Flour Babies - Hardcover

The winner of two prestigious British book awards, Flour Babies delves into the world of a group of under-achieving schoolboys as they work through a major, if demeaning, science project. More interesting is the author's development of the protagonist's character as he comes to terms with his past. Richard Mitchley's articulate reading ably balances these two disparate themes. His vocal modulations capture the cacophonous boisterousness of a band of fourteen-year-olds and conveys the quiet introspection of Simon on his voyage of self-discovery. This is a satisfying rendition of a well-crafted book. B.M.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Grade 7-9-This new novel by the author of Alias Madame Doubtfire (Little, 1988) is certain to be a hit. One can even envision Robin Williams in the role of Mr. Cassidy, teacher of Room 8, which houses the 19 boys who are the Sads and the Bads at St. Boniface School. These boys, who "have the boredom thresholds of brain-damaged gnats," choose as their science project The Great Flour Baby Experiment: each takes full-time responsibility for a six lb. bag of white flour, with instructions to keep it dry, safe from harm, and absolutely mud-free. All rapidly lose patience with the project-all, that is, but Simon Martin, who goes "moon-eyed" over his flour baby. Simon not only learns of the immense yet often tedious responsibilities of parenthood, but also comes to a deeper understanding of his own father's absence and an appreciation of his mother's plight as a single parent. Eve Bunting's Our Sixth Grade Sugar Babies (Lippincott, 1990) swaps sugar for flour and is written for a younger audience, yet is based on a similar idea. But, while the premise isn't new, Fine's treatment of the subject, a wonderful blend of hilarity and poignancy, makes the book an outstanding one. The author has a real understanding of adolescents-indeed, of human nature in general. Her characters are finely drawn; even the most amusing never become caricatures, but rather are fully realized and memorable.
Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME
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