Борошняні немовлята

by Anne Fine, Енн Файн, Тетяна Савчинська (Translator)

Незабаром щорічний конкурс наукових досліджень. Проте розбишакам з класу пана Картрайта не пощастило працювати над такими крутими проектами, як мильна фабрика, личинкова ферма чи кремові вибухівки. Натомість їм дістаються борошняні немовлята — симпатичні шестифунтові мішки, з яких ні на мить не можна спускати очей. Чи не забракне хлопцям терпіння? Чи справді цей експеримент матиме неймовірні наслідки? Чи може мішечок борошна змінити долю чотирнадцятирічного бешкетника?

За цю книжку Енн Файн отримала Вайтбредську премію та медаль Карнеґі.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Young Adult, School, Friendship, Middle Grade, Contemporary

176 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1993

About the author

Though readers often find themselves inadvertently laughing aloud as they read Anne Fine's novels, as she herself admits, "a lot of my work, even for fairly young readers, raises serious social issues. Growing up is a long and confusing business. I try to show that the battle through the chaos is worthwhile and can, at times, be seen as very funny." In 1994, this unique combination of humour and realism inspired the hit movie MRS. DOUBTFIRE, based on Anne's novel MADAME DOUBTFIRE and starring the late comedic genius Robin Williams.

Anne is best known in her home country, England, as a writer principally for children, but over the years she has also written eight novels for adult readers. Seven of these she describes as black - or sour - comedies, and the first, THE KILLJOY, simply as "dead black". These novels have proved great favourites with reading groups, causing readers to squirm with mingled horror and delight as she peels away the layers in all too familiar family relationships, exposing the tangled threads and conflicts beneath. (It's perhaps not surprising that Anne has openly expressed astonishment at the fact that murder in the domestic setting is not even more common.)

Anne has written more than sixty books for children and young people. Amongst numerous other awards, she is twice winner of both the Carnegie Medal, Britain's most prestigious children's book award, and the Whitbread Award. Twice chosen as Children's Author of the Year in the British Book Awards, Anne Fine was also the first novelist to be honoured as Children's Laureate in the United Kingdom. In 2003, Anne became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was awarded an OBE. Her work has been translated into forty five languages.

Anne Fine lives in the north of England and has two grown up daughters.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the main protagonist of Anne Fine's Flour Babies (opinionated and often rather annoying and careless teenager Simon Martin) really and majorly despises school work, he does nevertheless and grudgingly accept his assignment of having to take home a large bag of flour and then look after and take care of said bag like a baby, like a newborn infant (well in Flour Babies, the take-home project uses bags of flour, while other similar types of school projects have and even in reality featured eggs, filled glass bottles, dolls, but ALWAYS objects that can and do tend to break, leak and even shatter due to lax prudence and care). And of course the concept behind these types of educational projects is to on the one hand instil a sense of responsibility into as yet often woefully carefree and naively irresponsible teenagers (how it feels to be totally and wholly on the proverbial hook for something, in this case a flour baby) and on the other hand to make both male and female adolescents think and consider twice with regard to sexuality, with regard to especially unprotected intercourse, as parenthood is shown to be, parenthood means continuous commitment, responsible thinking (or at least, it should).

Now for Simon, who like the rest of his classmates, is asked to keep a diary of his feelings about being one hundred percent responsible for the welfare (the health) of his assigned flour baby, his feelings continuously mature throughout Flour Babies, moving from initial anger and disgust to for the first time actually beginning to understand why his mother is often so stressed out and irritated (and even somewhat coming to terms, even being able to fathom a bit why his father abandoned the family, why fatherhood was so traumatic an experience for him and to him that he left, that he ran away). And while the ending of Flour Babies is fortunately and appreciatively cautiously optimistic and hopeful, thankfully and realistically, Anne Fine also does not simply and completely have Simon Martin be transformed from somewhat of a slacker, a teenager with often annoying and frustrating attitudes and habits to some kind of a glowingly pure hero (for no, while the flour baby project has indeed left Simon wiser and more tolerant, he is and still can be rather a handful for his mother and his teachers, although he did actually and in fact do a much much better job caring for his flour baby than many if not most of his schoolmates, than his school friends did ).

