls and divorce and a magical bread box." Author acknowledgements, love it!

I have been on a middle grade reading kick lately and Bigger than a Bread Box by Laurel Snyder is the book that got me going. This is a smart, poignant story of growing up and realizing that happy endings are not always easily found.

Synopsis: A magical breadbox that delivers whatever you wish for—as long as it fits inside? It's too good to be true! Twelve-year-old Rebecca is struggling with her parents' separation, as well as a sudden move to her Gran's house in another state. For a while, the magic bread box, discovered in the attic, makes life away from home a little easier. Then suddenly it starts to make things much, much more difficult, and Rebecca is forced to decide not just where, but who she really wants to be. Laurel Snyder's most thought-provoking book yet. (Goodreads.com)

I really enjoyed the thoughtful use of magic in this book. Magic starts off as this great hope for Rebecca, who is going through a rough time as her parents have separated and her mom has taken her, along with her younger brother, Lew, to their mom's hometown, Atlanta, which is definitely as far as it's possible to be from Baltimore, particularly when you're just twelve. Magic can do anything! Or that's what we are led to believe as kids but Rebecca is getting to that stage in her life where magic isn't a cure-all. Even though I figured out the obvious twist with Rebecca's magic bread box, I liked seeing her discover it and become perhaps more aware that once again in life, nothing comes for free. Everything has a price, whether it is losing a new friend, making a mom happy, or realizing a bus ticket back to Baltimore really will not bring your parents back together.

This is a rather melancholy story. Rebecca is having a difficult time in Atlanta. She misses her father. She misses her parents together. She is very angry with her mother. That is another well written dynamic in this story because even at the book's end, while there is some resolution between Rebecca and her mom, it's not a clear cut answer and there is still friction. I liked how Rebecca was portrayed when it came to her mom. She is still a young girl in many ways and feels guilty for forgetting her mom's birthday but then she gets so very angry when she starts to miss her dad or when her mom doesn't give her the answer she wants as to when they can go home. There is a very visible back-and-forth of emotions that Rebecca goes through in regards to her mom and it feels incredibly authentic. This is how many young tween girls are feeling when it comes to their parents.

This reads like a very authentic and emotional story that is going to be very easy for young girls to empathize with. Readers will pick up this story (despite the rather blah cover). There is a magical element but it is not the focus of the book. Rather, the family and social problems Rebecca goes through are the focus of the story. She is a character that will make you remember your own inner tween and the conflicted feelings you felt during that time in your life. Bigger than a Bread Box is highly appropriate for elementary and middle school collections, along with public library collections. There is high appeal in this story and it can be book talked very easily because readers are going to care about what Rebecca is going through.

I will say, the one point of contention I had with this story was the overly dramatic ending. It didn't mar my reading experience but it also didn't mesh as well with the rest of the story. Yes, Rebecca was definitely going through much conflict, but the climax towards the end relied less on the emotional for me and it rang a bit false.

You MUST read the author's acknowledgements in this book. They were top-notch and include this wonderful gem of a book summary: "A middle grade book about Bruce Springsteen songs and seagulls and divorce and a magical bread box." What can beat Bruce Springsteen in a middle grade novel?? Nothing I tell you! (less)

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Jan 19, 2012 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children, middle-grade, fiction, magical-realism

I expected your run-of-the-mill fantasy story with this one. Girl finds magical bread box that gives her anything that she wishes for, so long as it fits in a bread box. It kind of sounds like Laurel Snyder came up with the title and wrote the story around it. But I was actually blown away by Bigger than a Bread Box, because every time I thought it was going to go that cliche route, it surprised me. In a good way.

Twelve-year-old Rebecca and her little brother are suddenly whisked away by their m...more I expected your run-of-the-mill fantasy story with this one. Girl finds magical bread box that gives her anything that she wishes for, so long as it fits in a bread box. It kind of sounds like Laurel Snyder came up with the title and wrote the story around it. But I was actually blown away by Bigger than a Bread Box, because every time I thought it was going to go that cliche route, it surprised me. In a good way.

