Scan barcode
rikerandom's review against another edition
4.0
Diese und weitere Rezensionen findet ihr auf meinem Blog Anima Libri - Buchseele
Rezensionsexemplar, zur Verfügung gestellt vom Verlag im Austausch für eine ehrliche Rezension ♥
Mit „Kirschen im Schnee“ erzählt Kat Yeh die Geschichte von DiDi und GiGi. Die beiden Schwestern wurden von ihrer Mutter nicht nur mit recht außergewöhnlichen Namen gesegnet, auch ein Kochbuch hat sie ihnen hinterlassen und mit den Rezepten aus diesem Buch hat die ältere DiDi einen Kochwettbewerb und damit eine Million Dollar gewonnen – mit diesen will sie nun die Ausbildung ihrer kleinen Schwester GiGi sichern, damit diese es einmal besser hat als sie selbst und nicht als Friseurin ohne Schulabschluss endet.
Der Roman ist aus der Sicht GiGis erzählt, die, nach einem Umzug, auf eine neue Schule kommt und dort ihr eigenes Leben zu leben und ihre eigenen Ziele umzusetzen: Endlich einmal ein ganz normales Mädchen sein, mit Freunden, mit einem normalen Namen, das in der Cafeteria zu Mittag isst, etc. pp., denn das Erfolgsrezept, das DiDi für GiGi hat, enthält eigentlich nur einen Punkt: Lernen. Und während GiGi, die sich nun Leia nennen lässt, anfängt Freunde zu finden und sich dem beengenden Einfluss DiDis mit ihrem eigenen Erfolgsrezept entwindet, kommt sie der Mutter, die sie nur durch die Rezepte, die DiDi immer kocht, kennt, näher und erfährt auch über sich und ihre Schwester Dinge, die sie so nicht erwartet hätte.
Leider, und das war mein größtes Problem mit dem Roman, ist GiGi teilweise doch ein ziemliches Miststück. In einigen Situationen und gegenüber einigen Figuren verhält sie sich einfach unmöglich und zeigt auch keinerlei Einsicht/Entwicklung. Zum Glück beschränkt sich das aber auf nur eine handvoll Situationen, wenn auch auf ein oder zwei recht wichtige. Im großen und ganzen tut das dem humor- und gefühlvollen Genuss, den „Kirschen im Schnee“ darstellt aber keinen Abbruch.
Unterbrochen bzw. eher ergänzt wird die Geschichte von den Rezepten zu den Speise, die DiDi und GiGi mit ihrer Mutter verbinden und die ihre Herkunft – Wohnwagensiedlung im tiefsten Süden der USA – deutlich widerspiegeln. Die Rezepte sind teils recht schräg, runden die Geschichte aber ganz hervorragend ab und passen in den leichtgängigen, kindgerechten Stil, in dem Autorin Kat Yeh dieses Buch hält – Protagonistin GiGi ist immerhin erst zwölf und das Buch richtet sich an entsprechend junge Leser.
Alles in allem ein sehr schönes Kinder-/Jugendbuch, das zu Beginn recht leichtgängig und unterhaltsam ist, im letzten Drittel aber plötzlich mit einigen geradezu dramatischen Wendungen überraschen und begeistern kann, auch wenn das Happy End á la Disney eventuell doch etwas kitschig ist. Daher bekommt „Kirschen im Schnee“ von Kat Yeh von mir auch alles in allem vier von fünf Sternen und eine dicke Empfehlung für junge Leseratten ;)
Rezensionsexemplar, zur Verfügung gestellt vom Verlag im Austausch für eine ehrliche Rezension ♥
Mit „Kirschen im Schnee“ erzählt Kat Yeh die Geschichte von DiDi und GiGi. Die beiden Schwestern wurden von ihrer Mutter nicht nur mit recht außergewöhnlichen Namen gesegnet, auch ein Kochbuch hat sie ihnen hinterlassen und mit den Rezepten aus diesem Buch hat die ältere DiDi einen Kochwettbewerb und damit eine Million Dollar gewonnen – mit diesen will sie nun die Ausbildung ihrer kleinen Schwester GiGi sichern, damit diese es einmal besser hat als sie selbst und nicht als Friseurin ohne Schulabschluss endet.