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

The worst class in the school is Room 8 of St. Boniface School, and one of the worst underachievers is Simon Martin. The class assignment: take care of a six-pound bag of flour for three weeks. And so the class does. Surprisingly it is Simon Martin who becomes fond of his flour baby. Each day the members of the class write reflections on the care of the flour baby. It is Simon who finds himself reflecting upon why his own father walked out on him when he was just a baby.

Thoughtful. Funny.

One of the 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flour Babies centres around Simon Martin, his peers in Form 4C and their experiences of a 'Child Development' project, where they each take on the responsibility of a small sack of flour for several weeks. The bag of flour comes equipped with a set of rules: "The flour babies must be kept clean and dry at all times. No flour baby may be left unattended at any time, night or day" and they are weighed weekly to check for leakages or weight gain through taking on water (both are signs of neglect). The students are to think of their flour baby as a real baby and it is designed to teach them about responsibility and parenthood. Unsurprisingly, they hate the project, but Simon, who regularly finds himself in trouble and doesn't gain very much from school generally, finds that he begins to enjoy the project and it helps him come to terms with his own absent father.

I read this book as a child and enjoyed it - I remember hoping that our school would give us a similar experiment! Re-reading it now, I find that the language has dated and I wonder whether children would relate to it now. Written in 1992 (which unbelievably is 21 years ago!) the text is peppered with phrases that seem quaint today: "Oh go walk the plank... a major wally..."; "Wimpo!"; "Don't be a plague-spot!" "It's dead boring"; "I was ear-wigging...". It seems unbelievable that a boy like Simon (a teenager and an 'underachiever') would express himself in these terms. However it would start an interesting debate on slang and students reading it today could draw up translations, working out the modern-day equivalents.

Flour Babies is largely set in a school environment and describes the relationships between teachers and pupils in a knowing and humorous way. Despite the fact that the text feels dated, the dynamics of teacher-student relationships are not so different to those in modern day schools. It is written from third person perspective and although it often centres on Simon's thoughts we also follow the form tutor, Mr Cartwright, and hear his thoughts too. The book is set in an all-boys school and no girl characters are present in any detail. However Simon's mother is an important character and Simon gradually appreciates her, and how her life was affected by being a single mother.

There are some tender scenes, for example the description of Simon first appreciating that he is alive: "He pulled the flesh on the back of his hand up into a miniature tent, and then let go. The skin sprang back instantly, keeping him in shape. His shape. It struck Simon for the first time in his life that he was totally unique." Simon matures as the story develops, but throughout finds himself in trouble - in the last chapter he accrues six after-school detentions. It is this which makes the story more believable - Simon is a funny, lively boy who doesn't enjoy or appreciate the structure and routine of school, but the unconventional nature of the project has in fact taught him things.

Anne Fine does not attempt to sugarcoat Simon's absent father - there is no tearful reunion or happy ending. Simon simply realises that his father did not stay and accepts it; he doesn't know his father and decides that "only the people who know you really count".

The language in the book and the sentence structures are quite complex. In addition the narrative frequently jumps around in time, which could prove confusing for under-confident readers. However as a class text, I think this is a strong contender - it provides debate on parenthood, teenage parents, responsibility and friendship.

[Tetyana Dubyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Чудова книга :) Вартувало би долучити до соціального проекту з борошняними немовлятами усіх підлітків. Не все ж математикою жити! Адже набагато важливіше розуміти життя і бути до нього готовим.
-1 за відверту дидактичність. /і мені, до речі, теж :Р/

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bittersweet story about struggling students and the unexpected effects of a science project.

[Quill&Queer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm also a book blogger: Vee_Bookish

Flour Babies is a story from my childhood, having been published in 1993. It's very British, and of it's time, and I'm not sure that's a good thing. The way the boys talk, and the way the teachers teach the children is likely not something that will resonate with today's children, but something I very much recognise from my own 90's schooling.

God, I'm old.

This is an interesting coming of age story about a boy who is treated as stupid by his teachers and peers, but underneath is actually quite intelligent, he's just not allowed to realise it. Given a flour baby to look after (literally a sack of flour) for an assignment, it helps him come to terms with his own father leaving when he was young.