Twelve-year-old Rebecca and her little brother are suddenly whisked away by their mother to Atlanta from their home in Baltimore, following their mother's seemingly rash decision to leave Rebecca's father. Rebecca, her mother and brother are living with their grandmother, who has a large bread box (does anyone know what a bread box is anymore??) collection. Rebecca discovers that one of the bread boxes can actually make anything appear in it that she wishes for, so long as it fits inside. She wishes for a thousand dollars, cool new clothes, an ipod, a cell phone, and all sorts of things that a twelve-year-old might want. But even though she wishes for things that remind her of home, like Tasty Kakes and gravy fries, she can't wish for what really matters... putting her family back together.

Unlike a lot of fantasy stories, Laurel Snyder considers the mechanics of the magic. When Rebecca wishes for these things, where do they come from? And it's not a situation where she has to choose between the magic or the big happy family, either. That would be unrealistic. (view spoiler) The interactions between Rebecca and her mother made me emotional. I didn't grow up knowing a lot of kids whose parents were divorced, but Snyder captures what it feels like for a kid to go through that. Even though Rebecca sees her mother leaving her father as completely one-sided (she thinks her dad is blameless), we catch glimpses through her perspective that her mother was, indeed, going through a lot. This is one of the best portrayals of separation that I've seen in a children's book, and that, not the fantasy stuff, was what I loved about it.

Grades 4-6(less)

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Jul 15, 2011 Amanda Snow rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, middle-grade, review-copy

Originally published at www.apatchworkofbooks.com.

Rebecca's parents have just separated and she is having an incredibly difficult time dealing with the changes. Her mom takes her to live with her Gran, far away from her father and her home, mixing up her entire world and confusing her even more.

When she discovers a bread box in her Gran's attic, one that just happens to be magical, delivering whatever Rebecca asks for, she believes she's found the answers to all of her troubles. Not only can s...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 17, 2012 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, fantasy, middle-grade

(Original review posted on my livejournal account: http://intoyourlungs.livejournal.com/...)

Why I Read It: So this section here will be a disclaimer because I actually read an ARC of this. As I've mentioned many times on this blog I work at a bookstore. For the past two years every October representatives from Random House Canada come to the store to do a presentation on their new books coming out throughout the fall. And because they're pretty cool people, they take down our names, we tell them...more (Original review posted on my livejournal account: http://intoyourlungs.livejournal.com/...)

Why I Read It: So this section here will be a disclaimer because I actually read an ARC of this. As I've mentioned many times on this blog I work at a bookstore. For the past two years every October representatives from Random House Canada come to the store to do a presentation on their new books coming out throughout the fall. And because they're pretty cool people, they take down our names, we tell them what genre we like, and they send us ARCs that usually fall within said genre. I received this particular ARC awhile ago, but the by the time I got it the book was already out, so I didn't feel obligated to read and review it for buzz. ALSO, I didn't feel obligated to read and review this sooner because I didn't receive this book because I'm a book blogger (therefore, Random House was not EXPECTING a review) -- they just send us these books in the hopes that we potentially read and recommend them to customers.

ANYWAY! This book actually peaked my interest. I like middle-grade fiction from time to time and this one sounded cute and potentially fun.

So I thought this was going to be a fun light read with a little magic sprinkled on top for good measure. Yes, I knew there was going to be shenanigans of some kind -- a magic breadbox in the hands of a 12-year old spells trouble to me -- but I thought it would be the mostly harmless kind. That is NOT what I got with this book. BUT I still enjoyed it considerably, even if it wasn't what I was expecting at all.

