SCONES AND SENSIBILITY, Lindsay Eland's debut novel, introduces to us a quirky yet endearing heroine who will probably remind us all too well of ourselves, especially if you are, too, a fan of Anne Shirley and Elizabeth Bronte. Its romantic affectations may make it appeal more to older readers instead of its intended middle-grade audience, but readers of all age will be able to laugh at Polly's misconceptions and mistakes, and smile as she grows up and discovers the difference between fiction and reality.
Polly's voice and narration--so influenced by what she feels is a more romantic way of talking--is the make-it-or-break-it element of this book. I can certainly recall many moments when I wish my life were like Anne Shirley's. On the other hand, I also never actually allowed myself to talk in the way Polly does. Polly's overuse of "indeeds," "trulys," and other words may get on readers' nerves, even those who liked Montgomery and Austen's writing.
In a way, Polly exists in her own little world thats difficult to place in a contemporary setting. She's a 12-year-old growing up in 21st-century America, but her speech and her social concerns aren't anything like what I remember thinking about when I was 12. Polly's romantic imagination makes her sound younger than her age, and yet the language of the book may be slightly more sophisticated than the age of readers who'd perhaps find Polly the most entertaining.
SCONES AND SENSIBILITY, then, is most fun in a retrospective sort of way. Readers who will be able to best enjoy Polly's adventures will be the ones who can still remember the magic that Green Gables and Regency England held for them, but are old enough to have some distance from their childhood infatuations. It's a challenging book to market as a result, but if mothers buy this book for their daughters, they'll surely be able to enjoy it themselves as well.
Polly's voice and narration--so influenced by what she feels is a more romantic way of talking--is the make-it-or-break-it element of this book. I can certainly recall many moments when I wish my life were like Anne Shirley's. On the other hand, I also never actually allowed myself to talk in the way Polly does. Polly's overuse of "indeeds," "trulys," and other words may get on readers' nerves, even those who liked Montgomery and Austen's writing.
In a way, Polly exists in her own little world thats difficult to place in a contemporary setting. She's a 12-year-old growing up in 21st-century America, but her speech and her social concerns aren't anything like what I remember thinking about when I was 12. Polly's romantic imagination makes her sound younger than her age, and yet the language of the book may be slightly more sophisticated than the age of readers who'd perhaps find Polly the most entertaining.
SCONES AND SENSIBILITY, then, is most fun in a retrospective sort of way. Readers who will be able to best enjoy Polly's adventures will be the ones who can still remember the magic that Green Gables and Regency England held for them, but are old enough to have some distance from their childhood infatuations. It's a challenging book to market as a result, but if mothers buy this book for their daughters, they'll surely be able to enjoy it themselves as well.
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
Polly LOVES books, especially romantic tales like PRIDE & PREJUDICE and ANNE OF GREEN GABLES.
Polly realizes that the world would be a better place if romance lived on as it does it books. So she plans to change the world.
She decides that her sister's boyfriend isn't good enough for her. She decides that her best friend's father should not look for love on the Internet - instead, she will find a suitable woman for him. She also decides that she will pair up two unhappy singletons. She can work on her matchmaking skills while out delivering goodies from her parents' bakery.
Will love blossom in the air, or stink like her sister's burnt bakery creations?
SCONES AND SENSIBILITY is a cute tale that made me crave chocolate croissants and other treats. Polly is sweet, funny, and hopelessly out of touch with her world, which only makes her more lovable. A great novel for tween girls, anyone who loves matchmaking, or those with a sweet tooth.
Polly LOVES books, especially romantic tales like PRIDE & PREJUDICE and ANNE OF GREEN GABLES.
Polly realizes that the world would be a better place if romance lived on as it does it books. So she plans to change the world.
She decides that her sister's boyfriend isn't good enough for her. She decides that her best friend's father should not look for love on the Internet - instead, she will find a suitable woman for him. She also decides that she will pair up two unhappy singletons. She can work on her matchmaking skills while out delivering goodies from her parents' bakery.
Will love blossom in the air, or stink like her sister's burnt bakery creations?
