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katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
From the start, you know there is something different about Amelie. Her best friend and parents have concerns for her health, but she's only worried about baking - cakes, cookies, biscuits, sausage rolls. 'Flour power' is her motto, and it comes as a shock (if the reader doesn't know) that she actually has a debilitating condition - cystic fibrosis.
This turns the book into something slightly different, it's not just a story about a wannabe baker trying to get a place in a competition, it's the story of someone's struggle to lie a normal life and pursue their dreams while coping with health problems every day. I've not read a book concerned with the sufferer of CF before, it was illuminating - watching Amelie do (or forget to do) her exercises, take her SEVENTY-FIVE tablets each day, struggle to regain her breath after coughing fits.
Amelie is a character, determined to bake on despite everything, especially when she wins a place at the London heats of the Teen Baker of the Year competition. Will she get there, even with deteriorating health?
I really enjoyed the story, Amelie, her mum and best friend, though he seemed very young to exhibit such a mature attitude towards Amelie's health. Young fans of the Great British Bake Off may take a liking to this, it would be good for those between 10 and 14. There is nothing unsuitable for this age range.
I personally liked the open nature of the ending, there is room for a further story, but it ends realistically and with a lot to think about. I also liked the recipes that Amelie includes for items she bakes in the chapters - planning on trying some of them out!
This turns the book into something slightly different, it's not just a story about a wannabe baker trying to get a place in a competition, it's the story of someone's struggle to lie a normal life and pursue their dreams while coping with health problems every day. I've not read a book concerned with the sufferer of CF before, it was illuminating - watching Amelie do (or forget to do) her exercises, take her SEVENTY-FIVE tablets each day, struggle to regain her breath after coughing fits.
Amelie is a character, determined to bake on despite everything, especially when she wins a place at the London heats of the Teen Baker of the Year competition. Will she get there, even with deteriorating health?
I really enjoyed the story, Amelie, her mum and best friend, though he seemed very young to exhibit such a mature attitude towards Amelie's health. Young fans of the Great British Bake Off may take a liking to this, it would be good for those between 10 and 14. There is nothing unsuitable for this age range.
I personally liked the open nature of the ending, there is room for a further story, but it ends realistically and with a lot to think about. I also liked the recipes that Amelie includes for items she bakes in the chapters - planning on trying some of them out!
teresaalice's review against another edition
4.0
A cute little YA novel that includes the heavy topic of a girl living with cf and the not so heavy topic of her love of baking, complete with recipes.
susan_loves_stories's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tea_tales_tomes's review against another edition
3.0
A book about a young girl with a life-shortening disease who loves to bake. A small snap shot into the life a teenager with a constant dark cloud hanging over her head and how she tries to overcome it by following her passion. And there are recipes littered throughout the book! Reading this book was not good for my waistline because I felt that I needed a supply of yummy treats every time Amelia went into her kitchen. I didn’t score it any higher because I felt that it lacked some depth but maybe I’ll change the rating a little later after I digest the story a little more.
lammerman's review against another edition
1.0
I really hated this book. The main character was such a little shit. She was condescending, self-obsessed, and entitled. At some points she was just nasty to her mom and her “sarcasm” was just rudeness. I hated that she got what she wanted at the end of the book even though she lied to her mom and caused her boyfriend to be in a situation that almost cost him his life. I hated the obsession with weight that seemed to touch all of the characters subtly. I had absolutely no emotional connection to the characters, and no emotional reaction to either Amelie’s plight or Harry’s accident. The only thing I liked about this book was that it was less than 200 pages. Thank God.
froggylibrarian1's review against another edition
4.0
When I requested this book from NetGalley I was really expecting a fluff book. Amelie loves to bake cupcakes, she is going to be in a teen competition, she has a boyfriend. But then, wham, she has Cystic Fibrosis which is getting worse and her mom doesn't want her going to NYC for the competition.
There is a lot of information about Cystic Fibrosis and how she has to manage it (maybe too much??) which I thought was good because I can't think of other books I have that deal with the illness. In addition, I know a girl who recently died from complications from the disease so this struck home for me.
In a way I could compare this to Fault in Our Stars - Amelie fights her disease, wants to live her life and bake like a normal girl so she runs away to NYC for the competition. Unfortunately, she loses her medicine and as her boyfriend tries to come to her aid he is hurt in an accident.
