The Teashop Girls

Jan 11, 2009 Emma rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Is it possible to fall in love with a book? If it is, The Teashop Girls (2008 ) by Laura Schaefer, with illustrations by Sujean Rim, now holds my heart. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, especially since I am not actually much of a tea drinker, but as soon as I saw the cover and the illustration of The Steeping Leaf I knew this book would have my undying devotion. I know I keep banging readers over the head with what I'm trying to point out with my Chick Lit Wednesday Reviews, but rea...more

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Feb 26, 2009 Rachael rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Best friends Annie, Genna, and Zoe have done everything together since forever, or at least, they used to. But now that they’re almost graduating middle school, the Teashop Girls seem to be growing apart since Zoe is always at tennis and Genna is busy with theatrical productions. Feeling a little left out, Annie decides to start working at her grandmother’s teashop, The Steeping Lead, the old hangout of the Teashop Girls. But happiness over her newfound independence and proximity to her super cu...more Best friends Annie, Genna, and Zoe have done everything together since forever, or at least, they used to. But now that they’re almost graduating middle school, the Teashop Girls seem to be growing apart since Zoe is always at tennis and Genna is busy with theatrical productions. Feeling a little left out, Annie decides to start working at her grandmother’s teashop, The Steeping Lead, the old hangout of the Teashop Girls. But happiness over her newfound independence and proximity to her super cute coworker-slash-crush is short lived when it becomes apparent that The Steeping Lead is in financial trouble—if business doesn’t pick up, the teashop will have to permanently close its doors. Annie refuses to give up on the teashop and enlists all the help she can find to embark on a crusade to save the quaint teashop and her beloved childhood hangout.

The Teashop Girls is a cute and sweet story about friendship and perseverance. Interspaced with interesting fun facts about the history of tea, cute stories involving tea, and yummy sounding recipes, this novel reminds me a bit of a scrapbook in the best possible way; the story is solid and enjoyable but the extras are the icing on the cake. Readers won’t be able to resist Annie’s determination to save The Steeping Leaf and her no-nonsense if sometimes immature attitude. Schaefer includes some of the difficulties that accompany the transition between childhood and the teen years, such as boy drama and personality changes that can potentially tear friendships apart, but it isn’t overdone by piling too many of these problems on Annie. I really liked the innocence and sweetness of the Teashop Girls, and their niceness and positivity kept a smile on my face. The Teashop Girls made for a fun and satisfying read with plenty of youthful joy and an adorable happy ending.

The Teashop Girls is likely aimed at the middle grade audience but older teens can still enjoy this cute read. Readers who liked 3 Willows by Ann Brashares and The Curse of Addy McMahon by Katie Davis will also like The Teashop Girls.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com (less)

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Feb 11, 2009 Bethany rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, favorites, juvenile

Earlier this week, I finsihed reading The Teashop Girls b Laura Schaefer. This is just a lovely book in every way. It's perfectly formatted with black-and-white illustrations at the ends of the chapters, the tea-themed quotes at the beginnings. The tidbits concerning the history of tea and the proper way to drink tea, the old advertisements for different tea brands, it's all totally delightful. This book has kind of made me want to pick up one of Laura Childs' teashop mysteries, and I am not hea...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Tennille [A.K.A Blair] Chase [A.K.A Mirth] rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: addicting-reads, y-a-contemporary, books-about-tea-coffee-and-or-books

Buzz Words: Teashop, Friendship, Crushes, Scones, Family, Barista, Drama.

I have had the Teashop Girls on my contemporary to be read shelf for some time. I do love a good historical fiction or a paranormal romance, but sometimes a girl just needs a good fluffy contemporary book to relax, unwind and to really get absorbed in without having to stress about damn cliff hangers or intense plot points. If you are looking for a clean, exciting and deliciously tempting read to break away from your usual...more Buzz Words: Teashop, Friendship, Crushes, Scones, Family, Barista, Drama.

I have had the Teashop Girls on my contemporary to be read shelf for some time. I do love a good historical fiction or a paranormal romance, but sometimes a girl just needs a good fluffy contemporary book to relax, unwind and to really get absorbed in without having to stress about damn cliff hangers or intense plot points. If you are looking for a clean, exciting and deliciously tempting read to break away from your usual genre of choice or are a lover of contemporary novels featuring tasty beverages, friendship, family and a little bit of drama and romance then I definitely suggest picking up The Teashop Girls. I did and I loved it.

