When “Diverse” Is Who You Are: Guest Post by Tracy Badua and Alechia Dow and Their Just Desserts Giveaway

Happy Monday Everyone! Today I’m excited to have Tracy Badua and Alechia Dow here to share about their MG Their Just Desserts, book #2 in The Cookie Crumbles series. I already read the book, which I really enjoyed. I loved the baking, the mystery to be solved, and Laila and Lucy, the main characters. I also like that this book can be read as a standalone. 

Here’s a blurb from Goodreads: 

Perfect for fans of The Great British Baking Show and Clue, this enchanting and rollicking follow-up to The Cookie Crumbles follows two best friends caught up in a twisty mystery when jewels go missing at a high-stakes baking competition.

Baker extraordinaire Laila Thomas and budding journalist Lucy Flores are living it up at the top of the junior high food chain as eighth graders. But between busy schedules and kinda-boyfriends, these two best friends haven’t gotten to hang out as much. So, when Jaden, an ex-competition rival, begs the duo to step back into the world of cooking competitions and crime—the answer is yes.

Jaden is His father is accused of stealing prized jewels on the set of an amateur kids’ holiday baking show. The plan is for Laila to smash the competition while Lucy investigates behind the scenes—but their half-baked plan gets turned totally upside down when Lucy ends up in front of the cameras instead.

As the investigation and competition heat up, Lucy and Laila’s bond is put to the ultimate test. Can they solve this bakeoff mystery, or will they—and their friendship—crack under pressure? 

Now here’s Tracy and Alechia!

 
When “Diverse” is Who You Are

By Tracy Badua and Alechia Dow

 At a time when diversity has become divisive, it’s hard not to internalize not only the perception of the public, but the doubts of your talent and art. As two authors who come from different communities and cultures––Alechia is Black American, Tracy is Filipino American– we’re not entirely new to criticism. We are, though, new to justifying why we get to write stories. That’s daunting. So let’s reflect briefly on what this term means to us, our stories, and readers.  

What makes a book “diverse?” 

Alechia: Diverse is such a big, loaded term, especially right now. I’ll admit that I’ve been conflicted about it in the past because it reduces us and our work to ‘other’, a variant of the control… But I digress, a book is considered diverse because it features typically marginalized characters written by marginalized authors. 

Tracy: And what’s been encouraging about today’s book landscape is that the range of stories feels so much wider and inclusive: so many readers can see themselves as main characters in their own adventures. But it’s truly unfortunate that the descriptor “diverse” has been weaponized the way it is. “Diverse” should be a door, not a separator or a slur. 

What are some of the ways you’d consider TCC/TJD diverse?

Alechia: If I apply diversity as marginalized representation, then I would say that as we’re authors who have written our identities into these characters and other marginalizations---queer, Black, Asian, people who speak different languages, come from different cultures––our stories represent the world as we know and see it. We just made it a little goofy, a lot more food-tastic, and let our kiddos solve crimes. 

Tracy: Alechia makes a great point about writing our identities into these characters. Lucy is Filipino American like me, and though this book isn’t about her exploring that identity, her experiences do shape her thoughts and actions (like with the desserts she decides to bake).

Overall, we think these characters and their adventures will entertain and resonate with readers of all backgrounds. Who doesn’t love some good old-fashioned mystery and deliciously described baked goods? 

Why is it important for you to have representation of those identities in the story? 

Alechia: Because we normalize our existence and the existence of others. Because stories should explore and expand empathy, and because we want kids to feel seen. 

Tracy: I like to remind folks that books aren’t just about seeing yourself represented; it’s about having others see you too. Plus, because cultural and ethnic groups can vary so widely themselves, it’s vital to show the breadth of experiences so that representation goes over and above stereotypes.  

What would you say to young readers who share that identity?

Alechia: We see you. We’re here for you. We’re proud to write for you and we want you to know that you matter. 

Tracy: And please don’t let others (or even yourself) tell you otherwise. 

Thanks for all your advice, Tracy and Alechia! You can find them at: 

Websites:

Alechia: https://www.alechiadow.com/
Tracy: https://tracybadua.com/

Social media:
Tracy: @tracybaduawrites
https://www.instagram.com/tracybaduawrites?igsh=ZzN1NmYxYmp2dnk1
https://www.threads.net/@tracybaduawrites?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Alechia: @alechiadow
https://www.instagram.com/alechiadow?igsh=M3piODQzcHJodmVo&utm_source=qr
https://www.threads.net/@alechiadow?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Buy links: 
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/their-just-desserts-tracy-badua/1146170608?ean=9780063254633
Bookshop Org
https://bookshop.org/p/books/their-just-desserts-alechia-dow/22122090?ean=9780063254633&next=t 

Giveaway Details 

Tracy and Alechia are generously offering a hardback of Their Just Desserts for a giveaway. This book giveaway is U.S. and Europe. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by June 14th. Please mention if you’re from Europe in your comment. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address. 

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter or Bluesky or follow Tracy or Alichia on their social media sites, mention this in the comments, and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This book giveaway is U.S. and Europe. 

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is hosted by Greg Pattridge. You can find the participating blogs on his blog. 

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops 

Wednesday, June 4th I have an interview with author Aaron Starmer and a giveaway of his YA Night Swimming and my IWSG post 

Monday, June 9th I have an interview with author Nancy McCabe and a giveaway of her MG Fires Burning Underground 

Wednesday, June 11th I have an agent spotlight interview with Mark O’Brien and a query critique giveaway 

Monday, June 16th I’m participating in the Dad-o-Mite Giveaway Hop 

Monday, June 23rd I have an interview with author Michael Spradlin and a giveaway of his MG Threat of the Spider 

I hope to see you on Wednesday!