Poor Rebecca is having a bit of a hard time: her mother has left her father and brought her and her little brother to another state to stay with their grandmother. Rebecca is obviously mad and lonely (she has to go to a new school) and she misses her dad like crazy and can't believe her mom would do this to her and her father. Guys, I don't know what it is lately but it feels like everything I read is SO SAD. This book didn't move me to tears, but I did feel incredibly sorry for Rebecca. Divorce is hard to deal with (and it's something that's dealt with fairly commonly in middle-grade and young adult fiction) but just being hoisted out of the state without any forewarning? That is BRUTAL. So yeah, Rebecca acts kind of like a brat, but can you BLAME her?

The breadbox was a pretty transparent plot-device, but it had impact nonetheless. The breadbox is obviously a means for Rebecca to try to fill in the void that's formed in her after abruptly leaving her father and her home. She wishes for things from home like candies that can only be found in her home state, or food from a specific restaurant in her home town that she loved. Then she starts wishing for money to spend on people at school to be popular, and a few wishes finally throws things into disarray (which I won't reveal because of spoilers). There's a revelation near the end of the book regarding one of Rebecca's wishes that was actually quite shocking, and I was slightly surprised that the book Went There.

My favourite parts of the book were the ones where Rebecca spends time with her two-year old brother. Those scenes were so cute and watching Rebecca use the breadbox for her brother's sake and not just her own was cute.

Finally, I really appreciated that the book didn't end on a perfect note. Rebecca has made a lot of growth by the end of the novel so it's an ending she can accept, but it's not rainbows and sunshine either which I think is Snyder showing respect to her targeted audience. And the fate of the breadbox? Snyder doesn't take the predictable route with that either.

Final Verdict: While this book wasn't the light and fluffy fanfare that I thought it was going to be, I still enjoyed it considerably. Rebecca faces very real and very difficult problems and while she acts like a bit of a brat because of it, I still felt a bucket-load of sympathy for her because her reactions felt completely authentic for someone in such a crappy situation. The plot-device of the breadbox was fairly transparent, but it didn't feel corny and added a dash of magic to the novel (without it ever really feeling like fantasy). It was all unexpected and I was pleasantly surprised. Mildly recommended if you're looking for something a little more on the serious side of of the Middle Grade spectrum.(less)

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Apr 19, 2013 Holly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-science-fiction, theme, great-read-aloud, bullying, character-development, character-motivation, family, divorce-or-separation, grandparents, symbolism, read-aloud, reread

Reread. I chose this as a read aloud this year, and I'm so glad I did! It is perfect to read aloud - full of suspense, magic, heartache, realistic family and school problems, etc. Time and time again the kids protested when I stopped for the day. I just finished it with one my classes this week. I love when kids point out things I didn't notice the first time I read something. She heard the description and saw the illustration of the bread box having roses on it and pointed out the symbolism in...more Reread. I chose this as a read aloud this year, and I'm so glad I did! It is perfect to read aloud - full of suspense, magic, heartache, realistic family and school problems, etc. Time and time again the kids protested when I stopped for the day. I just finished it with one my classes this week. I love when kids point out things I didn't notice the first time I read something. She heard the description and saw the illustration of the bread box having roses on it and pointed out the symbolism in the beautiful rose having thorns. Wow. Hadn't thought about that at all, but how perfectly that goes with the plot and theme! Originally read 10/27/11: This book wasn't what I expected at all. I thought it was going to be a book about magic, but it was really a book about a 12-year-old girl caught up in her parents' problems, learning about family, herself, and home. Rebecca is growing up in Baltimore, enjoying seagulls, books, and playing with Mary Kate. However, everything changes when her mother drags her and her little brother off to Atlanta to live with her grandmother after a fight with her father. Rebecca doesn't even have time to say goodbye to Mary Kate. Once in Atlanta, miserable and looking for a phone with which to call her dad, Rebecca goes up to her grandmother's attic. While rummaging around, Rebecca finds an old, tin bread box that catches her eye, and she brings it down to her room. She realizes when she wishes for things that are smaller than a bread box, they appear inside! On a Friday, her grandma decides to enroll her in her new school. Then she decides she needs to stay at school that day! Rebecca is horrified that it's mid-morning on a Friday! Luckily, she thinks she's hit the jackpot when she's introduced to an obvious cool girl, Hannah, and her "posse." However, Rebecca thinks she sees their true colors right away when they start teasing Megan about her curly, red hair. Meanwhile, Rebecca keeps wishing for things like a phone, iPod, a perfect gift for her mother, a small t.v., etc., and they show up in the bread box. Things get really complicated, though, when she wishes for a jacket just like Hannah's. I can't tell you more, or this will be a spoiler. Let's just say, this isn't just any story about magic. I love that Snyder includes "Hungry Heart" in the story, by Bruce Springsteen, of whom I'm a HUGE fan!(less)