If you didn’t already know I am a sucker for books that mention tea, coffee any kind of pastry, cupcakes, cookies or well- food in general so when I heard about this book from R.J Gonzales a while back I knew I had to have it for my own collection. I love having books like this on my shelf for time times when I am in need of a little escapism from heavy handed plot lines or intricate character explorations, so I just could not wait to get started on Teashop Girls. Initially I thought it would be pretty standard in everything, but I was pleasantly surprised by the characters, the atmosphere and the subtle messages throughout the book. I do love a good book that teaches me things and also reminds me what to be grateful for. Each character was a joy to read, some more fleshed out than others, but each one added a great element to the story, and I especially loved Anne, the main characters eccentric but loving and charming family; her dad and his shirts had be cracking up and Louise her grandmother reminded me so much of my own it made me feel right at home at the steeping leaf.

When I was young I spent a lot of time with my grandparents, going to the ‘adults’ places for tea and scones which we would bake together in her kitchen at home, so one of the most enjoyable parts of the story to read about was the relationship between Anne and her grandmother. Their combined passion, easy personalities and loving old souls really drove me to love this book a whole lot more.

The romantic elements irked me a little. Anne was so determined to make Jonathan fall in love with her despite the obvious signs. Then when l looked back at my own early teenage years and how I approached crushes, boys and love in general I have to say Laura wrote a pretty damn good depiction of teenage girls. I am glad it wasn’t the overall theme of the book and only played a small part.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the paraphernalia and quotes scattered throughout the book. Being a collector of ephemera myself I delighted in all the tea ads and recipes and the lists that Anne stuck into the Teashop girls handbook. I am a sucker for any book that adds a little whimsical flair, and I have to say I am excited to try a few recipes. I also learned a lot about tea from Anne’s essays and short stories and got a great new list of tea to try out which is always fun. I can definitely confess that I wasn’t without a cup or two while reading this book so for those tea lovers out there be prepared to fill up the pot and unwind.

Overall I found Teashop girls to be a humorous, quirky and fantastic read. I would certainly recommend it and I cannot wait to pick up the next book, a continuation into the life’s of the same characters from The Tea Shop girls. Laura’s writing style is easy and breezy and I really enjoyed the reading experience.

P.S: Finally a cover that matches the contents of the book. I just adored the illustrations on top of each chapter and throughout the book to, kudos to the illustrator Sujean Rim. And who could not love the cover – ah- Love it.

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Jan 27, 2010 melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved this book. It was so refreshing. With all the dystopian and vampire stories that are out there (I have read quite a few myself, not dissing nothin‘!), it is nice to have a sweet plot line. I like the writing, because it is set at an age that could come across as very whiny, angst-y and self absorbed. And although she had typical teen stuff to deal with, it never felt that way. It is set at an age where you feel like you can take on the world, and that came across very well.

A thought came...more

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Apr 09, 2009 Mary marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: my-books

The Official Rules of the Teashop Girls:
1. Teashop girls are best friends forever.
2. Tea is held every week, no matter what.
3. All tea and scones must be split equally at all times.

Annie, Genna, and Zoe have been hanging out at the Steeping Leaf since elementary school. The Teashop Girls do everything together -- at least they used to. With the end of eighth grade approaching, Genna's too busy with theater, Zoe's always at tennis, and Annie feels totally left out. What happened to tea every week...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Jenn O'Brien rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I stumbled across this book when it first came out. I went to an author reading at one of the local bookstores. Unfortunately, the book has been sitting in my To Be Read pile since that time. However, I discovered that chilly, rainy, wishing for spring to come weather is perfect for teashop reading.

This is a cute story for a middle school aged girl. It shows all the “you go girl” attitude that you would want in a spunky pre-teen. She has her aggravations of a typical tween - issues with growing...more

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Dec 21, 2008 Alea rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-for-review

I adored this book! It definitely soared above my expectations! It was sweet and warm and just all things good!

