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Scones and Sensibility

by Lindsay Eland (Goodreads Author)

3.29 of 5 stars 3.29 · rating details · 476 ratings · 165 reviews

Seek tirelessly and you shall not find a contemporary heroine of middle-grade literature as refined and romantic as Miss Polly Madassa. Still swooning over the romantic conclusions of Pride & Prejudice and Anne of Green Gables, twelve-year-old Polly decides her purpose in life: helping along lonely hearts in search of love. Polly's only task this summer is to make deli...more

Hardcover, 320 pages

Published December 22nd 2009 by EgmontUSA

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Apr 12, 2010 Jenn Estepp rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: kidlit

i'm such a sucker for a pretty book cover, and i still think that this one is a beauty. but it also raised expectations, already somewhat elevated by some advanced praise i read of the book. alas, it didn't quite live up to either. which is a darn shame, because i still think the idea is solid and that polly has the makings of a good character. but ...

the word "annoying" has been bandied about a lot on these other goodreads reviws and i'm going to agree with them. and it isn't just the trying-t...more

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Apr 25, 2011 Della rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ia lebih menyukai lilin daripada lampu, lebih suka suara mesin tik daripada komputer, dan sangat menyukai gaun berhias renda dan kerutan. Ia bicara dalam bahasa berbunga-bunga, senang bersepeda sambil menikmati wangi garam di udara (karena ia tinggal dekat laut), dan mengawali tiap pagi dengan harum roti dan gula karena kedua orang tuanya memiliki toko roti.

Namanya Polly Madassa, usia 12 tahun. Novel kesukaan: Anne of The Green Gables dan Pride and Prejudice. Berbekal kedua novel romantis itu da...more

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Jul 21, 2009 Yan rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Scones and Sensibility when first revealed is a charming book with an equally charming main character. The novelty soon dies in the middle of the book where I suggest that the reader set the book down for a few hours.

Polly Madassa is someone who believes in true love but her idea of finding love comes from a novel. This is where things go downhill. Love cannot be dictated by an outside source just as Polly finds out at the end of the book when every blind date she’s prepared turns out disastrou...more

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Mar 13, 2011 JG (The Introverted Reader) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, 4_stars, author_american, covers_i_like, fiction, just_plain_fun, middle_grade, read_in_2011, reviewed, setting_us

At the tender age of 12, Polly Madassa has discovered Jane Austen and fallen hopelessly in love. Convinced that she's an Austen heroine born in the wrong time, Polly walks around her modern town speaking in Austen's flowery prose. She's only read Pride and Prejudice, and so has not learned Emma's lesson about meddling. Polly goes about delivering baked goods from her family's bakery and trying to spread happiness and love among her neighbors by matchmaking. Of course, as we all know, the course...more

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Mar 02, 2010 Michelle Flores rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Original Review - Here!

The narrator of the story, Polly, is a charming girl who enjoys classic stuff. In the summer the story’s narrated, Polly finds herself at a new job; making deliveries for her parent’s bakery while remembering her matchmaking gift at a singular situation she decides to find an “true love” to her Dearest Fran father. This is where the adventure starts since Polly already feels confident about her gift that she decides to take her town’s romantic interests into her own...more

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Dec 14, 2011 Liyana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Polly didn't appeal to me as a character at first mainly because I wasn't used to her speaking in Victorian era English. It was different, it was slightly odd and I didn't like it. However, there's more to a story than the way it was narrated, and the more I read, the more I liked Polly and her way of speaking.

The first half was slow, much of it revolving around Olde English Polly's attempts to matchmake people around her. She was set in her ways and it was frustrating, seeing her trying to matc...more

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Apr 12, 2013 Andrea Ika rated it 4 of 5 stars

Polly Madassa mungkin gadis dua belas tahun paling romantis di dunia. Dia lebih suka lilin daripada lampu, memilih mesin tik daripada komputer, dan berbicara seperti tokoh-tokoh dalam buku klasik. Terlebih lagi, setelah berulang-ulang membaca Pride and Prejudice karya Jane Austen, Polly merasa dirinya paling paham urusan asmara dan bertekad untuk menjodohkan orang-orang di sekelilingnya.
Ada kakaknya sendiri, Clementine, yang menurut Polly menyia-nyiakan waktu dengan seorang pacar menyebalkan. Ad...more

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Apr 06, 2013 G.K. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit-ish, realistic-fiction, romance

This book was really entertaining. I loved the story!

Polly Madassa. Hmm. She was a very...fascinating character. At first, I liked her a lot. Like her, I also fell in love with Anne of Green Gables, and I do remember trying to talk more like Anne once or twice. I am not sure I can totally relate to her, though, because her matchmaking is something I would never do. It didn't annoy me, though. I really liked reading about her misguided attempts to set up everyone with their Mr. Darcy. I especial...more

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May 10, 2012 Pamela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recently I read to Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. It wasn't my favorite Jane Austen book, but it was decent and charming in that wonderful Jane Austen sort of way. With all the visions of England fresh in mind, I felt compelled to read Scones and Sensibility by Lindsay Eland. It is a modern Middle Grade book and not set in England at all, but based on the title alone it seemed like a book that deserved a chance.

