The document provides the recipe for Lynne Rae Perkins' book "Criss Cross" which includes short but sweet chapters that each describe an individual character, sometimes crossing into other characters' lives. It instructs readers to take their time reading the book, reading only a few chapters at a time, in order to appreciate the subtle twists and anticipation between chapters without rushing through. The final instructions are to read the last few chapters all at once while enjoying tea and cookies to ease the pain of the book ending.

1. Recipe for ‘Criss Cross’ by Lynne Rae Perkins
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/mwright2/iroots/cat_criss_cross_2007.html
Ingredients:
1x an elegant title named after a radio show which describes the book completely
1x an simple water color dust-jacket that explains the depth and personage of the book
1x an author who knows what she’s doing but will make your head spin

2. 38x short but sweet chapters that describe each character individually- sometimes “criss
crossing” into each others’ lives.
2x short blurbs on the inside of the book cover and back cover which tells the entire life
of the character Debbie
1x a John Newberry Award which was greatly deserved, but should have only been
given if they made Lynn Rae Perkins promise that she would write a sequel for dessert.
Instructions:
-Take in the small blurbs around the book jacket, can you gain an understanding of
what the book is about?
- Read the Chapter titles and first sentence of each chapter and pause. Then continue
reading and see if the rest of the chapter is what you expected.
- Understand that there isn’t just one “main” character in this book. The characters that
the story follows are all just supporting characters for each other.
- The story will quickly switch from character to character so make sure you’re prepared.
Along with this comes twists, but not so much to make you spit the book out. It’s like a
subtle spiciness.
- Take a long time to read the book. It’s no fun if you read it all at one. I would say read
2 chapters worth at a time, then come back the next day so you’ll be filled with
anticipation.
- When you get to the final 4 chapters of the book, read them all. But fix yourself a cup
of tea and maybe some cookies first. They’ll help ease the pain of the book ending
(You can be drinking tea and eating cookies for the whole of the book if you prefer).
-Read it again.