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naomiysl's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A very sweet coming of age story in which our young protagonist acts actually young, in ways I find refreshing. I love how specific this book is. Not just vaguely "diverse" but actually reflective of a specific identity. I also really love how all the adults really are looking out for the kiddo in this book. She's got a village at her back, and learning that fact is the journey. Also the queer inclusion and acceptance is cozy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
liralen's review
4.0
Nice balance of serious and lighter here: Alba is freshly in Barcelona, having been sent to stay with her grandmother while her mother figures out what to do about her relationship with Alba's abusive father. Barcelona is full of unknowns for Alba, starting with the fact that, suddenly, the people in her life seem happy to have her there. Gradually, she starts to find her place—one loaf of bread at a time.
I love seeing books set in non-English-speaking places, written for an English-speaking audience—it's just a little taste of somewhere else. I'd have liked to see more of Barcelona in here (Alba spends most of her time in her grandmother's neighbourhood), as it's somewhere I've never been and I love me some vicarious travel. But I'm thrilled with the minimal nod paid to romance. I'm not sure how realistic it is for Toni to pick up gluten-free baking as a marketing scheme (gluten-free is a whole different ball game and would require a lot of experimentation and know-how, even knowing how to bake with gluten; also, a gluten-free loaf at a gluten-filled bakery will be fine for many but not for people with certain severe kinds of gluten intolerances), but I can get behind Alba's growing interest in bread and the bakery.
I love seeing books set in non-English-speaking places, written for an English-speaking audience—it's just a little taste of somewhere else. I'd have liked to see more of Barcelona in here (Alba spends most of her time in her grandmother's neighbourhood), as it's somewhere I've never been and I love me some vicarious travel. But I'm thrilled with the minimal nod paid to romance.
Spoiler
I was worried that Alba's mother would, when she came to Spain, immediately get together with Toni, her childhood friend—but it's very clearly a 'we were basically siblings as children and romance is not on the table'—and although Alba has a little romance of her own, it doesn't get far before she decides that there's a bit too much going on at the moment and she's not in a place to start something. Very nice to see.library_kb's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I really enjoyed this middle school novel which deals with some really tough topics in an approachable, and ultimately hopeful way. Alba gets sent to live with her grandma in Spain to get away from her abusive dad. She is dealing with anger at her mother, for staying in the situation and not getting out sooner, and dealing with some PTSD. As a way of dealing with her situation, she meets a bread baker and learns how to make bread, forming friends and relationships in the process. While the ending did feel a little wrapped up too neatly for me, I did think that the hopeful and positive ending was a good balance to many of the difficult things that are portrayed in this book and was appropriate for the age category. I appreciated the portrayal of Alba, who liked wearing clothes bought in the boys section and keeping her hair short, and how she dealt with people who made assumptions about her based on that. It also had great portrayal of Spanish and Filipino languages and cultures. Highly recommend! (Also, this made me want to travel to Spain SO MUCH--the setting descriptions were 100%)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
madelinefmcguire's review against another edition
5.0
Tweleve year old Alba doesn't want to leave New York to go live with estranged grandmother in Barcelona even though life at home isn't great with her dad's abusive comments towards her and her mother. But soon Alba finds that she likes living with her grandmother and the city of Barcelona itself; she starts making friends, building a family, and discovers her passion for baking bread. But when the bakery Alba has been assisting in is in danger of closing and her mother finally leaves her father Alba's world is shaken again. Unlike the old Alba this Alba is determined to find a way to save the bakery and find a way to have a relationship with her mother.
This book reminds me a lot of Summer of a Thousand Pies which I also loved. This book did a great job of showing how trauma can affect youth without being overbearing about it. I loved all of the bread making and the mixing of cultures. A great recommendation for a reader who likes baking/food, books set in another place, and/or books about overcoming a struggle.
This book reminds me a lot of Summer of a Thousand Pies which I also loved. This book did a great job of showing how trauma can affect youth without being overbearing about it. I loved all of the bread making and the mixing of cultures. A great recommendation for a reader who likes baking/food, books set in another place, and/or books about overcoming a struggle.
readingthroughtheages's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this story. I loved watching Alba's character development and her understanding of her own identity.
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
4.0
Alba is sent away to Barcelona to live with her grandmother, because her mother needs to think. At least that is what she is told. Her mother's side of the family was originally from the Philippines.
This is a wonderful story of finding home when you are not home. Despite not knowing any Spanish and not much Tagalog, Alba manages to make friends and discover that she loves to bake. And it all seems that maybe life will be good.
But of course, if that was all to the story, it wouldn't be much of a story, would it?
I love this theme of baking bread, as it is a very physical activity, and you get the reward of fresh bread when you are all over.
I also love all the places in Barcelona that Alba visits. Some, I had heard of. Others I had to look up. Makes me want to visit there someday.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
This is a wonderful story of finding home when you are not home. Despite not knowing any Spanish and not much Tagalog, Alba manages to make friends and discover that she loves to bake. And it all seems that maybe life will be good.
