I loved this semi-autobiographical story set in the summer of 1976.

Everything about this book has a wonderful aura of nostalgia even though I have never been to America and it’s set a full two years before I was born!

I’m going to warn you, dear readers, that if you do read this book you will indeed crave a really good chocolate chip cookie with either a glass of milk or in my case, a heavenly hot chocolate with the works.

Shawn Amos has brought 1970s Americana to life both the good and the bad, with the joys of vinyls playing, teenagers in their bell bottoms, and fantastic hair (I love the seventies so this book was perfection for me if you couldn’t guess!) but also the problems that remained in areas of America with areas of cities which were still to a degree segregated. You truly get to see the world Shawn Amos lived in, through his incredible world-building and immersive writing style that had characters that feel as though you could sit down for a shake and of course a cookie.

What I loved about this book is the strong lessons of how important family is, and how well it is woven into the story - it’s not thrust straight into the reader's face but you do pick up on how looking out for those you love is important. To many, it’s the ultimate lesson as well as how important it is to understand that sometimes miscommunication can happen and how you should try to listen and forgive if you can. This book would be a perfect addition to any child’s bookshelf and a firm favourite in the school library.

I absolutely loved this book. I think I liked it so much because it was fiction based on a true story. The characters were amusing and I felt connected to them, and I found myself laughing out loud quite a few times! Although it is deemed a middle grade novel, I think everyone would enjoy this one!! 👍🏻👍🏻

Fun book authored by the son of 'Famous' Amos, the story is set in late 1970s and follows Ellis Johnson as he navigates family, community, and cookies, of course. As an added bonus the scattered illustrations throughout the text are fantastic!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalkey for the e-ARC of this book.

A novel based on the author’s real life experiences, this book was an engaging read about a family, struggling with divorce, and complicated family dynamics. The main character was very likable, and I think readers the root for him.

Ellis Johnson is not impressed. It's summer of 1976, and he's been looking forward to hanging out with his friend Alex. Instead, he's to spend the summer with his dad, while his mother takes some time for herself. His parents have divorced, and Ellis has no idea what was the cause, but he's angry that no one has told him anything. Also, he has to help his dad with his dad’s new seemingly goofy business idea to open a cookie shop. This idea sounds sensible compared to other failed ventures his dad has tried (there have been many, and these were just one source of arguments between his parents.) the one thing Ellis can definitely attest to: his dad makes a seriously good chocolate chip cookie.

After taking possession of the store and making repairs, Ellis must help his dad source sufficient flour, chocolate chips and other ingredients. Along the way, he makes friends with others, including a homeless man, a bus driver, a kindly woman on the bus, and a group of surfers, listens to some great music, and discovers a family connection with a seemingly cool adult. It's a jam-packed and important summer for Ellis, as he gets a better understanding of his dad and himself.

And if you don't end up loving Ellis and wanting to binge chocolate chip cookies after you finish this heartwarming and funny book (I made a batch of cookies afterwards!!), I'd be surprised.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for this ARC in exchange for my review.

I absolutely loved this story! This book is so rich in family history. I love how Ellis has the support of his friends when he thinks his summer is going to be ruined. Don't miss this one, and it wouldn't hurt to have some Famous Amos cookies when you read this one!

Cookies & Milk is 100% a middle grade novel, but whether it’s contemporary or historical fiction is ultimately up to the reader to decide. The book takes place in the summer of 1976 and is published in 2022. Is that contemporary? historical fiction? You decide!

This novel was a lot of fun to read and served as a great introduction to the history of the Famous Amos cookies that so many people know and love. The story follows 11-year-old Ellis Jonson as his dad sets out to start the worlds first ever chocolate chip cookie store. Based on his own history and relationship with his father and son, Shawn Amos delivers a wonderful debut novel here. Family can be complicated and relationships can hurt, but with a little love and care, dreams really can come true.

I enjoyed reading this book a lot and can definitely see how this book would appeal to its target audience of younger readers. There were a few times when, as an adult, I found myself getting a little annoyed with Ellis’ antics, especially after several of them resulted in not-so-great setbacks, but I also had to remind myself that he’s 11 years old and just trying to do his best. I’d be very curious to see how Shawn Amos expands from here because I’d be curious to read a novel of his that isn’t semi-autobiographical.

