Courtesy of Oni Press, AIPT can exclusively reveal a first look at The Pancake Trap, a new middle-grade graphic novel by writer Stephanie Young and artist Allyson Lassiter, arriving this June. Packed with treasure hunts, food-themed traps, robot drones, and enough pancakes to make you hungry, the graphic novel mixes heartfelt sibling drama with a full-blown underground adventure.
The story follows sisters Maple and Margaret Sanford, who are on completely different paths in life. Maple is determined to save her grandmother’s struggling restaurant, Dot’s Diner, while Margaret is ready to move on as their mother prepares to sell the business. Before the diner changes hands, however, the sisters are pulled into a dangerous treasure hunt tied to runaway outlaw Crispy Cruller and a hidden stash of gold buried beneath their town.
What follows is a chaotic race through caves and tunnels loaded with syrupy traps, mysterious clues hidden inside Grandma’s cookbook, and enough foodie hijinks to keep readers smiling from start to finish. Oni Press says the graphic novel also includes illustrated pancake recipes after every chapter.
“I cooked up the idea for The Pancake Trap based on my obsession with pancakes, my love of adventure movies, and a fight I had with my sister,” said writer Stephanie Young. “Luckily, the fight is long forgotten, but my passions for pancakes and treasure hunts are still going strong.”
Artist Allyson Lassiter added, “The Pancake Trap is just the type of story I love. It has adventure, heart, and novelty-sized danger. I am so happy that I got the chance to help bring Steph’s book to life for today’s kids to read late at night under their bedsheets with a flashlight, the way I enjoyed all my favorite books and comics as a kid.”
Senior Editor Grace Scheipeter described the book as “full of humor, heart, and hijinks,” adding that it’s aimed at readers who enjoy food-themed graphic novels like Dracula’s Brunch Club, Super Boba Cafe, and Sugar Shack.
Check out the exclusive preview below!
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