The book centers around Annie and her beloved Steeping Leaf that her grandmother owns. She loves the Steeping Leaf so much she wants to get her very first job there, and it doesn't hurt that a cute older boy named Jonathan also works there! Her initial meeting with Jonathan is too funny! Everything is going well until one day the power goes out and Annie finds out that her grandmother h...more

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Apr 24, 2009 Kathy (Bermudaonion) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When Annie, Zoe and Genna were younger they declared themselves “The Teashop Girls” and vowed to be friends forever. Now that they’re in the eighth grade, they seem to drifting apart. Annie gets a job at her grandmother’s teashop, The Steeping Leaf and discovers it’s having financial difficulties and may have to close. Annie is heartbroken and calls The Teashop Girls together so they can come up with a plan of action to save the teashop, but is it too little, too late?

The Teashop Girls by Laura...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Patricia - Lady with Books rated it 3 of 5 stars

Nostalgia and cuteness was able to draw me in and The Teashop Girls is a sweet but predictable story. Everything turns out well in the end. The most interesting parts of the book were the interaction between the three girls, who come from very different backgrounds. I don’t really see how the three girls end up as friends in the first place, they are so different. Annie is middle class but her two friends Genna and Zoe are upper-class. Annie’s normality is at odds with Genna’s absent parents and...more

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Oct 28, 2009 Adrien added it · review of another edition

When I was in the library this book caught my eye with its cutsie cover art. It's amazing how the cover can really intrigue you to want to read a book. I took it home and I couldn't stop reading! It was amazing. Other than The Beacon Street Girls Series, Brooklyn Bridge, and Schooled this had never happened before! Annie was so cute and she really reflected my personality. Are there any Beacon Street Girls series fans out there? Yoo hoo are you there? Teashop Girls is just like the Beacon Street...more

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Oct 17, 2011 Brynne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: best-books-ever, late-night-books

This book is about a girl who has a grandmother who owns a teashop, and the grandmother, Louisa, hires the granddaughter, Annie to be the barista. Annie has 2 friends Zoey, who plays tennis, and Genna, who is really into acting and drawing, like me! The teashop keeps getting eviction notices because of unpaid bills. So thats when Annie met Jonathan. Annie thought Jonathan was soooo cute, but Gennna, thinks he is a jerk. He is trying to save the teashop, The Steeping Leaf, by chaning it into a c...more

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Feb 20, 2009 Miz Lizzie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: 9-14 year olds & tea lovers of all ages

Shelves: childrensbooks, food, friendship, grandparents, herbs, romance, moneymaking, realistic-fiction, tea, madison-wi

Annie's grandmother runs a tea shop on Monroe Street in Madison, Wisconsin. With her grandfather's death, the changing times, and the unnamed chain coffee house across the street, her grandmother is having a hard time making ends meet. Annie has been obsessed with tea since she and her two best friends became the "teashop girls" when they were little girls. Now in middle school, Annie is now determined to do whatever she can to save the shop. The middle school stuff of first crushes and friends...more

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Nov 23, 2008 Betsy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One Sentence Reviews: I usually don't gravitate towards the girly girl books, but this was one of the more enjoyable (and delicious) titles I had the pleasure to discover late in the year.

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Jun 24, 2010 Stefanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, friendship

This book was very cute and fun, however, it also touched upon some of the most difficult parts of growing up-- facing change and growing apart from the only friends you have ever had. Annie, the main character, loves spending time in Grandma's, Louisa's, tea shop, so much that Annie is desperate to work there. Not only does she get to work in the shop, but there is also a super cute boy who is another employee. Annie and her two best friends, Zoe and Genna, the Teashop Girls, have started to gr...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Sylvia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

Begitu lihat cover buku ini, langsung suka (maklumlah, aku masih jenis org yg menilai buku dari covernya): gadis brindil berambut merah (mengingatkanku pada Anne of Green Gables) membawa nampan berisi poci teh yang lucu dengan motif polkadot dan kue-kue kecil. Pemeran utama di buku ini pun namanya hampir mirip, yaitu Annie Green.

