Chocolate: Sweet Science & Dark Secrets of the World's Most Favorite Treat

School Library Journal

Starred Review on March 1, 2015 | Grades 5 and Up

Gr 6–8—This fascinating book presents a deep, multifaceted glimpse at a delectable dessert: chocolate. Engaging—even witty in places—and enlightening, it gives a history of the sweet treat, speculating about its little-known origins 1,500 years ago in the Upper Amazon Basin of South America, exploring its role in the European conquest of Central and South America, and discussing the dark side of chocolate: the use of slave labor to grow and harvest it. Frydenborg examines the develop...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

Horn Book Guide

Reviewed on January 1, 2015

Frydenborg explores chocolate's complex history, from the cacao tree's probable origins to today's Big Candy, without sugarcoating the sweet's "dark...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

Junior Library Guild

Reviewed on March 1, 2015

This immersive history of cacao traces the plant's spread from Peru to Mesoamerica to Europe; discusses chocolate's importance among Mexican cultures and conquistadors; and explains the crop's link to slavery as part of Triangular trade. It's easy-yet surprising-to grasp how a single plant species can have an immense global impact. Kay Frydenborg describes how chocolate continues to be important (and problematic) today: farmer...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

Junior Library Guild

Reviewed on March 1, 2015

This immersive history of cacao traces the plant's spread from Peru to Mesoamerica to Europe; discusses chocolate's importance among Mexican cultures and conquistadors; and explains the crop's link to slavery as part of Triangular trade. It's easy-yet surprising-to grasp how a single plant species can have an immense global impact. Kay Frydenborg describes how chocolate continues to be important (and problematic) today: farmer...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

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