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lostinausten's review
3.0
Story about a troubled boy immigrating to Australia. It's a very repetitive, clunky book that had a good premise, but I just wasn't a huge fan of.
yapha's review
4.0
When Jingwen, his younger brother Yanghao, and their mother to Australia, it is so much harder than he ever imagined it would be. He is thrown into a regular 5th grade class and is expected to pick up English along the way. Instead he feels like he has landed on Mars. Or maybe he is the alien. He's not quite sure. It doesn't help that both his mother and younger brother speak and understand English better than him. It had been his father's dream to move to Australia and open their own cake shop. Jingwen thinks that if he can bake all of the cakes on his father's menu, then maybe everything will be alright. So he and Yanghao set out to do it secretly, while their mother works the night shift at a bakery. But nothing goes according to plan. Part hilarious, part heart wrenching, this is a must read for anyone who has ever felt like they don't belong. Highly recommended for grades 4 & up.
crizzle's review
4.0
What a great book! 4.5 stars! I’d recommend this to 3rd - 7th graders, especially those who are lonely, grieving, new in town, feeling guilty or like an outsider. My 11 year old daughter made me read it and it had us all choked up, but yet it was light-hearted at times, which is what only the best books can do. Great first book, Remy Lai!
karibaumann's review
4.0
Probably 3.5 stars. I liked it but it took a while to get going and moved pretty slowly/repetitively. Not sure if students will like it or not!
cvt's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
abigailbat's review
SO GOOD.
This is a really sweet (see what I did there?) story of a kid immigrating to a new country that feels like Mars since he doesn't speak English and can't understand anyone. This graphic novel / prose hybrid is a great choice for Wimpy Kid fans who like a little more meat to their story. It's both funny and serious - sweet and salty like the perfect salted caramel sauce.
Full review coming on my blog! Stay tuned.
This is a really sweet (see what I did there?) story of a kid immigrating to a new country that feels like Mars since he doesn't speak English and can't understand anyone. This graphic novel / prose hybrid is a great choice for Wimpy Kid fans who like a little more meat to their story. It's both funny and serious - sweet and salty like the perfect salted caramel sauce.
Full review coming on my blog! Stay tuned.
ekmoore11's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
stenaros's review
5.0
Read for Librarian Book Group
It's an immigrant story, in this case, the destination for the immigrants is Australia. I loved how well this book told the story of not understanding things because of not knowing the language.
There was great brother tension, because the older brother's language skills were not progressing as quickly as the younger brother's. This book also integrated the text with the illustrative panels, it was a book/graphic novel hybrid (though heavier on the book).
There were many amusing details, and sad feelings, and overall, this was probably one of my favorite middle grade books this year.
It's an immigrant story, in this case, the destination for the immigrants is Australia. I loved how well this book told the story of not understanding things because of not knowing the language.
There was great brother tension, because the older brother's language skills were not progressing as quickly as the younger brother's. This book also integrated the text with the illustrative panels, it was a book/graphic novel hybrid (though heavier on the book).
There were many amusing details, and sad feelings, and overall, this was probably one of my favorite middle grade books this year.
cricklewood's review
challenging
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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? Yes
3.75
Setting/Worldbuilding: 5/10
Main characters: 9/10
Side characters: 6/10
Dialogue: 8.5/10
Plot: 7/10
Technique: 8/10
Prose: 8/10
Romance: N/A
Ending: 8/10
Overall enjoyment: 9/10
Total: 68/90 (3.78)
A delightful read that should ring home for people who have gone through the immigrant experience, of having to learn a language from scratch and navigate alien social situations. At various places, and spoken through middle grade innocence and (let's get real) petulance, <i> Pie in the Sky </i> packs a surprising emotional punch.
Main characters: 9/10
Side characters: 6/10
Dialogue: 8.5/10
Plot: 7/10
Technique: 8/10
Prose: 8/10
Romance: N/A
Ending: 8/10
Overall enjoyment: 9/10
Total: 68/90 (3.78)
A delightful read that should ring home for people who have gone through the immigrant experience, of having to learn a language from scratch and navigate alien social situations. At various places, and spoken through middle grade innocence and (let's get real) petulance, <i> Pie in the Sky </i> packs a surprising emotional punch.
books__brews_and_booze's review
5.0
What a well done book on new experiences and grief. It’s not all about grief so it has laugh-out-loud, funny moments so it’s not always heavy stuff.
I think younger children will need some help with some of the cerebral concepts of grief and older children will identify with the main character.
As an adult who just lost a friend, I identified with the feelings of Jingwen, the guilt and sadness that we feel, the things we wish we didn’t say or the things we wish we’d say.
The analogy of seashells in pockets as a way to understand and process heaviness from grief is beautiful.
After I finished listening to the audiobook, I found out that the book won a lot of “best book of the year” designations, and I can see why.
Did the narrator have an Australian accent? I think he might have, and I admit that it was hard for me to get past that because I didn’t think the main character would have an Australian accent, having just moved to the country...
Love the inclusion of the rainbow cake recipe at the end and teachers and parents, there’s a study guide on the “Pie in the Sky” website that is very helpful for discussion.
I think younger children will need some help with some of the cerebral concepts of grief and older children will identify with the main character.
As an adult who just lost a friend, I identified with the feelings of Jingwen, the guilt and sadness that we feel, the things we wish we didn’t say or the things we wish we’d say.
The analogy of seashells in pockets as a way to understand and process heaviness from grief is beautiful.
After I finished listening to the audiobook, I found out that the book won a lot of “best book of the year” designations, and I can see why.
Did the narrator have an Australian accent? I think he might have, and I admit that it was hard for me to get past that because I didn’t think the main character would have an Australian accent, having just moved to the country...
Love the inclusion of the rainbow cake recipe at the end and teachers and parents, there’s a study guide on the “Pie in the Sky” website that is very helpful for discussion.