Kalo di Anne of Green Gables, si Anne adalah anak lincah, ceria dan tidak bisa diam. Yang ada dibayanganku dia seperti di lagunya Vina Panduwinata (Kumpul Bocah) dimana...more Begitu lihat cover buku ini, langsung suka (maklumlah, aku masih jenis org yg menilai buku dari covernya): gadis brindil berambut merah (mengingatkanku pada Anne of Green Gables) membawa nampan berisi poci teh yang lucu dengan motif polkadot dan kue-kue kecil. Pemeran utama di buku ini pun namanya hampir mirip, yaitu Annie Green.

Kalo di Anne of Green Gables, si Anne adalah anak lincah, ceria dan tidak bisa diam. Yang ada dibayanganku dia seperti di lagunya Vina Panduwinata (Kumpul Bocah) dimana anak-anak berlari kesana kemari, tidak bisa diam persis bola bekel. Annie Green tidak seperti itu, namun gesit dan cerdasnya sama.

Teashop Girls berkisah tentang persahabatan tiga orang anak perempuan yang berteman sejak mereka berusia 5 tahun; Annie, Genna dan Zoe. Sejak kecil mereka sering diajak ibu-ibu mereka yang hang-out di kedai teh (arisan kali yee) nah, anak-anak mereka akhirnya jadi berteman dan memiliki waktu spesial bertiga deh. Nenek Annie, Louisa, menjamu mereka seolah mereka adalah putri-putri kerajaan yang sedang menikmati acara minum teh di sore hari seperti Ratu Inggris.

Menginjak remaja, ketika teman-temannya sibuk dengan kegiatan masing-masing, Annie memberanikan diri untuk meminta Louisa mempekerjakannya di kedai sebagai barista. Annie yakin dia mampu melakukan tugas seorang barista, karena sejak kecil Louisa telah mengajarinya cara menyeduh teh dengan sempurna.

Namun ternyata bekerja menjadi seorang barista tidak semudah dan sesederhana yang dia sangka. Ketika Annie mulai menyelami seluk beluk bisnis neneknya, Annie diharuskan menghadapi permasalahan-permasalahan yang menimpa kedai teh Louisa. Dan Annie pun tergerak untuk melakukan sesuatu. Masalah bertambah ketika cowok yang dia sukai ternyata tidak balik suka padanya, dan salah satu sahabatnya harus pergi selama musim panas, dan itu berarti berkurang satu orang yang akan membantunya.

Bagaimana sepak terjang Annie Green dalam upayanya menyelamatkan bisnik neneknya yang hampir gulung tikar itu?

Dibumbui cerita lucu tentang ayah Annie yang doyan pakai kaus bertulisan aneh-aneh, bertaburan tips-tips dan resep-resep yang pastinya bisa dipraktekkan, buku ini dijamin bisa bikin kamu betah berlama-lama baca sambil ngemil ;)(less)

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Mar 11, 2013 Carolynne added it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

More middle grade than YA--if you like The Mother-Daughter Bookclub books, you will like this. Lots of value added: tea recipes, beauty tips (using tea), vintage tea ads, tea quotes, and so on. The delicate watercolor (only black and white) illustrations by Sujean Rim are perfect. A little pre-teen romance that perhaps doesn't turn out the way you expected, the book is really about friendship, how fragile it can be, and yet how strong. The Madison, Wisconsin setting is a real plus for me, since...more

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Aug 09, 2011 Cathy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A sweet "clean" read of friendship, first crushes, and family. Set in, of course, a tea shop, the book is a bit heavy on tea trivia, history and vocab., but that shouldn't deter anyone. Annie's first job at the shop, owned by her grandma, is in jeopardy when financial troubles arise- can she and her friends manage to save the treasured shop? Fun "tea beauty" hints and a girl power movement plot line are appealing. I will read the 2nd in this series- am curious to see where Annie's friendships wi...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Krista Neumann added it · review of another edition

I love the book the secret ingredient I am still reading. I love the charters in the book and how u are making the scones on the leaf. Did u make the scones up by ur self or did u see them in the store and decided to make them? Is the ur daughter on the front page of the website. You are do pretty. Do u love to wright books like cooking and food. Dose ur daughter like to help u make the scones and help wright The book. Wright me bake as soon as u can. I know u are bisy weighting books and making...more

