Growing up in segregated 1930’s Charlottesville, ten-year-old Allie is determined to find a man for her mama to marry—but not just any man will do!

 

Allie’s life with Mama isn’t bad, but she knows it could be better if Mama would find someone to marry. Allie’s worst enemy, her NOT-friend Gwen, has a daddy, and Allie wants someone like that—someone to fix things when they break, someone who likes to sing, and has a kind-smile. 

 

So Allie makes a plan—her super secret Man-For-Mama plan. She has a list of candidates with a clear top choice: Mr. Johnson, who owns the antique store. Best of all, Mr. Johnson went to school with Mama, and he wants to get reacquainted! The battle’s half won, and Allie is sure that when he tries Mama’s yummy chicken and dumplings, he’ll be head over heels. 

 

But someone else is interested in Mama: Mr. Coles, Allie’s teacher, who’s also Gwen’s uncle! Mama can’t marry him—no way is Allie going to be related to Gwen. On top of it all, Allie’s best friend is moving to Chicago; Allie keeps getting in trouble; and everyone seems to think she’s jealous of Gwen, for some reason. Nothing is going how she planned, but Allie is determined to get things back on track toward the life she knows she and Mama both deserve … even if Mama doesn’t agree yet.

 

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection • A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year • 2025 Children’s Book Council Favorite—Librarian Favorites, Grade 3–5 • BCALA Best of the Best 2024 Book List—5th–8th Grade • VLA 2025 Cardinal Cup Overfloweth Title • California Department of Education Recommended Literature

 

“Mann delivers all the right ingredients—an original setting, fresh characters, one truly spunky girl—and serves them up with honesty and love. Mama’s Chicken and Dumplings is delicious!”—Kathryn Erskine, National Book Award Winner