This story is rich in family, ideas, and friendship! Ellis believes his dad's idea to open a chocolate chip cookie store sounds like the worst way to spend his summer, but he survives with the support of a good friend, advice from his grandmother, and a couple of surprise guests. In the six weeks Ellis and his father had to open the store, they learned to listen, forgive, and lean on their community for success. I enjoyed the journey as they learned to GIT (get it together)! Great historical fiction about a still popular snack.

A very sweet read that should appeal to both parents and kids and give ample opportunity for discussion. As an adult I absolutely loved it and thought it quite clever as it indirectly contrasted the 1970s with how we live now. It's a feel-good community story with characters that are quirky and unique. Well done, Mr. Amos! Just as good as your cookies!

WONDERFUL! I loved it! I was so close to tears at the end, and I definitely wanted some Famous Amos cookies. :)
I LOVED all the 70s references (mainly pertaining to music). Yet the book read like a contemporary novel, so I think kids will readily connect with it and love it. Highly recommended!

Cookies & Milk
Shawn Amos
5 stars
Middle grade, Historical fiction
CW: Some racism depicted

When I found out about this book I was so excited to read it and really happy to get an early copy of the book. This book is written by Shawn Amos the son of cookie company founder Wally “Famous” Amos and is partially based on his experience growing up with his father while he was opening the first store to sell only cookies.
Set in the summer of 1976 with the main character being a fifth grader, the book gives a very descriptive look at that time period and Hollywood and the sunset strip. There is some racism the father and son experience but they don’t let that it bring them down or give it much attention.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a middle grade historical fiction book book featuring black main characters. While you’re reading the book you will have a serious craving for chocolate chip cookies.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Litlle, Brown books for Young Readers for the e-ARC in exchange for n honest review. Pub date: May 17, 2022 and I would definitely recommend it!

A unique story of growing up in the mid-70s that is still relatable today – to both the young and the young at heart.

In Cookies and Milk, Shawn Amos relates the feel of the middle school years during the mid-1970s perfectly. His main character, Ellis Johnson, is looking forward to a great summer and turning 12, spending time with his best friend, Alex, listening to their favorite music, and just being kids. Didn’t we all, and wouldn’t we still? You can feel his disappointment and restlessness when things don’t go as planned.

I love how he was able to adapt and “get it together,” wanting to make his father’s dream come true but still being a little grumpy about the whole thing. His introduction to Wishbone was a great plotline, and I never expected where this eventually led, but it was an extremely satisfying surprise. I loved Grandma with her fearsome cane and intriguing slips of paper with the secret acronyms for Ellis and his father to puzzle out. And I so wanted everything to go right for his father from the very start. I enjoyed the supporting characters that arose out of the Sunset Boulevard neighborhoods. They were a great mix of people in various circumstances, and I loved that they formed a sort of “found” family.

My favorite part of the story was Ellis’s increased exposure to his family’s culture, something he really missed out on growing up in a primarily white neighborhood and school. He was at the perfect age to learn and soak up the views and lifestyles different from his small family. The author wonderfully conveyed Ellis’s excitement and the wonder he felt.

With its blend of historical fiction, life in the 70s, and family mystery, I recommend COOKIES AND MILK to middle-grade readers and those with an interest in music (contemporary of the time and the blues from even earlier decades), and since it is semi-autobiographical, to those who enjoy some excellent chocolate chip cookies.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the publisher through TBR and Beyond Tours.

This is a really interesting fictionalized history of Famous Amos that will be a real treat for middle grade readers! There's so much in here. A story of a business. A story of a family in transition. A vibrant portrait of LA in the 70s. A peek into what it was like to be Black in a largely white area in that time and place. It's just fascinating.

It's also incredibly readable. The author's voice is causal and very lively--it's like talking with a fun friend. The chapters are perfectly short which will be great for students transitioning into reading non-fiction and reading for content. There are a couple of PG-ish words, but nothing I think middle-grade readers can't handle. This could spark some great conversation about following dreams, living with racism, and navigating family changes. This would be a fantastic addition to school and community libraries!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

Now I love to read Middle Grades which had been set in an era that reminded me of growing up and that is the main reason why I so wanted to read Cookies & Milk so much.