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Mar 14, 2012 Brett rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: juvenile-realistic

A light, cute read for middle-grade girls who are starting to feel the winds of change in the form of the teen years. Protagonist Annie has always spent most of her free time hanging out with her best friends Zoe & Genna in the teashop owned by her grandmother, aging hippie Louisa. She loves the atmosphere of the teashop as much as the tea itself, & the friends have always called themselves the "teashop girls." But change is definitely on the horizon: with eighth grade ending, Zoe &...more

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Sep 23, 2012 Ann rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: grandparents, katie-and-annie-bookclub, middle-grade, friendship, problem-solving

I love the idea of a book centered around a tea shop! The tea quotes and old adverts were included in all or most of the chapters were delightful! And, I love tea :)
But for me this book just fell kinda flat. There were a lot of plots going on ... Perhaps too many... But none felt developed enough, like there wasn't enough prep or resolution, so instead the whole book felt the same chapter after chapter. And by the end I didn't really feel like anything was much different from where it started.

O...more I love the idea of a book centered around a tea shop! The tea quotes and old adverts were included in all or most of the chapters were delightful! And, I love tea :)
But for me this book just fell kinda flat. There were a lot of plots going on ... Perhaps too many... But none felt developed enough, like there wasn't enough prep or resolution, so instead the whole book felt the same chapter after chapter. And by the end I didn't really feel like anything was much different from where it started.

Our protagonist, Annie, is in her last months of middle school and filled with the variety of emotions that coincided. She concerned about, not only what will high school be like, but also that her two best friends and herself seem to be drifting apart. I never felt enough connection to feel the drift, and the drift never felt that big or eventful.
Annie herself felt at once very mature, but then, like, you know, a typical teenager, with, like, annoying vocab. The thing was, this felt throw in, as did Annie's flippancy to her immediate family, and at times her actions, and the actions of her friends, seemed too much out of character (nothing bad, this book is definitely a "G" rating, I think, but it felt like Annie should be more mature than the author usually let her be).

The boys. There's the annoying one that keeps pestering Annie. There's the older boy who is gorgeous but more into Annie's older sister than Annie herself. I really don't know why this was in here. I kept trying to come up with reasons why these characters would be important to the plot, but there was never enough introspection for it to really matter to Annie. I was annoyed by Annie's on again - off again love and annoyance with the older boy. I got the sense, we were supposed to dislike him, but I couldn't tell where he'd done anything really wrong to warrant her dislike (but then the next chapter she'd be in love with him again with no reference to her dislike in the previous chapter...)

The tea shop: The Steeping Leaf is a dear little old shop, a local business that, either because of the owner's lack of business sense, or the chain store around the bend, The Leaf can't quite make ends meet. So, when the owner's granddaughter, Annie, comes to work at the shop and learns of its troubles, she (Annie) is determined to save the shop.
I did love Annie's unyielding determination and ingenuity to try and save the shop, and how her friends were willing to help where they could.
This was the one plot point that seemed fully developed -- but sadly, for me, it fizzled at the end. I honestly don't know what the message was that we were supposed to take away... Because, basically, it seemed like there was nothing in the previous 200 pages of the book that actually effected the end result. And I don't know what the characters were supposed to have learned, or how they'd grown. Plus, there's a lot of 'buy local' messages (which is fine, but not always the solution) and the crack about wholesellers seemed unwarranted. After all, the Steeping Leaf isn't the only company that has to make a profit to survive.

Overall I wanted so much more from this book - it sounded like a wonderful, nice, sweet, savvy book for tweens, but in the end there just wasn't enough to it to make it a quick or enrapturing read.

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Jul 08, 2011 Alyssa hoffmaster rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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Every once in awhile I read the younger teens books, the teashop girls is a book for younger readers, and while reading it I couldn’t help but cringe at how childish it was at times.