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Nov 12, 2011 Kellee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-grade, realistic-fiction, teach-mentor-texts, amazon-review-done, schu-and-scope-2011-top-20, 2011-nerdies, my-best-of-2011, magical-realism, website-review-done

Reviewed at:
http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2011/...

Summary: Rebecca is 12 years old and has noticed the tension growing between her parents. But when her mom decides to suddenly move her and her brother Lew to Atlanta to stay with their Gran, Rebecca is shocked and devastated. He doesn't know what to do without her best friend and is lost without her dad. She may never be able to forgive her mother for this. Then, just as things seemed like they couldn't get any worse, Rebecca finds a magical...more

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Mar 10, 2011 Janet rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of Judy Blume, Ray Bradbury; children of divorce/separation

Shelves: arc, review-ideas

Two of my favorite elements in books are a dose of magic and a smart, creative protagonist who is going through a rough time. (As a preteen and teen reader, I was a sucker for any books involving divorce or a parent's or sister's death--though I didn't have those particular problems as a kid, I loved these novels and would read them over and over again.)

For a few of my early adult years, I veered away from such books, issuing a blanket dismissal of "kids'" books and assuming that any adult books...more Two of my favorite elements in books are a dose of magic and a smart, creative protagonist who is going through a rough time. (As a preteen and teen reader, I was a sucker for any books involving divorce or a parent's or sister's death--though I didn't have those particular problems as a kid, I loved these novels and would read them over and over again.)

For a few of my early adult years, I veered away from such books, issuing a blanket dismissal of "kids'" books and assuming that any adult books with hints of fantasy were not for me. I was, after all, a high-minded fan of literary fiction and didn't need magic in my books.

Luckily I returned to my roots several years back and began to explore books written for kids or adults that have a healthy bit of magic. My favorites are ones like BIGGER THAN A BREAD BOX, where magic is certainly central to the plot but is not the main focus. In this poignant story, Rebecca Shapiro, age 12, is acutely and painfully aware of the trouble in her parents' marriage. As astute and intelligent as she is, it's extremely difficult for her to understand why her parents can't resolve their troubles and why they can't all simply live together. Author Laurel Snyder is so gifted when it comes to portraying the thoughts and actions of a middle school girl, one who is very smart and focused but who may mask those qualities because she still wants to fit in. One who is deeply affected by the troubles her family is going through but who doesn't want anyone else to know what she's going through.

When Rebecca finds a way to make some of her wishes come true, she acts as most of us probably would: wishing for selfless things as well as selfish ones, making both bad and good choices in an attempt to make her family whole. She eventually figures out, at least for now, how to best cope with her magical gift, but there's more to come: to my complete surprise, the novel contains a riveting and suspenseful climax I never saw coming, one that kept me up late into the night to read.