We did not have flour babies in high school, in the 2000's they had moved on by then to the heaviest plastic babies they could possibly find (oh also they were electronic and cried constantly, even came with an electronic dummy and bottle), and while I didn't have this assignment, my best friend did, who promptly dumped the baby on me. I did quite well at looking after it but my friend's step-dad found it annoying and left it in the shed...

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth a reread... just a sweet, and laugh-out-loud, story about a reluctant student who actually manages to learn something unexpected from an unusual assignment. I like that the other students, and even the teacher, learned something too. Fans of Gordon Korman would probably like this. I don't believe it's dated, either.

[Plum-crazy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon Martin & his 4C classmates are a class with problems & are perceived as too stupid to participate in the difficult projects for the science fair....more's the pity for them as the thought of blowing things up is something this group relish ;o)

Instead they find themselves participating in a parent-child experiment, where for three weeks they each have to care for a 6lb bag of flour as if were a baby. At the end of the period the bags will be weighed for weight-loss (leakage of flour!) & checked for cleanliness....a tough task it would seem for this class. Surprisingly, Simon takes the challenge very seriously & fatherless himself, he looks after his "baby" in the way he would have liked his father to care for him. Despite it being quite poignant at times the author manages to avoid things becoming mawkish. Simon talks to his flour bag baby in such a touching way & these one-sided conversations help him to resolve his issues with his father abandoning him & his mother when Simon was just weeks old.

The info I looked up about the book suggested it was aimed at readers 9+, I'd have thought that bit young to grasp at parts of the theme. A book that I suspect I take different things away from as an adult than I would have done reading it as a child.

[Enotka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Неочікувано глибока історія про відповідальність і вміння відпускати.

Якщо коротко, то це історія про експеримент, який вчитель влаштував класу 14-річних пацанів - протягом певного часу, вони мають піклуватися про 3-кілограмовий мішок борошна як про власне "борошняне немовля". Як надовго їх вистачить? Хто здивує не лише вчителя, але і себе? І чому цей тягар може допомогти звільнитися?

Я не знаю, що з неї виносять діти, на яких ця книжка розрахована, але дорослих вона може розчулити, примусити озирнутися на тих, хто поряд і повернути в підлітковий він, щоби сказати: ей, з тобою все в порядку, ти молодець.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Here is the source of valour undismayed, the spring-head of endeavour; here I see the wonder that passes every other!” — ‘The Quest of the Holy Grail’, translated by P M Matarasso.

Simon Martin is a wastrel but respected by his peers for his size, strength, and prowess in sport. He’s also a 14 year old in 4C, the lowest stream of a boys secondary modern school during what feels like the late 70s or early 80s, prior to the introduction of a National Curriculum in the late 80s and the recalibration of education in England and Wales to go from Year 1 to Year 13.

However, it’s time for the end-of-term Science Fair, and Mr Cartwright’s class – this same 4C – has been left with projects in the ‘soft’ sciences like textiles, nutrition and child development, much to 4C’s collective disgust.

However, Simon has overheard that the child development project could eventually result in “over a hundred pounds of sifted white flour exploding” in the classroom, which does appeal to his classmates. But has he misinterpreted what he reports back, just before the irrevocable choice is made?

The task for the nineteen members of 4C, as set by the head of science Dr Feltham, is Flour Babies. ‘The flour babies are a simple experiment in parent and child relationships. Each boy takes full responsibility for his flour baby for the whole three weeks, keeping a diary to chart his problems and attitudes. It’s fascinating what they learn, about themselves and about parenthood.’

Mr Cartwright and his reluctant students don’t see it this way though; the fourth formers are only focused on the promised explosion. But galumphing Simon is not the total waste of space he seems, any more than the next person: under his bluff exterior unexpectedly lurks a sensitive soul who indeed starts to learn a bit about himself, what his single mother may have had to put up with when his father left them a scant few weeks after Simon was born, and about a lot more besides.

This award-winning story mixes observational humour with heartbreaking moments without ever being mawkish. It goes into unexpected places and confounds several expectations while still giving us a conclusion that satisfies, a poetic summary adroitly combining several preceding themes:

And Mr Cartwright, testily making his way along the corridor to fetch his errant pupil, heard the glorious, glorious tenor voice echoing from ceiling and walls, and fell back respectfully to let the young vision in white sail past, like a tall ship, out into his unfettered youth.