Annie and her two best friends Genna and Zoe have loved the teashop ever since they were little girls. Their grandmother owns a tea café called the steeping leaf in town. Annie and her best friends are always there. As they grew up Genna and Zoe have become busier and busier. Annie is the only one d...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Kathryn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: annie-and-katie-bookclub, middle-grade

I really wanted to love this book. The premise sounded really cute and totally my "cup of tea" ;-) I loooove tea. I loved my grandparents. I helped out my family in their home business as I was growing-up. So, I was all prepared to love the story of Annie Green, 8th grader, tea fanatic, and newest employee at her grandmother's teashop. I mean, you don't see a lot of books about 13 year olds who enjoy sipping tea out of dainty china cups, spending time with their grandma, and could tell you the d...more
I really wanted to love this book. The premise sounded really cute and totally my "cup of tea" ;-) I loooove tea. I loved my grandparents. I helped out my family in their home business as I was growing-up. So, I was all prepared to love the story of Annie Green, 8th grader, tea fanatic, and newest employee at her grandmother's teashop. I mean, you don't see a lot of books about 13 year olds who enjoy sipping tea out of dainty china cups, spending time with their grandma, and could tell you the difference between high tea and low tea, do you?

Unfortunately, the storytelling just didn't come together for me. I didn't feel like enough happened, or the pacing was off. If I hadn't brought this as my book-for-breaks at work, it probably would have collected dust at home. The crisis is a solid one--Annie's grandma's teashop is suffering from financial problems and may have to close. Annie and her best friends Zoe and Genna (the three "Tea Shop Girls") launch a campaign to try to save the shop and are especially dedicated since they spent so many happy hours there as girls. I did appreciate that the girls took active roles in trying to save the shop, and some of their ideas were both creative and productive. However, the plot was mired by a slow pace and lack of solid character development in some cases. For example, I never got a clear idea of what the grandma was thinking or feeling with regards to her shop. Why she loved the shop so dearly because she and her late husband had run it together and was proud of its old-fashioned, non-chain style, yet then allowed a complete overhaul for the shop to look like the competition rather than retiring and letting the shop close with all its original glory? Too, I felt that the author struggled trying to make Annie's voice authentic. On one hand, Annie seemed very mature for her age, but then the author kept popping in some, like, random teen speak, like, you know? and it was totally distracting and felt too forced. I think she tried to fit in a bunch of things, like lessons from the grandma on meditation and yoga, that just didn't feel organic with the story. I'm also not sure what the overall message was supposed to be regarding big corporations vs. mom-and-pop shops. I was uncomfortable with some of the disparaging comments made about the chain coffee shop across the street (though I am all for homegrown businesses, too) yet the resolution of the story made me wonder if perhaps the author meant to hint that sometimes the money that comes from successful business ventures can be helpful, so the messages were rather mixed.

So, overall, I did appreciate some elements of the story and it was nice to see such as the cozy focus to a tween story (the boy drama is pretty mild and I like that Annie is such a "good girl") and the girls' creativity and tenacity in trying to help save the Steeping Leaf. I also loved the idea of including vintage tea advertisements and some tea-time recipes and party ideas. But, overall, reading the book was more like taking a sip of tepid tea--it could have been so delicious but my reaction was similarly lukewarm.(less)

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Sep 15, 2010 Danie P. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children-s-books, y-a

Lovely story about Annie who desperately wants to work at her Grandmothers teashop. She's been hanging out there for years and knows absolutely everything there is to know about tea. When her grandmother says yes, she can't wait to start especially when she meets the other employee who happens to be a very cute boy. Trouble begins when she finds out her grandmother hasn't paid taxes on the shop and is being threatened with foreclosure! The story follows Annie and her friend Jack as they explore...more

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May 29, 2011 Kasia S. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I think it's a wonderful idea to write cozy books about tea for younger children, I grew up reading all sorts of tea books and manuals and it certainly made me love the beverage more than soda and other junky stuff that kids like to indulge in on daily basis. There is a certain warmth and hospitality that comes out when someone serves you tea, the heat and flavor resonate form inside out, bringing a feeling of wellness and calm. For those who like tea this will be a real gem, cute and full of in...more I think it's a wonderful idea to write cozy books about tea for younger children, I grew up reading all sorts of tea books and manuals and it certainly made me love the beverage more than soda and other junky stuff that kids like to indulge in on daily basis. There is a certain warmth and hospitality that comes out when someone serves you tea, the heat and flavor resonate form inside out, bringing a feeling of wellness and calm. For those who like tea this will be a real gem, cute and full of interesting quotes from famous authors and books, with instructions on brewing and serving tea to mouthwatering recipes and adorable vintage advertising that sparked my interesting into doing little research. It's hard to read this book and not want to drink tea, but if you're reading it in bed after dark I guess you'd have to.