I loved Ellis as a main character the things he got up to were so 70s there I said it. While Ellis was 11 and living on Sunset Strip I was 6 years old living in the UK witnessing the hottest summer ever and doing what kids do and this brought back so many memories.

But the character that cracked me up was Grandma and her infamous cane. Every time I saw the words THWACK in big black bold letters I knew Grandma was coming and could not wait to see what was going to happen next and see who was in trouble.

Still Shawn gives us more a playlist from the era which I thoroughly enjoyed and thought that it was such a nice touch and now for every book I read I make my own playlists up.

So thank you again Shawn for writing such a heart warming story and I had no doubt in my mind to give 4 fabulous stars

3.75 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

This semi-autobiographical middle reader book was so fun, yet hit on serious topics like racism, divorce, and what it means to be Black in Los Angeles. I loved that Amos gave the main character his son’s (and his own middle) name, Ellis. Amos really captured frustration as a kid of not getting anything right. I loved Ellis’s connection to his harmonica and budding interest in funk music. A very impressive debut novel!

Thanks to TBR and Beyond Tours for having me on this book tour.

This book is like an intergenerational hug with lots of cookies sprinkled on top. I particularly loved the portrayal of how much power a young person can have in their family. While it's set in the seventies, it felt relevant. An excellent middle grade read featuring divorce, family dysfunction, and the power of kindness. Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for an early read for an honest review.

I loved the premise, but the writing was slightly amateurish. There were some scenes that went on too long and would be a bit boring for Middle Grade age readers. It was fun reading about the 1970s. This is a debut author, so I will definitely read his next book.

How could anyone not like a book about chocolate chip cookies, especially when it embodies a beautiful story of family and fresh starts? Amos introduces us to Ellis Johnson and his father as they embark on the adventure of opening a chocolate chip cookie shop on Sunset Boulevard in 1976. Ellis’s family is newly divorced and while his mother is off taking time for herself, Ellis spends his summer with his father and grandmother preparing to open the shop. Even though Ellis was not exactly keen on the idea, he learns (through a lot of trial and error) what he is capable of and what the true spirit of family means. I loved this book for the story, for the complex connections among family and for the lessons it taught me to chase after my dreams by keeping our big goals in mind. Now, I’m off to buy some Famous Amos cookies. =)

WARNING! Upon the completion of this book, the reader will experience an overwhelming craving for warm chocolate chip cookies and a glass of ice-cold milk!

It’s the summer of 1976. Twelve-year-old Ellis is dismayed when his dad announces that they will spend their time together starting a new business; a store that only sells chocolate chip cookies. Sure, Ellis’ father does make a mean cookie, but selling them? In a broken-down building on Sunset Strip? This has to be the mother of bad ideas! As the summer progresses, however, Ellis discovers many surprising things about his neighborhood, his family, and even about himself…

Oh, my, what a nostalgia trip this book took me on! Television programs that one watched when they aired, not in re-runs. Bell-bottom pants, and jeans with colorful patches. Phones with l-o-n-g cords that had to be stretched to a different room for privacy. Record stores with rows and rows of vinyl LPs, which required great skill when lowering a turntable needle!
Above all, however, this book is about the importance of family ties, even if they are damaged by human error, and learning to forgive and move forward. It’s also about learning to be comfortable in your own skin, even if the people around you look different than you.
Such valuable lessons were presented in this book, without being “preachy”. The author’s notes at the end were a fascinating, satisfying addition to the story! I think this book belongs in every middle-grade classroom in America (and grown-ups will love it, too!) I highly recommend this one (to be read while enjoying cookies and milk, definitely!)
*Thanks to Netgalley for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions were strictly my own.*

This is a fun middle grade read. Ellis Johnson’s summer plans are ruined. His divorced dad bought a rundown shop in Sunset Blvd. and plans to fix it up and open a cookie shop. And he needs Ellis to help him. Ellis enlists his best friend to help him navigate through the summer. What ensues is a delightful romp full of mischief, misunderstanding and best laid plans going awry. Somewhat base on the antics of the author’s own experience helping his dad, Famous Amos, establish his cookie shop on Sunset Boulevard, this middle grade story of family, friendship and self-discovery is highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advance e-copy in exchange for an honest review.