So our final vision is of a young lad covered in flour, looking like a knight errant on a quest for his grail. How we get to this point testifies to the author’s consummate skill in storytelling. I have to admit to welling up a couple or so times during the reading of this, but it must be because I’m getting sentimental in my old age.

[alexandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

not the best, but it was fine

[Razvan Zamfirescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spicuiri din recenzia finala care se gaseste pe blogul meu



..........................................

Și eu am crescu fără tată și Simon este, într-un fel, un alter-ego de-al meu. Nu am avut vreodată un copil de făină asupra căruia să-mi revărs sentimentele reprimate dar eram bântuit de întrebări cu privire la lipsa tatălui meu, întrebări care mă chinuiau și care deveneau din ce în ce mai apăsătoare atunci când mai aveam conflicte la școală și nimeni nu-mi putea lua apărarea și nici nu aveam cum să ameninț cu tata care va veni să-i zvânte în bătaie pe agresori. Simon, din fericire, este vânjos și se poate apăra singur. Însă sensibilitatea de care dă dovadă îl transformă într-un paria în fața colegilor săi. Astfel el trebuie să se lupte cu puhoiul de sentimente pe care fetița de făină le trezește în el și cu viața pe care era obișnuit să o aibe înainte de micul sac de făină.

Fine scrie exact așa cum trebuie pentru ca povestea ei să-ți meargă la suflet. Când amuzantă, când dramatică, povestea micilor saci de făină și a părinților lor adoptivi este una dintre acele povești care te pot marca și care te pot face să-i privești mai cu atenție pe colegii copilului tău care nu au decât un părinte. Te ajută să știi că acești copii s-ar putea să-și dorească persoane cu care să poată vorbi sau, măcar, de ocazii pentru a-și lăsa sentimentele reprimate să fie exprimate fără frica de oprobriul public.
.......................................

[flora · Rating 5 out of 5]

großartig <3

[Oksana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Книга, відкрита випадоково, одразу захопила. 14-річним дітям у школі запропонували науковий есперимент: роздали по мішечку з борошном і сказали доглядати за ним, як за дитиною. Не бруднити, не мочити, не залишати без нагляду. Книга подарувала відповідь на одне моє велике внутрішнє вагання про те, що можна монетизувати, а що - ні. Один хлопчик із класу здогадався зробити візок, у який поміщалося одразу багато "немовлят", і назвав це дитсадком. Дитсадок - це бізнес. Дізнайтеся, чому

[Adele Broadbent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Class 4C are a group of students who don’t do well at school and their teacher is Mr Cartright. When he explains that due to their past lack of skills in science they are not allowed to do the exploding custard tins etc as past classes have done – and have to choose from a list of ‘safer’ topics: Textiles, nutrition, domestic economy, child development or consumer studies. Not knowing what half the words even mean, 4C go into overdrive arguing what to do. Child development ends up being chosen at random and they are all given a Flour Baby – with instructions. This is a small sack of Flour they have to treat like a baby, keeping it clean, not leaving it alone, keeping it dry and safe. There are weekly weigh ins to make sure they haven’t leaked or got damp and they are told there are ‘snoopers’ or spies around them (neighbours, parents, students or teachers) who watch how they treat their babies. They also have to write a daily diary about their babies.
Some students avoid school, because of the project, while others take it seriously, one more than most. Simon Martin, overhearing a teacher’s conversation (mishearing it) believes that at the end of the project they can explode the sacks of flour, he convinces others in the class to go ahead with the project. But Simon gets attached to his Flour Baby and starts to realise how hard it would be to look after a baby. Is that why his own Dad left when he was just 6 weeks old, never to be seen again. As the days go by, he asks his mum more and more questions about his dad and slowly begins to understand his dad even though he never met him. Then he realises that he doesn’t need his dad anyway – he is just another person in the world that doesn’t know him – and suddenly all the thoughts and weight of the past few weeks lifts from his shoulders and he is back to his burly, loud, annoying self. But he has a greater understanding of childcare, and making sure that he will be ready for fatherhood when it happens, not the other way around.

This is written in such a way that Year 6/7’s can read it but enjoy the humour and the subltle message about avoiding early parenthood.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon Martin and his classmates are problematic. Labeled as emotionally deficit and intellectually challenged, this motley group of "Room 8's" are perceived as too stupid to participate in the difficult projects for the science fair.

