Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate

We’re excited to welcome author Marisa Churchill on Saturday, December 13 at 6pm to celebrate her YA debut, Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate! Marisa will be in conversation with New York Times bestselling author Joanna Ho.

Ages 12 And Up

Outcast Sylvie must survive her first year at her magical culinary school in this fast-paced, whimsical fantasy.

The culinary world is full of secrets. For one, recipes can become powerful spells. Of course, fourteen-year-old Sylvie Jones knows this. Sylvie has been dreaming of attending her mom’s alma mater, Brindille School of Culinary Arts and Magic, since she was old enough to reach the stove. Unfortunately, the last name Jones has a horrible stain on it—something that could destroy her dream. So, when Sylvie is given the opportunity to prove that she's got the skills to be a great chef and put an end to the rumors that her famous chef mother cheated her way to victory at the world's greatest magical cooking competition, The Golden Whisk, she takes it.

But the opportunity she’s been given may not be all that it’s cracked up to be. If Sylvie truly wants to make her own mark and earn a place at Brindille, she needs to uncover the truth about what happened all those years ago. But some will go to great lengths to ensure Sylvie fails, and she soon finds herself tangled in a web of deceit.

With the unlikely help of frenemy Georgia Shaw and rising-star-student Flora Jackson, Sylvie must find a way to get to The Golden Whisk All-Star competition and uncover the past before time runs out. Will she be able to redeem her family’s name and save her future, or will it all end in burned butter and broken dreams?

About the Author

Marisa Churchill spent a decade of her career working in some of San Francisco’s most notable restaurants, was a competitor on Top Chef season two, and competed multiple times on Food Network Challenge. She is the author of two cookbooks Sweet & Skinny and My Sweet & Skinny Life. Her recipes have appeared in almost every culinary publication, from Food & Wine to Epicurious. Her recipes have also been featured in Oprah.com, Women’s Health, and on numerous TV shows: The Talk, Access Hollywood, Hallmark’s Home & Family, and more.