Coffeehouse Angel

Reader reviewed by Julie H.

Katrina goes to highschool and helps her grandma run Anna's Old World Scandinavian Coffeehouse. One morning, Katrina leaves a bag of day old pastries and a cup of coffee outside for a sleeping homeless man. Turns out Malcolm isn't your garden variety vagrant, but a messenger of sorts, in Nordby to deliver a message. Malcolm can't help but be sidetracked by Katrina and hopes to reward her for her unselfish act of kindness. This was a very cute story that just sped along.

Reader reviewed by GirlwiththeBraids


Annas Old World Scandinavian Coffeehouse used to be the hang out place. It used to have the best prices, the most tourists, and used to have all the customers. But ever since Java Heaven, the modern coffeehouse next door, started as a business two years ago, Annas only has a matter of time before the bills cant be paid. The orphaned granddaughter, Katrina, of the owner has been working there since middle school and knows that they wont be able to survive if they dont get their customers back. When Malcolm, an angel on duty, offers Katrina one wish and explains that it has to be her biggest desire, she cant figure out what she wants. Caught between teenage romances and medical bills, Katrina needs to get her head in the game before time runs out and she is thrown onto the street.

Coffeehouse Angel is best described as the feeling of staying inside on a rainy day, watching the water slide down the window and wondering what the generations before you did on such an occasion. Its like cutting out paper hearts for no reason or picking a flower just because its pretty. Theres something on the inside of this book waiting to yell Surprise! but it never reveals itself. There are well-written, descriptive paragraphs that explain so much and contain the sweetness of the moment. I love the old-fashion touch the story has and the cute dialogue. Small comments put a smile on my face but they left as soon as they came.

The adorableness of it all changed when the main characters attitude changed and sometimes I didnt like her at all. It was a roller coaster! Jealousy, anger, sadness, drama. The anxiety of being a teenager was captured well, along with what its like to have a responsibility. The romance grew too fast to be realistic yet I found the cuteness of it enjoyable. The authors talent is unmistakable! Overall, it was a fun story with unique settings and characters and great writing.

pages: 276 (reads like 180), release date: August 2009, publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers, ages: 11+,
Rating: based on content and predictability
Contains: a wrong lesson, kissing, normal adults portrayed as stupid and selfish

STARS: 3.5 out of 5