But of course, if that was all to the story, it wouldn't be much of a story, would it?
I love this theme of baking bread, as it is a very physical activity, and you get the reward of fresh bread when you are all over.
I also love all the places in Barcelona that Alba visits. Some, I had heard of. Others I had to look up. Makes me want to visit there someday.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
mystic_dclouds's review against another edition
4.0
The cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous and pulled me into this beautifully cooked story. I loved every aspect of the book, even when it made me cry or crave for the delicious bread or food mentioned. It had multiple references of music, gender identity, gender equality, self discovery and self acceptance.
We start off this story with Alba being sent off to Barcelona to live with her grandmother, who she barely remembers. Alba’s journey starts off with her facing a lot of insecurities and awkwardness but ends with her developing into a more confident, loving and vocal individual. One thing that made me love Alba is that she isn’t a perfect character. She has her weaknesses and gradually learns to heal in a city with new friends. That to me takes both courage and a willingness to accept one’s flaws.
Alba couldn’t have become the character she was at the end, without her friends. Every character in this book stood out; they were unique individuals with such pure personalities. I have to mention, my favorite characters were Abuela Lola, Toni, Marie and Manny. They just created a special place in my heart and I felt they were the best supports for Alba throughout this book. Abuela Lola is just an angel who supports Alba with the love and warmth she needs and desires from a family that she never had. But that’s not all; Abuela Lola also helps her own daughter heal from her past abusive relationship. Abuela Lola is really an individual we all need in life!
This story is descriptive. Through Alba’s view we get a lot of imagery on her surroundings and her friends. At times, it felt like I was in Barcelona experiencing all of it with Alba. I really enjoyed reading about Alba’s description of Manny’s house and the streets of Barcelona. Having not travelled outside of my city once, it was quite refreshing to read about. Also just to clarify, it’s not too description heavy in my opinion, it’s the right amount of descriptive. It helps build the story but also ensure the story doesn’t lag and moves on.
Overall, I enjoyed this book but I think Alba meeting all nice and caring friends in Barcelona was a bit too unrealistic although this is a work of fiction. Also, I wished there was more information on her life back in America especially regarding how her dad had become abusive. One of the most interesting parts of this book was the use of Spanish, Catalan and Tagalog languages interlaced throughout the book. There is a glossary at the end to help the reading smoother, and I definitely recommend getting a hard copy of the book for a better reading experience.
xxMysticxx
Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf
We start off this story with Alba being sent off to Barcelona to live with her grandmother, who she barely remembers. Alba’s journey starts off with her facing a lot of insecurities and awkwardness but ends with her developing into a more confident, loving and vocal individual. One thing that made me love Alba is that she isn’t a perfect character. She has her weaknesses and gradually learns to heal in a city with new friends. That to me takes both courage and a willingness to accept one’s flaws.
Alba couldn’t have become the character she was at the end, without her friends. Every character in this book stood out; they were unique individuals with such pure personalities. I have to mention, my favorite characters were Abuela Lola, Toni, Marie and Manny. They just created a special place in my heart and I felt they were the best supports for Alba throughout this book. Abuela Lola is just an angel who supports Alba with the love and warmth she needs and desires from a family that she never had. But that’s not all; Abuela Lola also helps her own daughter heal from her past abusive relationship. Abuela Lola is really an individual we all need in life!
This story is descriptive. Through Alba’s view we get a lot of imagery on her surroundings and her friends. At times, it felt like I was in Barcelona experiencing all of it with Alba. I really enjoyed reading about Alba’s description of Manny’s house and the streets of Barcelona. Having not travelled outside of my city once, it was quite refreshing to read about. Also just to clarify, it’s not too description heavy in my opinion, it’s the right amount of descriptive. It helps build the story but also ensure the story doesn’t lag and moves on.
Overall, I enjoyed this book but I think Alba meeting all nice and caring friends in Barcelona was a bit too unrealistic although this is a work of fiction. Also, I wished there was more information on her life back in America especially regarding how her dad had become abusive. One of the most interesting parts of this book was the use of Spanish, Catalan and Tagalog languages interlaced throughout the book. There is a glossary at the end to help the reading smoother, and I definitely recommend getting a hard copy of the book for a better reading experience.
xxMysticxx
Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf
yapha's review
5.0
Alba copes with her emotionally detached mother and physically abusive father by running away and hiding, both physically and mentally. When her mother sends her to Spain to live with a grandmother she doesn't know, Alba feels like it is the end of the world. As she slowly begins to open up to Abuela Lola and life in Barcelona, she also begins to come to terms with her life before. Slowly, slowly she begins to heal and trust both herself and others. This book needs a playlist for all of the music mentioned as well as a recipe section!! Highly recommended for grades 5 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley
eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley
samw0327's review
4.0
Super sweet MG/YA book about a girl shipped off to live with her grandmother in Barcelona while her mother figures out how to leave her abusive husband. Alba learns a new culture, a new language, a new passion, and most of all, that she is worthy of love.