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lorilaws's review against another edition
4.0
I really wanted to read this book because my Mother in-law owns a cupcake shop and because it sounded just plain cute! What I didn't expect was the great substance this book had!
Isabel is 12 and all she really wants is to travel. She has never left Oregon in her whole life and she thinks the time to get out is definitely now since her mom is opening up a cupcake shop. Instead of traveling over the summer Isabel will be making cupcakes and learning some very important lessons.
This book was as sweet as a strawberry lemonade cupcake. I shouldn't have expect anything less from Lisa Schroeder. I have read and loved all of her YA titles and now I have read and loved her middle grade title also.
The story was sweet and like I said before it had great substance. Isabel had real problems and she had to learn to deal with them. Isabel is a very realistic and likable character. Shes not perfect and that makes her all the more enjoyable to read about.
All in all, I really liked this book even if it isn't my usual kind of read. I think preteens and even some teens will really love it. Lisa Schroeder is a is an incredible story teller.
Isabel is 12 and all she really wants is to travel. She has never left Oregon in her whole life and she thinks the time to get out is definitely now since her mom is opening up a cupcake shop. Instead of traveling over the summer Isabel will be making cupcakes and learning some very important lessons.
This book was as sweet as a strawberry lemonade cupcake. I shouldn't have expect anything less from Lisa Schroeder. I have read and loved all of her YA titles and now I have read and loved her middle grade title also.
The story was sweet and like I said before it had great substance. Isabel had real problems and she had to learn to deal with them. Isabel is a very realistic and likable character. Shes not perfect and that makes her all the more enjoyable to read about.
All in all, I really liked this book even if it isn't my usual kind of read. I think preteens and even some teens will really love it. Lisa Schroeder is a is an incredible story teller.
halfbloodapril's review against another edition
5.0
A surprisingly good read. Short and sweet, sprinkled with oh-so-familiar family troubles that hit close to home. Its constant dessert references make it all the sweeter.
keen23's review against another edition
2.0
Seriously, it took me half an hour to read this book. Isobel's Mom suffers from some type of depression (not really gotten into in the book, to keep it for teens I suppose), and is unable to really follow through with anything in her life. When she decides to open a cupcake bakery, the family drops their entire old life and helps Mom, who can't help herself most days. Serious issues are glossed over with no real solutions.
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
12-year-old Isabel wants to travel. Yes, she wants to go to Paris and Australia, but anywhere outside of Willow, Oregon would be great! She journals about her dream daily and envies her best friend who goes away to summer camp and on vacations to the Grand Canyon. Now she has a chance – if she can come up with a winning recipe for a baking contest, she’ll get to go to New York. Meanwhile, Isabel helps her Mom and Dad as they prepare to open a new business – a cupcake shop!
This is a good middle-school book dealing with some bigger issues than cupcake recipes. Isabel struggles with her self-image and feelings of jealousy. Her mother struggles with depression, though this is never stated as such, and Isabel feels responsible for helping her mother feel better. I liked how Schroeder showed the family discussing issues and Isabel being sensitive to other people’s needs and feelings. Isabel and her family have to work hard to develop the plan for their cupcake store, and Isabel also has several “failures” before she comes up with the recipe she wants to enter into the contest. It’s a positive message about finding our strengths, working to develop them, and find solutions to problems that come our way.
What I didn’t like quite so much was the way Isabel’s mother’s depression was treated. I was bothered that Isabel took so much responsibility for helping her mother “feel better.” I realize this is a middle-grade book and not written for adults, but I didn’t like the message that Isabel could bring her mother out of her depression just by encouraging her to “not be afraid,” and giving her a few library books to read. No child should be responsible for curing such a serious illness.
This is a good middle-school book dealing with some bigger issues than cupcake recipes. Isabel struggles with her self-image and feelings of jealousy. Her mother struggles with depression, though this is never stated as such, and Isabel feels responsible for helping her mother feel better. I liked how Schroeder showed the family discussing issues and Isabel being sensitive to other people’s needs and feelings. Isabel and her family have to work hard to develop the plan for their cupcake store, and Isabel also has several “failures” before she comes up with the recipe she wants to enter into the contest. It’s a positive message about finding our strengths, working to develop them, and find solutions to problems that come our way.
What I didn’t like quite so much was the way Isabel’s mother’s depression was treated. I was bothered that Isabel took so much responsibility for helping her mother “feel better.” I realize this is a middle-grade book and not written for adults, but I didn’t like the message that Isabel could bring her mother out of her depression just by encouraging her to “not be afraid,” and giving her a few library books to read. No child should be responsible for curing such a serious illness.
haven101g's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
brandypainter's review against another edition
3.0
My first grade daughter, an advanced reader, saw this book during our weekly library trip and wanted to check it out. As it has a 12 year old protagonist I told her I had to read it first. I enjoyed it quite a bit. It is a simple tale about a girl who dreams of leaving behind her small town and seeing the world. The relationships in her family are complex and portrayed realistically without weighing down the story. I found Isabel's voice to be genuine. She reads like a 12 year old. I like that this is a story about girl who is creative and wants to find her own way. I also appreciated that there was no romantic element at all. This is a perfect book for girls in the intended audience (8-12) and also for younger advanced readers. My daughter is now reading it and enjoying it very much.
meghabytes's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
librarylisa614's review against another edition
4.0
Cute book, with a light touch on a dark issue. I'm assuming the mom is bipolar, but it doesn't come right out and say that. I loved how supportive the grandma and dad were toward the mom. I also loved that it wasn't a dark, angry, sad book about dealing with a mom who is emotionally ill. The rest of the storylines were good, but that was my favorite aspect of the book. Also, I love cupcakes. I know Anne will be shocked by that ;)
nessarose's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0