When Annie Green decides that she wants to work at her grandmother's tea shop she picks a bad day, the day that the eviction notice comes in. Her happiness is short lived when the darkness dampens everyone's mood; certainly I was frowning thinking whether it's possible to read a cute book where a money conflict doesn't exist? I know it's based on real life and in today's world everything having to do with money is depressing but to include so much of it in a kid's book was a little annoying. Also I thought it was very close to another teen book I read last month, "Coffeehouse Angel" which had a coffee theme, but otherwise same issues, it was just a bit trifling to read the same thing again...I'm sure authors can come up with other conflicts for the 13 year old heroine to solve other than paying the rent bill. Other than that I liked the book, but I wish that overall it had less external conflicts and more internal struggles of growing up, which can be funny and more interesting.

Overall this was a sweet book and the characters were great, the conversation was always fluid and moved swiftly, this is a fast read and a beautiful book to keep for all the great tea info which I can never get enough of. (less)

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Jul 11, 2010 Kat rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit, young-adult, books-i-own, borrowed-from-library, cookbooks, read-in-2010

A young-adult novel about friendship and tea — it's like this book was written for me! I saw this book last year at Barnes & Noble and loved the book jacket because it has photos of a teapot, cupcakes and cookies. The inside pages are filled with grayscale illustrations by Sujean Rim, whose work I always enjoy, and old tea adverts. There are also a lot of sidenotes about tea, mixed in with various tea recipes.

The story is about eighth-grader Annie Green whose love for tea stems from her gran...more A young-adult novel about friendship and tea — it's like this book was written for me! I saw this book last year at Barnes & Noble and loved the book jacket because it has photos of a teapot, cupcakes and cookies. The inside pages are filled with grayscale illustrations by Sujean Rim, whose work I always enjoy, and old tea adverts. There are also a lot of sidenotes about tea, mixed in with various tea recipes.

The story is about eighth-grader Annie Green whose love for tea stems from her grandmother Louisa's teashop The Steeping Leaf. In an era of chain coffee shops, the Leaf is in financial trouble. Business just isn't what it used to be, and Louisa may be forced to shut down her shop for good if she doesn't get more customers. Annie doesn't find out about the dire situation of the teashop until she starts working there as a barista. She enlists the help of her best friends Zoe and Genna, who've been her fellow 'Teashop Girls' since they were five years old, to help save her grandmother's shop.

Aside from being a lot about tea and its history, health benefits, etc., The Teashop Girls is a story about friendship and growing up. Annie feels that her best friends are growing up without her. Genna's working on her acting and art, while Zoe's on a competitive tennis team. They've stopped having time to do weekly afternoon tea with Annie at The Steeping Leaf like they used to when they were little. Annie feels she's losing her friends, and that once they start high school in the fall, they'll drift even further apart. I, for one, felt just like Annie when I was in the eighth grade — always feeling like I was the last one to mature and grow up.

I found some typos in this book, like "sushi roles," (someone who checked out the book from the library before I did actually wrote a correction in there — ha!), but there weren't very many like in some other books I've read recently. I enjoyed the tea-related quotes that introduce each chapter, not to mention the pretty illustrations of teapots, teacups, cakes and other sweets. This book may look cluttered to some people, because it has a lot of asides by Annie meant just for the reader, but I really liked the format. It felt like I was reading a friend's scrapbook.

I borrowed this book from the library, but I also ended up purchasing the paperback because it has the added bonus of more recipes and instructions on how to host your own Teashop Girls party. A girl can never be too old to have a good tea party, and I intend to use this guide some day with my own friends.