Der Roman ist aus der Sicht GiGis erzählt, die, nach einem Umzug, auf eine neue Schule kommt und dort ihr eigenes Leben zu leben und ihre eigenen Ziele umzusetzen: Endlich einmal ein ganz normales Mädchen sein, mit Freunden, mit einem normalen Namen, das in der Cafeteria zu Mittag isst, etc. pp., denn das Erfolgsrezept, das DiDi für GiGi hat, enthält eigentlich nur einen Punkt: Lernen. Und während GiGi, die sich nun Leia nennen lässt, anfängt Freunde zu finden und sich dem beengenden Einfluss DiDis mit ihrem eigenen Erfolgsrezept entwindet, kommt sie der Mutter, die sie nur durch die Rezepte, die DiDi immer kocht, kennt, näher und erfährt auch über sich und ihre Schwester Dinge, die sie so nicht erwartet hätte.
Leider, und das war mein größtes Problem mit dem Roman, ist GiGi teilweise doch ein ziemliches Miststück. In einigen Situationen und gegenüber einigen Figuren verhält sie sich einfach unmöglich und zeigt auch keinerlei Einsicht/Entwicklung. Zum Glück beschränkt sich das aber auf nur eine handvoll Situationen, wenn auch auf ein oder zwei recht wichtige. Im großen und ganzen tut das dem humor- und gefühlvollen Genuss, den „Kirschen im Schnee“ darstellt aber keinen Abbruch.
Unterbrochen bzw. eher ergänzt wird die Geschichte von den Rezepten zu den Speise, die DiDi und GiGi mit ihrer Mutter verbinden und die ihre Herkunft – Wohnwagensiedlung im tiefsten Süden der USA – deutlich widerspiegeln. Die Rezepte sind teils recht schräg, runden die Geschichte aber ganz hervorragend ab und passen in den leichtgängigen, kindgerechten Stil, in dem Autorin Kat Yeh dieses Buch hält – Protagonistin GiGi ist immerhin erst zwölf und das Buch richtet sich an entsprechend junge Leser.
Alles in allem ein sehr schönes Kinder-/Jugendbuch, das zu Beginn recht leichtgängig und unterhaltsam ist, im letzten Drittel aber plötzlich mit einigen geradezu dramatischen Wendungen überraschen und begeistern kann, auch wenn das Happy End á la Disney eventuell doch etwas kitschig ist. Daher bekommt „Kirschen im Schnee“ von Kat Yeh von mir auch alles in allem vier von fünf Sternen und eine dicke Empfehlung für junge Leseratten ;)
johnnymacaroni's review against another edition
4.0
At first it seems, despite the dead mother, that this book is just as sweet as its cover and title but soon we get to some meatier themes around friendship, family and some long held secrets. Still, it is a cute book and I mean that as a compliment...sometimes we need a dose of cuteness - good kids, nice teachers, nurturing adults (for the most part) to balance out the darkness. Great choice for "tweens" (hate that word but it fits here) and younger girls looking for something a little romantic. Plus... recipes! The recipes are really fun and trashy (think cherry pie filling, white bread, canned biscuits, etc.), I'm keeping my galley so I can try some of them!
brandypainter's review against another edition
3.0
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
The Truth About Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh is a delightful read about relationships, secrets, and starting over. It is as light and fluffy as the cover implies.
GiGi (Galileo Galilei) is starting a new private school after she and her sister DiDi (Delta Dawn) move to start over. DiDi, who dropped out of school to cut hair at a young age, is insists that the future will be better for her smart sister. GiGi spends most of her time studying and working for her future. GiGi is determined to start over entirely at her new school, insisting that her new nickname will be Leia. At this school she is going to have friends and spend her free time doing a few things other than studying. On her first day GiGi is knocked over (literally) by cute popular boy, Trip, and it looks like all her dreams are going to come true. But first she has to deal with Mace, the girl shooting daggers at her every day during lunch, and DiDi's relentless need to organize her life and push it in the direction she thinks is best.
GiGi is an independent, strong-willed, often pushy girl. She is quite good at the snarky comeback and mostly unafraid to allow her opinion to be known. She and Mace, the pretty popular girl who seems unhappy about her presence at her much table, have some snappy conversations. GiGi manages comebacks most middle school girls can only dream of managing in such situations. Sometimes she doesn't know when to hold them back. I liked that GiGi was a good balance of strengths and weaknesses. She's a good friend to those who she wants to consider her friend. She can be downright mean to those she doesn't. Even when Mace shows her vulnerable side and GiGi realizes there is far more to her than she imagined, GiGi is not giving an inch. Their relationship remains fraught until the very end of the book, and I really liked the realistic tone of this. Mace does a lot to help GiGi, but its because she is really a giving and sympathetic person and not because she and GiGi have become friends.