Yes, this book is going to be marketed to kids and preteens, but I want you to give it a chance even if you're well past that age range. (less)

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Aug 14, 2011 Sarah Sullivan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-grade, slatebreakers

I love books that fall into this particular upper-middle grade age group. The kind of book that make me think it would be absolutely perfect to give to a ten year old. It can be a surprisingly hard age bracket to fit, and this is a really good addition. Snyder does a great job of capturing Rebecca's reactions and emotions as she deals with her parents' pending divorce, in a way that was both achingly recognizable and totally her own. I was skeptical about the magical element and pleased with how...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Alicia Ramirez rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

A family breakup has turned Rebecca’s life upside down. This separation that appears to be long overdue, forces this twelve-year-old, her baby brother and their mother to relocate from Baltimore to Atlanta. Her parents’ separation forces Rebecca to accept the sudden changes in her life whether or not she has the maturity to do so. The first-person narration makes “Bigger Than a Bread Box” sweet and compelling. Readers will certainly relate to Rebecca’s struggle to deal with a separation while f...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Great Books added it

Twelve-year-old Rebecca Shapiro knows her parents have not been getting along, but when her mother decides to make the move from Baltimore to Atlanta mid-school year to stay at their grandmother's , Rebecca is devastated. Fortunately, she discovers a magical bread box in the attic that seems like the answer to all her problems... at first. Reviewer 10

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May 29, 2011 Hannah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-grade, kids, favorites

Like PENNY DREADFUL before it, BIGGER THAN A BREADBOX has the charming old-fashioned feeling of middle-grade stories from the 60s, but with a contemporary bend. Rebecca's parents' sudden separation forces her to move to Gran's house, where she discovers a magical breadbox that seems to produce anything she wishes for from thin air. But as is always with wishes, something is amiss. This simple magic-realist story is really about a girl trying her best to deal with some of the toughest parts of gr...more

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Jan 21, 2012 Teresa Garrett rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, middle-grade, january2012

Rebecca is having a rough time due to her parents' recent separation. Her mother whisks her off to live with a grandmother in Atlanta without any warning. Struggling to fit in as the new kid at school "Becky" her new persona enjoys being in the popular group. She has a secret that helps: a magical breadbox she found in her grandmother's attic. Any wish she makes the breadbox supplies. She uses the magic to help her through this difficult time. What Rebecca doesn't realize there are consequences...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Jane Jergensen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loved it! I nominated it for the Librarian's Choice top 100! I'll post my review later.

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May 20, 2013 Young Mensans rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Bigger Than a Bread Box was about a girl named Rebecca. Her parents got divorced, and Rebecca was forced to come live with her mom and Gran in Atlanta. While staying there Rebecca notices a very shiny, beautiful bread box in her Gran’s attic. This bread box wasn’t an ordinary bread box it was magical. There was one rule; Rebecca could wish for anything but, it had to fit in the bread box. What she didn’t realize is that the bread box doesn’t just make wishes appear, it only takes stuff from peop...more

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May 13, 2013 Suebee rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love this follow-up to "Any Which Wall" by Laurel Snyder. She has a knack for writing realistic fiction with a fantasy / magic "twist."

12 year old Rebecca lives with her mom, dad, and little brother Lew (age 2) in Baltimore, when Mom decides it's not working out with Dad, and she takes the whole family to Gram's house in Atlanta.

spoiler alert

Rebecca discovers old bread boxes in the attic, and one with red flowers she particularly likes and takes to her room. In a crying fit, she says, "I wish...more I love this follow-up to "Any Which Wall" by Laurel Snyder. She has a knack for writing realistic fiction with a fantasy / magic "twist."

12 year old Rebecca lives with her mom, dad, and little brother Lew (age 2) in Baltimore, when Mom decides it's not working out with Dad, and she takes the whole family to Gram's house in Atlanta.

spoiler alert

Rebecca discovers old bread boxes in the attic, and one with red flowers she particularly likes and takes to her room. In a crying fit, she says, "I wish I was back in Baltimore. I wish I was with Dad. I wish there were seagulls here." PRESTO the box fills with 2 squawking seagulls which she promptly lets out the window. She realizes the box had had a book in it earlier when she was exploring in the attic, when she had said aloud, "I wish I had a book to read," while all the other boxes were empty.

