Space for Saffron

Gr 2-5–Fourth grader Saffron Speiser-Green has a passion for STEM (especially planets!) and a penchant for getting into messy predicaments. When Saffron’s Gran embarks on a six-month cruise, Saffron and her moms, Mama and Mimi, leave Iowa to run Gran’s coffee shop during her absence. Saffron is thrilled to move to Silicon Valley, where she soon makes new friends who share her love of science. California starts to feel like home, a space where Saffron can thrive. But the coffee shop is failing, and Mimi wants to return to Iowa. Can Saffron’s elaborate plan for saving the coffee shop work, or will it be another experiment gone awry? And can she convince her moms to let the family stay? Lighthearted and humorous, this novel addresses themes relatable to upper elementary readers: belonging, being oneself, and forging friendships. However, Saffron as a character can be difficult to root for, prioritizing her interest in science over her loved ones’ feelings and failing to consider the consequences of her choices. Other characters like Saffron’s friends and family are one-dimensional. Illustrations appear in several chapters, but their function is primarily decorative.