The other characters in the book are not as well developed. I felt that most of the interactions between the middle schoolers were realistic, but their characters just don't stand out individually. I've forgotten most of their names. Trip, the cute popular boy GiGi develops a crush on, is incredibly flat. He's nice. But that's about it. DiDi is one of those quirky southern stereotypes that causes me to grit my teeth. (GiGi is as well but to a lesser extent). DiDi had me rolling my eyes on every page she was on.
The book has a pretty major twist that I saw coming from the beginning. MG readers are probably going to have their socks knocked off by it though. I feel like that twist was wrapped up a little too fast and prettily at the end. This may be because I knew it was coming and had plenty of time to ruminate on all the consequences and complications.
I do enjoy Yeh's writing and the way she pulls readers into a story. I am looking forward to seeing what her next book is like.
In the end I had mixed feelings about the book overall, but it is an enjoyable read and a decent recommendation for kids who love contemporary school stories with themes of changing friendships and complicated life situations.
The Truth About Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh is a delightful read about relationships, secrets, and starting over. It is as light and fluffy as the cover implies.
GiGi (Galileo Galilei) is starting a new private school after she and her sister DiDi (Delta Dawn) move to start over. DiDi, who dropped out of school to cut hair at a young age, is insists that the future will be better for her smart sister. GiGi spends most of her time studying and working for her future. GiGi is determined to start over entirely at her new school, insisting that her new nickname will be Leia. At this school she is going to have friends and spend her free time doing a few things other than studying. On her first day GiGi is knocked over (literally) by cute popular boy, Trip, and it looks like all her dreams are going to come true. But first she has to deal with Mace, the girl shooting daggers at her every day during lunch, and DiDi's relentless need to organize her life and push it in the direction she thinks is best.
GiGi is an independent, strong-willed, often pushy girl. She is quite good at the snarky comeback and mostly unafraid to allow her opinion to be known. She and Mace, the pretty popular girl who seems unhappy about her presence at her much table, have some snappy conversations. GiGi manages comebacks most middle school girls can only dream of managing in such situations. Sometimes she doesn't know when to hold them back. I liked that GiGi was a good balance of strengths and weaknesses. She's a good friend to those who she wants to consider her friend. She can be downright mean to those she doesn't. Even when Mace shows her vulnerable side and GiGi realizes there is far more to her than she imagined, GiGi is not giving an inch. Their relationship remains fraught until the very end of the book, and I really liked the realistic tone of this. Mace does a lot to help GiGi, but its because she is really a giving and sympathetic person and not because she and GiGi have become friends.
The other characters in the book are not as well developed. I felt that most of the interactions between the middle schoolers were realistic, but their characters just don't stand out individually. I've forgotten most of their names. Trip, the cute popular boy GiGi develops a crush on, is incredibly flat. He's nice. But that's about it. DiDi is one of those quirky southern stereotypes that causes me to grit my teeth. (GiGi is as well but to a lesser extent). DiDi had me rolling my eyes on every page she was on.
The book has a pretty major twist that I saw coming from the beginning. MG readers are probably going to have their socks knocked off by it though. I feel like that twist was wrapped up a little too fast and prettily at the end. This may be because I knew it was coming and had plenty of time to ruminate on all the consequences and complications.
I do enjoy Yeh's writing and the way she pulls readers into a story. I am looking forward to seeing what her next book is like.
In the end I had mixed feelings about the book overall, but it is an enjoyable read and a decent recommendation for kids who love contemporary school stories with themes of changing friendships and complicated life situations.
reading_rachel's review against another edition
3.0
This turned out a lot better for me in the end - the beginning was a little too cutesy.
rdyourbookcase's review against another edition
4.0
Well, I had very little desire to try most of the recipes in this book. At the same time, I loved reading them. Who knew recipes could be written in an entertaining way, with life lessons sprinkled in? I loved how the recipes related to the chapters, too. But this book wasn’t just about food. It had relatable experiences like moving and trying to fit in. However, some of the plot lines would probably not happen to the average person - like winning a million dollars or having intense secrets. The secrets led to major twists that children probably didn’t see coming. (I figured one of them out, but not all of them.) They’ll be shocked and absorbed by the story!
lookingforamandaa's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so much more emotional than I anticipated. While GiGi was kind of a little terror, I liked it anyway. GiGi is a twelve-year-old that has just moved to a new school. Her mom died and she’s being raised by her older sister, DiDi. I loved the sister relationship when it was good. It’s hard to have a sister that’s is also your parents, so I could understand GiGi’s attitude. But also, being the adult that I am, I just wanted GiGi to open up to her sister and talk to her.
