Emily, her mom and her aunt Gina are more than just bakery owners: They can literally bake their emotions into their treats. A cannoli gives contentment, a steamed cheesecake provides relief. Emily’s mom is a traveling lecturer, while Emily and Aunt Gina hold down the business, making new goodies with the help of Emily’s best friend, Dae.
When Aunt Gina dies in an accident, Emily goes to drastic measures to not feel devastating sadness, and breaks her family’s one rule: Do not bake with negative emotions. The resulting “crumble” is horrible tasting, but her classmates can’t seem to get enough, and Emily can’t seem to stop baking it to feel temporary numbness.
The recipe for Crumble incorporates author Meredith McClaren (who has also worked as an artist on titles like the Eisner-nominated Black Cloak) and illustrator Andrea Bell—plus equal parts love and heartbreak. Bell’s illustrations have a video game quality, which makes the tragedy startling against the backdrop of such a bright and colorful world. The concept is unique and poignant, and characters such as the nonbinary Dae are thoughtfully portrayed. Back matter provides resources for anyone experiencing a hard time, and inspired bakers will find a plethora of delicious recipes throughout that they can try in real life.
