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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
charming. begins too abruptly, but leads to some classic fantasy adventures with some delightful characters.
This is a really great book for kids probably 8 or 9+. Many young teens would probably enjoy it too. Good adventure/friendship story with magic, a princess, pirates, etc. It made me want to bake and eat! I especially loved the audiobook with its cast of readers and the recipe at the end. I also really appreciated its rich vocabulary.
Some favorite lines:
“Our own difficulties shouldn’t blind us to the difficulties of others.”
“The cook looked quite scandalized. ‘The princess doesn’t eat sweets.’
‘Everybody eats sweets!” Bee contradicted.”
“‘I do wish I had a skill like that!’
‘You’re a princess,’ Wil pointed out. ‘You don’t really need a skill.’
‘What a foolish thing to say,’ Anika chided him. ‘A good ruler needs all manner of expertise.’”
Some favorite lines:
“Our own difficulties shouldn’t blind us to the difficulties of others.”
“The cook looked quite scandalized. ‘The princess doesn’t eat sweets.’
‘Everybody eats sweets!” Bee contradicted.”
“‘I do wish I had a skill like that!’
‘You’re a princess,’ Wil pointed out. ‘You don’t really need a skill.’
‘What a foolish thing to say,’ Anika chided him. ‘A good ruler needs all manner of expertise.’”
I liked the premise of the magic, that the girl could bake emotions into her creations. I also liked the setting, the Netherlands. (Now that's original! Mainly we find fantasies set in England, a few in Russia and Germany, one or two in France. Never the Netherlands!) But I found the humor somewhat labored and the plot predictable, involving as it does pirates with a heart of gold, a princess with a huge vocabulary, and long-lost fathers. It was only OK.
This book was adorable! What I expected: a sweet book about friendship, magic, baking, and princesses. It definitely gives that. What I did not expect: PIRATES!!! THIS BOOK HAS A LOT OF PIRATES AND ITS GREAT!
It was the good mood I needed right now.
It was the good mood I needed right now.
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cute read, and entirely suited to early middle grades. I liked the pirate captain, and Bea, as well.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book's interesting idea of the emotions you can feel from peoples cooking was a great concept