Instead, each are given the task of a parent-child experiment. For the duration of 21 days each student must tote around a six pound bag of flour and "parent" their ward. At the end of that time all flour bags will be weighed and checked for cleanliness.

What ensues is a laughable, heartwarming tale of those, like Simon, who take the responsibility seriously, and those who give up, punting the sack of flour baby smack in the river.

Winner of the British Carnegie Medal (the British equivalent to the US Newbery award), the author created a wonderful, insightful balance between humor and seriousness, depicting a range of emotions from the perspective of student, teacher and parent.

There is a touching, poignant beauty of Simon grappling with his father's abandonment when he was six weeks old and his commitment to taking care of his flour baby in the manner he would have wanted his father to care for him.

What I liked most about the book is that the author did not resort to cuteness, nor did she feel the need to wrap up the ending in a big red bow of cheer.

While changed by the insights of the difficulty of parenting, Simon and his peers remained realistically problematic.

This was listed in 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up.

Highly recommended.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, enjoyable story. Another I grabbed through readitswapit.

The funny thing was, when I read that the boys were in class 4C, I immediately assumed this meant grade 4 - as in they were about 9 years old. And with a simple science project like the flour babies, as well as the way the boys spoke and acted, this didn't seem to be an incorrect assumption. It wasn't until about halfway, when Simon mentioned a memory in which he was "a kid, only 9 or 10" that I realised the author might have meant form 4... and then finally, Simon's first diary entry put his age at 14. Weird though how easily they fitted as being small boys, not teenagers. I guess I did go to an all-girls' secondary school, so I don't know what boys are like at 14!

I got a real kick out of Sajid's flour baby creche, and again when dim Gwyn blindly copied another boy's work, wherein the boy mentioned being black, which Gwyn wasn't. Their antics were fun, but I like how the story was a little deeper than just a schoolboy romp, what with Simon really getting into the whole project and thinking about his own life and his father. A nice, quick read which is exactly what I needed while I'm still staring down the barrel of Midnight Never Come!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon's school assignment is to take care of a "flour baby" for three weeks. He gets quite attached to his little baby, and it raises questions for him about his father's abandonment of the family when Simon himself was a baby.

I do very much like this book, but felt that the audience that could benefit most from it probably won't have the vocabulary level to read it. (It's got some difficult words.) The book states over and over that Simon is not a good speller, is a bit of a juvenile deliquent, and probably does not read much (nor is he probably a good reader.) So the main character--Simon himself--would never actually read this book, most likely.

It's also pretty message heavy. This could be problematic for a child who does not have a dad. I would rather such a child figure it out for himself or herself, rather than have a book tell the child what to think. (Simon ultimately comes to the conclusion that his father does not really matter because he has not been there for him. It is the people who have been present in his life--mother, grandparents, and his mother's friend--who actually matter.)

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ein Bücherschrank-Fund, das mich wegen der Diskrepanz Titel-Verlag/Covergestaltung neugierig gemacht hat. Was wie ein Chick-Lit-Buch klingt, ist mit dem spannenderen Originaltitel "Flour babies" ein amüsantes Jugendbuch, in dem eine abgehängte Schulklasse voller dreizehnjähriger Jungs (noch zu Vor-Handy-Zeiten) ein Projekt durchführen muss: Jeder soll drei Wochen lang für ein "Mehl-Baby" sorgen. Der Sack voller Mehl schreit zwar nicht und muss weder gefüttert noch gewindelt werden, aber er muss sauber und trocken bleiben und darf nicht an Gewicht verlieren. Eine ziemliche Herausforderung, v.a. für Simon Martin, der sich darauf nur einlässt, weil er auf eine große Mehlschlacht am Ende hofft. Aber bald zeigt er eine Fürsorge für sein Mehl-Baby, die ihn selbst erstaunt - und einiges über seine Eltern lehrt: über seine Mutter, die ihn alleine großgezogen hat, aber auch über seinen abwesenden Vater.

Die Geschichte wechselt an zwei Stellen etwas gar schnell die Richtung, aber das tut der Lektüre keinen wirklichen Abbruch. Für zwischendurch oder eben, sofern sie sich darauf einlassen, jüngere Teenager, die mit Babys nichts am Hut haben.