The build up to that event was great...in fact, I had to stop reading with only 30 pages left and I was thinking - NOOOO, I need to keep going. But, I felt that last 30 pages was rushed and not as developed as I would like.
My take in a nutshell is that this would be good for 5th and 6th graders who want to read more YA books but aren't ready for the more complex love scenes or language. 7th graders and up will probably be disappointed in the lack of depth...
There is a lot of information about Cystic Fibrosis and how she has to manage it (maybe too much??) which I thought was good because I can't think of other books I have that deal with the illness. In addition, I know a girl who recently died from complications from the disease so this struck home for me.
In a way I could compare this to Fault in Our Stars - Amelie fights her disease, wants to live her life and bake like a normal girl so she runs away to NYC for the competition. Unfortunately, she loses her medicine and as her boyfriend tries to come to her aid he is hurt in an accident.
The build up to that event was great...in fact, I had to stop reading with only 30 pages left and I was thinking - NOOOO, I need to keep going. But, I felt that last 30 pages was rushed and not as developed as I would like.
My take in a nutshell is that this would be good for 5th and 6th graders who want to read more YA books but aren't ready for the more complex love scenes or language. 7th graders and up will probably be disappointed in the lack of depth...
vctrlysn's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
crizzle's review against another edition
2.0
13 year old girl with cystic fibrosis is an expert baker. It'd be a good read for preteens-teens.
lberestecki's review against another edition
3.0
This was a decent book, and I really enjoyed the first half. But it got super dramatic in the second half - the stuff with Amelie's health was a fine addition to the book because that made sense with the story, but there was one big thing that happened that seemed unnecessarily dramatic. I also felt like the book ended rather abruptly.
Received from NetGalley.
Received from NetGalley.
serendipity_viv's review against another edition
5.0
Originally published on www.serendipityreviews.co.uk
I wasn’t expecting to love this book as much as I did. In fact, I was completely bowled over by it. Where do I start with the abundance of praise I have for it?
Let’s start with Amelie. She is one feisty girl who won’t let her medical condition stand in her way. Even though she is constantly putting her life at risk. Amelie has Cystic Fibrosis. I have to be honest and admit to knowing very little about the illness. Before reading this book, I was aware that it had something to do with the lungs and involved a lot of physio. This book really opened my eyes to the condition and I was surprised by how much I learned while reading.The effects of the disease on the lungs and stomach were eye opening. Poor Amelie, spent most of the book, constantly trying to find enough energy to keep going. Everything we do we take for granted and this book made me appreciate my health.
The story is well written and goes off at a steady pace. There are touches of humour mixed in with moments of sadness, that really bring the book to life. I basically read this book in two days. I found myself constantly creeping back to it to read it.
I felt the book was extremely in fashion with the interests of society today. With The Great British Bake Off still as popular as ever, it was easy to imagine Amelie being picked to enter a baking competition for kids. I loved the recipes scattered between the chapters. I found myself constantly drooling. This book should come with at least one cupcake, to make reading it easier.
This is the first book I’ve read by Vanessa Curtis but I am positive it won’t be the last. A beautiful blend of humour and sadness. A book that will have you reaching for your spatula before you know it.
I wasn’t expecting to love this book as much as I did. In fact, I was completely bowled over by it. Where do I start with the abundance of praise I have for it?
Let’s start with Amelie. She is one feisty girl who won’t let her medical condition stand in her way. Even though she is constantly putting her life at risk. Amelie has Cystic Fibrosis. I have to be honest and admit to knowing very little about the illness. Before reading this book, I was aware that it had something to do with the lungs and involved a lot of physio. This book really opened my eyes to the condition and I was surprised by how much I learned while reading.The effects of the disease on the lungs and stomach were eye opening. Poor Amelie, spent most of the book, constantly trying to find enough energy to keep going. Everything we do we take for granted and this book made me appreciate my health.
The story is well written and goes off at a steady pace. There are touches of humour mixed in with moments of sadness, that really bring the book to life. I basically read this book in two days. I found myself constantly creeping back to it to read it.
I felt the book was extremely in fashion with the interests of society today. With The Great British Bake Off still as popular as ever, it was easy to imagine Amelie being picked to enter a baking competition for kids. I loved the recipes scattered between the chapters. I found myself constantly drooling. This book should come with at least one cupcake, to make reading it easier.
This is the first book I’ve read by Vanessa Curtis but I am positive it won’t be the last. A beautiful blend of humour and sadness. A book that will have you reaching for your spatula before you know it.