Hit Play on the video above.
The Best Thing about this Book is the cast of characters, many of whom could be considered outcasts but are comfortable in their own skin.
Premise: Alba is sent to Barcelona to live with her abuela, a woman she hardly remembers because Mom has finally had it. She’s threatened many times before, but now, she’s following through on the promise to ship Alba to a place she says will be better.
Rating: 3/5
Target: 4-8 grade
Title: Alba finds herself helping at a nearby bakery. As she discovers a passion for breads, she also finds several friends and sense of, well, love.
Main Character(s): Abla (she/her) — she often gets mistaken for a boy and there is some gender play here
Motifs (not exhaustive): new beginnings, baking, physical abuse, trauma, family, community, business
Great for…* (readers): who enjoy baking or Spain or feel like an outsider or just want to be loved……so, everyone.
Great for…* (teachers): who want a Lit Circle book.
Parental Warning(s): It’s clear Alba’s father is physically abusive to her mother and emotionally/verbally abusive to Alba and her mother. The fact of it is mostly referenced through her mother’s bruises and Alba’s statements about how her dad doesn’t like her.
Interact: What bread would go well with this book?
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*The “Great for” category is not exhaustive and does not intend to neglect the multitude of readers/teachers who could learn from this book in any number of ways.
RATINGS GUIDE
٭ = DNF, would not recommend
٭٭ = would not recommend
٭٭٭ = enjoyable, would recommend
٭٭٭٭ = very good, would recommend
٭٭٭٭٭ = amazing, would definitely recommend
KZ Rochelle 