SCONES AND SENSIBILITY is a cute tale that made me crave chocolate croissants and other treats. Polly is sweet, funny, and hopelessly out of touch with her world, which only makes her more lovable. A great novel for tween girls, anyone who loves matchmaking, or those with a sweet tooth.
To be perfectly honest, I picked up this book because I loved the cover...that and I like Jane Austen. It was a cute, fun, silly, and quick read. I enjoyed it.
12 year old Polly Madessa has just finished reading "Pride and Prejudice" and has decided that she has a new goal for the summer...to make people fall in love. In between delivering pastries for her parents' bakery she works to push people together and pull people apart (when she doesn't think they are well suited). In general she makes one heck of a mess out of people's lives with her good intentions. In the end she learns that maybe love in real life is different from a book.
The story is delivered from the viewpoint of Polly. Polly delivers the whole story in "Pride and Prejudice" like flowery language. Polly also speaks to everyone one in this descriptive, beautiful, and yet out-dated way. Her parents take it in stride, as does her best friend, and it drives her older sister crazy. I thought the way the book was written was okay. At points Polly's language is beautiful and her descriptions of walks on the beach really made me yearn for summer; at other points Polly is just plain silly.
Polly's silliness is part of the charm of the book. I can see where some people might find her annoying, yet, if you approach the story with a sense of whimsy and humor...Polly is just a silly and cute twelve year old girl that is trying to match people's lives to the romantic fantasy she has pictured in her head.
Neither the writing style nor the content of this book is ground-breaking or amazing; at times the writing style is a bit immature (remember it is supposed to be a 12 year old writing it). Yet, the book has a certain charm to it and makes for a fun quick, light read. This is definitely a girly book and is cutesy and funny. Not something I would read all the time, but it was a fun bit of fluff to break up more serious reads. This book is suited for a younger female audience; older teens and adults might also enjoy it.
If you are looking for something a bit silly, kind of cute, sugary and fun this book meets all those requirements and has a sort of charm to it that makes it a fun read. If you are looking for something of Jane Austen proportions, then this book might be a bit immature for you. Still it is a quick read and is a bit of girly fun, so check it out if that appeals to you.
12 year old Polly Madessa has just finished reading "Pride and Prejudice" and has decided that she has a new goal for the summer...to make people fall in love. In between delivering pastries for her parents' bakery she works to push people together and pull people apart (when she doesn't think they are well suited). In general she makes one heck of a mess out of people's lives with her good intentions. In the end she learns that maybe love in real life is different from a book.
The story is delivered from the viewpoint of Polly. Polly delivers the whole story in "Pride and Prejudice" like flowery language. Polly also speaks to everyone one in this descriptive, beautiful, and yet out-dated way. Her parents take it in stride, as does her best friend, and it drives her older sister crazy. I thought the way the book was written was okay. At points Polly's language is beautiful and her descriptions of walks on the beach really made me yearn for summer; at other points Polly is just plain silly.
Polly's silliness is part of the charm of the book. I can see where some people might find her annoying, yet, if you approach the story with a sense of whimsy and humor...Polly is just a silly and cute twelve year old girl that is trying to match people's lives to the romantic fantasy she has pictured in her head.
Neither the writing style nor the content of this book is ground-breaking or amazing; at times the writing style is a bit immature (remember it is supposed to be a 12 year old writing it). Yet, the book has a certain charm to it and makes for a fun quick, light read. This is definitely a girly book and is cutesy and funny. Not something I would read all the time, but it was a fun bit of fluff to break up more serious reads. This book is suited for a younger female audience; older teens and adults might also enjoy it.
If you are looking for something a bit silly, kind of cute, sugary and fun this book meets all those requirements and has a sort of charm to it that makes it a fun read. If you are looking for something of Jane Austen proportions, then this book might be a bit immature for you. Still it is a quick read and is a bit of girly fun, so check it out if that appeals to you.
I loved this book. It was so different from other Tween books. Its appropriatly romanitic. With a complexity to the characters that makes you love them and want to meet them. If you love Jane Austin and want to introduce you girls to a simpler version of that syle this is the book.