[Sarah Higginson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!

I must admit when I first picked it up, I was a little sceptical to read it but after the first few chapters, I really got into it. With a strong theme of family running throughout the book, I particularly like how towards the end of the book, Simon, the main character begins to realise how hard it must have been for his mum to care for him. With Simon having to care the flour baby he begins to wonder about his own father, who, left when he was still a baby. I liked the link that was made through Simon's own experience and think the this is something children may be able to relate to.

I can't help feeling the language is a little dated but nevertheless it was still really engaging and a lovely heart warming story. Definitely worth a read!

[Annie Donette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose this for a Year Six reading group with fond memories from my own childhood. As I recall, it was one of the first books that moved me to tears. Fast forward twenty-odd years and I’m sorry to admit that it hasn’t stood the test of time. The language and school environment featured are very much of their time and as a result it now reads more like a historical artefact than a familiar setting. This became a barrier to the emotional involvement I enjoyed the first time around. The children still found it interesting and understood the morals, but were less invested than I’d have hoped.

[Liselot · Rating 1 out of 5]

How do people enjoy this book, I honestly don’t get it. It’s just about a boy and a sack of flower. I had to read it for school but otherwise I probably wouldn’t have gotten to the second page. It might be the worst book I have ever read. I could hardly bring myself to finish it. I would not recommend to anyone although other people seem to enjoy it so I might just have a very unpopular opinion.

[Maryna Ponomaryova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Дуже дивна книга, з прикольним сюжетом. Класові хлопців-розбишак чисто випадково необхідно в рамках наукового проекту кожному доглядати мішок з борошном, ніби це немовля, і писати щоденник з роздумами. Цікаво спостерігати за змінами, переживаннями, ситуаціями, які навколо цього всього виникають. Посміялась :)

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very different to what I had anticipated. I'm surprised certain descriptions got through a 2017 edition of the book (e.g. use of the word retarded!) but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I toyed between 3 or 4 stars, but the moments where I felt so much for the protagonist meant I just had to give this book 4 stars!

[Rossy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Class 4C takes part in a school project in which students have to carry around a sack of flour and treat "it" as a baby and take care of "it" for some weeks.

I didn't like this book, only the parts when Simon reflects on what has happened to his family *nospoilershere*.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so close to being five stars but there were places where it felt a little too 'forced' to get that final star.

I love the idea of Flour Babies, and this was such an honest story with an ending that made me go... wtf!!! and then laugh out loud at the sheer accuracy of it.

[Laura (: · Rating 3 out of 5]

reli gd x

[Oksana Uskova · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Когось вабить спокій й колиска дитяча...
Але я - вітрильник, пливу повсякчас"

Це історія про хлопчаків, які не зовсім тяжіють до навчання. Одного разу на уроці вони отримують проєкт - доглядати за "малюком" три тижні. Ці "малюки" - це 3 кг борошна у мішку. Звичайно, що хлопці з ними ще "повоюють", але у процесі відкриють у себе декілька талантів та зрозуміють, що батьківство - це титанічна праця та безкінечна любов до своєї дитини.

На початку читання я проводила паралелі з Педагогическая Поэма Макаренка, але це зовсім різні книжки. У Макаренка хлопчики виростають та стають громадянами своєї країни (а це не те, щоб комплімент у СРСР), у Енн Файн хлопчаки залишаються хлопчаками, але відпускають "фекапи" своїх батьків. Наприклад, головний герой пробачає свого батька за те, що той його покинув. Зробити таку дорослу річ у підлітковому віці - для мене це просто щось фантастичне!

Книжка дуже смішна та читається легко.

[Lacy Dohner · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Mr. Cassidy’s class of delinquent teenage boys is assigned flour babies as their science fair project, they mainly look forward to making a floury mess at the end. But, throughout the course of the project, one student, Simon Martin, gains a deeper understanding of what it means to be a parent.

I really wanted to love this story. It's a quick read and has lots of potential, with genuinely sweet moments and lots of laugh-out-loud banter between delinquent high school boys. But the plot line is choppy, Simon's character development is inconsistent, and every character besides him is two-dimensional. While parts of it are beautiful, the story as a whole could be much better written.

[Cristiana · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5☆