Rebecca uses the box for harmless items - toys for her brother, gravy fries from a diner at home. But it is when she asks for "the perfect gift" for her mom's birthday, that an antique spoon appears. She gives it to her mother but claims it came from a junk store. Her mother is astounded at Rebecca's find, a valuable spoon engraved with "To Adda from Harlan."

Later, Rebecca feels guilty when she realizes the box takes items from owners (after she wishes for a leather jacket just like her friend's, and her friend's jacket, name and all, arrives in the box and she wears it to school unknowingly - she is now the thief!).

She decides to return the spoon to its rightful owner and finds an Adda and Harlan in the phonebook. Arriving at the address, Adda is a 90-something old woman who is a bit of a hoarder, and when she sees Rebecca hand her the spoon, she is horrified, and Rebecca falls down the stairs. Adda calls her a "grave robber" and Rebecca realizes the spoon was buried with Adda's late husband.

At the end, Rebecca's mom and dad, while not together, work to help Rebecca and Lew get home to Baltimore. Rebecca decides to keep the box, though she momentarily considers demolishing it. (Love this twist.)

P.S. The song "Everybody's Got a Hungry Heart" plays a part in the book!(less)

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Feb 11, 2013 Tanja rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chn-fantasy

What a very special book! This is the heart-warming and touching story of young Rebecca who goes through the painful experience of her parents separating. While her life is already on a roller-coaster ride, she stumbles across a very unusual bread box. This magical bread box plays a crucial part in the development of the events, providing the story with many unexpected twists and turns. I read a lot of children's literature and while I really enjoy most books, I often find plots quite predictabl...more

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Oct 11, 2012 Monica! rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, you-go-girl, puberty-is-overrated-anyway, reasonably-realistic, the-sparkles-mean-its-magic, this-must-be-what-pain-feels-like

I feel like I could have loved this book, if it weren’t for the magic.

Because with the magic, it was a little too much like… oh, like Half Magic, or any of those other classic “I’m going to use magic to fix the problems in my life only wait magic doesn’t solve my problems I have learned my lesson and now am if not happier at least more comfortable with myself” books that I greatly prefer.

For kids today, to be honest, they’d probably rather have Bigger than a Bread Box, since although Edward E...more I feel like I could have loved this book, if it weren’t for the magic.

Because with the magic, it was a little too much like… oh, like Half Magic, or any of those other classic “I’m going to use magic to fix the problems in my life only wait magic doesn’t solve my problems I have learned my lesson and now am if not happier at least more comfortable with myself” books that I greatly prefer.

For kids today, to be honest, they’d probably rather have Bigger than a Bread Box, since although Edward Eager is amazing he doesn’t exactly have his finger on the pulse of popular culture. But I am not those kids.

So! I didn’t really like the magic.

It didn’t seem important to the overall plot, and it culminated in such a ridiculous overly-dramatic climax (which I shall spoil here: (view spoiler) Yes.) that I found myself wishing that the SOUL of the book—which was this amazing story of a girl accepting that her parents did indeed pretty much ruin everything, but that she has to be strong enough to live her life in an appropriate way despite that—could have been presented in a different, less-mystical way.

(Edit: 500 reviews, y'all. Who is impressed?)(less)

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Sep 03, 2012 Alyssa Calhoun rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: more-than-books

Where to begin with this book....

1. Magic--I'm not crazy about books about magic. Fantasy isn't really "my thing." However, though the magic was important in this story, as Rebecca (main character) says in the end, the story isn't really that different with the magic omitted. There were times I forgot that the book was even partially fantasy, because I connected with the main character so deeply that it just seemed like realistic fiction. There was just enough magic, but not too much.

2. Charact...more

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About Laurel Snyder

Laurel Snyder is the author of four children's novels, "Bigger than a Bread Box," "Penny Dreadful," "Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains OR The Search for a Suitable Princess" and "Any Which Wall" (Random House) as well as three picture books, "Nosh, Schlep, Schluff," "Baxter, the Pig Who Wanted to Be Kosher," and "Inside the Slidy Diner" (Tricycle).

A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and a f...more

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