GiGi’s biggest worry is that he’s not going to make friends at her new school. I loved that this was the smallest problem in the book. She quickly made friends and I loved these relationships. They were sweet and I could see them lasting long into adulthood. I liked that even the girl GiGi was ‘frenemies’ had an interesting outcome. Mace and GiGi butted heads a lot, but I thought it was an interesting and necessary relationship.
Overall, this story was sweet and heartbreaking. It made me feel so many things I was not expecting. I loved the characters and this story had so much heart. I loved the family values and friendships. Also, this book had recipes in it and I totally loved how they were tied into the story. So, keep an eye out for a books & baking post related to this one.
GiGi’s biggest worry is that he’s not going to make friends at her new school. I loved that this was the smallest problem in the book. She quickly made friends and I loved these relationships. They were sweet and I could see them lasting long into adulthood. I liked that even the girl GiGi was ‘frenemies’ had an interesting outcome. Mace and GiGi butted heads a lot, but I thought it was an interesting and necessary relationship.
Overall, this story was sweet and heartbreaking. It made me feel so many things I was not expecting. I loved the characters and this story had so much heart. I loved the family values and friendships. Also, this book had recipes in it and I totally loved how they were tied into the story. So, keep an eye out for a books & baking post related to this one.
lololauren23's review against another edition
4.0
Great coming-of-age story about finding your own identity after generational repetition. Love the inclusion of the recipes.
poorashleu's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted here
The Truth About Twinkie Pie is a stellar middle grade novel that just made my heart warm and fuzzy. It’s about a girl who learns to grow and yet stay the same. It’s a story that broke my heart (because she has a sister who loves her so much) and made me laugh all at the same time. This book has everything that is A++ in books: complex characters, complex family relationships, real life issues and is completely relatable. It also has strong female friendships! Which is something, as you know, is very close to me.
GiGi is a girl from the south and she’s proud of that. She misses her mom and loves that her sister watches over her. DiDi, her older sister is trying her hardest to have GiGi grow up to be a solid person meant for the world. Never once did I question how much DiDi loved her sister. GiGi could drive her crazy and up the wall, but there was always trust and love between the two of them. I also enjoyed how Yeh shows that just because someone’s life looks perfect doesn’t mean it is. Her friends all look like they all have these “perfect” lives, but they are struggling with her.
GiGi considers her sister to be stifling and overbearing her sister is just loving her the only way she knows how. She’s convinced everyone is judging her and they’re not. They’re worried about their own lives, but when you’re in middle school that’s not how your brain works. I get that. I also get that no matter how much you love someone, you sometimes feel like you need a break from someone. Or even find someone that actually listens to you when you’re surrounded by people who mean well, but don’t listen.
This book really is everything. It’s enjoyable. It’s heartbreaking. It makes you think. It’s a must read.
The Truth About Twinkie Pie is a stellar middle grade novel that just made my heart warm and fuzzy. It’s about a girl who learns to grow and yet stay the same. It’s a story that broke my heart (because she has a sister who loves her so much) and made me laugh all at the same time. This book has everything that is A++ in books: complex characters, complex family relationships, real life issues and is completely relatable. It also has strong female friendships! Which is something, as you know, is very close to me.
GiGi is a girl from the south and she’s proud of that. She misses her mom and loves that her sister watches over her. DiDi, her older sister is trying her hardest to have GiGi grow up to be a solid person meant for the world. Never once did I question how much DiDi loved her sister. GiGi could drive her crazy and up the wall, but there was always trust and love between the two of them. I also enjoyed how Yeh shows that just because someone’s life looks perfect doesn’t mean it is. Her friends all look like they all have these “perfect” lives, but they are struggling with her.
GiGi considers her sister to be stifling and overbearing her sister is just loving her the only way she knows how. She’s convinced everyone is judging her and they’re not. They’re worried about their own lives, but when you’re in middle school that’s not how your brain works. I get that. I also get that no matter how much you love someone, you sometimes feel like you need a break from someone. Or even find someone that actually listens to you when you’re surrounded by people who mean well, but don’t listen.
This book really is everything. It’s enjoyable. It’s heartbreaking. It makes you think. It’s a must read.