Sophie is a human hurricane.

With untied shoelaces, flour-dusted overalls, and hair that refuses to be tamed, she feels like a scuffed boot in a world of glass slippers. Desperate to prove she can be elegant, she sets her sights on the school talent sho,wbut fear of making a mistake keeps her frozen on the sidelines.

Enter Saffron. A high-maintenance, vanilla bean cupcake with a crown of sprinkles and a serious diva attitude. Saffron is perfection piped in pink, and she is absolutely terrified of one thing: The Smudge.

When a clumsy accident brings their worlds colliding (literally), an unlikely friendship is baked. Through a mix of humor, heart, and a little bit of magic, a messy girl and a pristine pastry teach each other a vital lesson: You can’t enjoy life if you’re too afraid to take a bite. Told in engaging free verse, this story explores the paralyzing grip of perfectionism and the liberating joy of jumping in, mess and all.