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Aug 03, 2012 Hila rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Steeping Leaf is Annie Green's favorite place to be. Ever since she was a child, she loved being in her grandmother's tea shop. It was like home to her. So at thirteen, and on the verge of being done with middle school, Annie decides she is mature enough to handle a job there. Her grandmother agrees, and Annie begins her barista days. Or day. Because her very first day of work, the power gets turned off, and soon after, the shop receives an eviction notice. It seems Annie's barista days will...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Shazzer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: middle-grade

As posted on Outside of a Dog:

This is a book that had me at hello. That is, it had me from its very pleasing book cover in complimentary pastel colors and promise of tea and cake. It has been a space of two and a half years, however, between that first glance and my chance to actually, you know, read the book. What I got was not exactly what I wanted, but it was a pleasant distraction for a day of lousy weather and a generally good read. Thirteen year old Annie has just taken a job as a barista...more

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Mar 31, 2013 Andrea at Reading Lark rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 3-stars, chick-lit, contemporary, middle-grades, read-in-2010, young-adult

Review Posted on Reading Lark 2/5/12: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2012/...

My friends all know that when it comes to tea I can be a bit obsessed. I love to find different varieties to suit my moods and I've been known to drink more than one glass/cup a day. I'm quite partial to chai and iced black tea. I also think spending a day browsing through Teavana is a great way to spend an afternoon. Furthermore, in a geography course in graduate school, I did an entire presentation on tea. Yes, I kno...more Review Posted on Reading Lark 2/5/12: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2012/...

My friends all know that when it comes to tea I can be a bit obsessed. I love to find different varieties to suit my moods and I've been known to drink more than one glass/cup a day. I'm quite partial to chai and iced black tea. I also think spending a day browsing through Teavana is a great way to spend an afternoon. Furthermore, in a geography course in graduate school, I did an entire presentation on tea. Yes, I know this is a book blog, not a tea blog, but I felt a bit of background information about my love of tea might shed some light on my initial attraction to this book. How could one who loves tea as much as I do not pick up a book with a title like this?

The Teashop Girls is a fun coming of age read that showcases how friendships evolve as we age. The transition from middle school to high school is often difficult for many teens, but it can be even more brutal when your friends are also changing rapidly and you begin growing apart from those who have always been by your side in the past. For Annie, Zoe, and Genna, the tea parties at The Steeping Leaf are quickly becoming relics of their childhood. However, Annie is having trouble being left behind as her best friends discover new hobbies and friends. To make matters worse, The Steeping Leaf, might have to close its doors forever. Can Annie save the place she loves so much and win her friends back? Will the allure of the tea leaves be enough to bring them all back together as high school looms at the end of the summer?

This was a quick read that was realistic and cute. I think many middle school girls will enjoy this one. I really like how we watch Annie struggle to deal with all the changes that are happening around her. This truly speaks to the late middle school/early high school experience. I did often find Annie to be a bit on the demanding and whiny side. She made the read a little more tedious for me than it needed to be with her "everything is about me" attitude. However, I feel like in spite of my annoyance she is true to the age group. Most teens do share her view on life. I also will admit that Annie matures through the plot which improved my outlook concerning her.

My favorite aspect of the book was The Steeping Leaf drama and the shop itself. I loved that this place was such an important piece of the girls' friendship and that they even had rules for themselves. It brought to mind the little clubs my friends and I created back in the day. Schaefer does a wonderful job of conjuring up the emotions and worries of that time in my life; I could really relate to the struggles of all the girls.

If you're in the mood for some tea, sweets, and friendship - then this is the book for you! I am looking forward to reading the next book.

One Last Gripe: Annie seemed much younger than her friends at times.

My Favorite Thing About This Book: I loved the recipes and tea info!

First Sentence: There's a right way and a wrong way to do many things, and when it comes to tea, my opinion is one should not mess around.

Favorite Character: Annie's Grandmother

Least Favorite Character: Annie - although she did grow on me eventually(less)

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Apr 06, 2011 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com

Annie and her two BFFs, Genna and Zoe, used to hang out at her grandmother's tea shop. Now, with the end of 8th grade drawing near, the friends are pulled in different directions.

Once nicknamed the Teashop girls, each has her own direction. Zoe's focused on tennis. Genna's focused on acting. Annie becomes focused on the shop once again.

She asks her grandmother for a job as a barista. Annie soaks up the atmosphere. She loves her job, especially as s...more

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