Scones and Sensibility is actually set along the New Jersey shoreline. Twelve-...more Recently I read to Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. It wasn't my favorite Jane Austen book, but it was decent and charming in that wonderful Jane Austen sort of way. With all the visions of England fresh in mind, I felt compelled to read Scones and Sensibility by Lindsay Eland. It is a modern Middle Grade book and not set in England at all, but based on the title alone it seemed like a book that deserved a chance.

Scones and Sensibility is actually set along the New Jersey shoreline. Twelve-year old Polly Madassa is a crazed fan of all things Austen, even speaking to her patient family and friends in the manner and voice as a character in an Austen novel might speak. During the summer months, Polly delivers baked goods to customers around town, but actually Polly has romance on her mind and spends most of the summer as a devoted, though inept, matchmaker.

For the most part, Scones and Sensibility is a fun novel that any parent could feel comfortable giving to a 'tween/young teen. The book does not contain foul language, violence or sparkling vampires. On the contrary, Polly must come to grips with her best friend's mother abandoning the family to live with a guy she met on the internet. Polly and her friend are appalled, giving the book a great not-so-subtle internet safety message too.

The author, Lindsay Eland, did a fabulous job of maintaining the Jane Austen aspect of Polly's demeanor and speech. Like any precocious 12-year old, at times Polly's Austen-isms became annoying, both to other characters in the book as well as to me as the reader. Polly does drop the Austen act at time, which wonderfully made the character of Polly that much more real.

The Austen-style of speech might pose a problem to struggling young readers, however. Here is a random example of Polly's Austen-isms (page 134):

"The sun beat down upon our shoulders as we strolled along the sidewalk. Delicious happiness seeped from my skin like lavender perfume over such a wonderful meeting with Miss Lucy Penny. Love was indeed invigorating to the spirit, mind, and body."

Charming writing, indeed. But something that an 11-year struggling reader would endure? I doubt it. For that reason, I'm not sure who would read this book. Scones and Sensibility is a fun, clean book that girls would enjoy. The language is quite possibly above their reading level. However by the time a girl can probably read this writing style, the good clean storyline will seem young and cheesy through teen eyes.

Scones and Sensibility is a book I can recommend, if you have young teen that's a great reader and has a more innocent and sweet taste in books. That might be a narrow marketing niche, but for that reader, this book would be a PERFECT fit.
(less)

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Dec 30, 2010 Karissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 on...more 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.(less)

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Dec 01, 2010 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-100-book-challenge, 2010-debut-author, books-i-own, mundie-kids-reviews, mundie-moms-reviews

3.5 stars!

Polly is quite the romantic 12 year old day dreamer. She wants to bring to life the characters and their love stories from her favorite classic novels, and enforce it upon those around her. Not realizing the harm this will cause them, Polly takes it upon herself to bring love to those she feels needs it. While she has the best intentions, she will soon learn that real life love isn't always like the love that's in the best novels.

Polly is definitely born a 21st century Elizabeth Benn...more 3.5 stars!

Polly is quite the romantic 12 year old day dreamer. She wants to bring to life the characters and their love stories from her favorite classic novels, and enforce it upon those around her. Not realizing the harm this will cause them, Polly takes it upon herself to bring love to those she feels needs it. While she has the best intentions, she will soon learn that real life love isn't always like the love that's in the best novels.

Polly is definitely born a 21st century Elizabeth Bennett, who even goes so far to talk and dress like her. I think her Jane Austen talk suits her, and will be one Austen fans will adore. Polly is wrapped up in the romanticism period, and so devoted to helping people fall in love with whom she feels is their perfect match. She will soon learn, that she can't force people to fall in love. Through the course of her good hearted actions, she will learn of her consequences.

There were times I felt frustrated with her character, as she never listened to what her best friend was saying to her, and she wouldn't listen to her parents or sister, when they kept telling her to let people be. At times her continuous Jane Austen talk would become a little over enduring, as Polly would slip into more modern day dialect, to which she would quickly correct. I adored her sister, "Clemmy" who called Polly's bluff on everything. My heart broke for Polly when all she wanted was to be close with her older, 16 yr old sister again.

I absolutely loved the setting in which Polly lives. She lives along the New Jersey shore, and during the summer rides her bike along her quaint little town, delivery scones and other pastries from her parent's bakery. It is during her summer job that she gets the idea to bring love to those she feels are lonely or are in need of a better companion.

I liked that while Polly's intentions weren't meant to hurt anyone, she learns that she hurt people close to her and caused some relationships to end. Upon realizing her mistakes, she owns up to them and takes responsibility and works to make amends with those she's hurt. Through the course of her actions, she learns that love written with in the pages of classic novels, is not the same as real life love.

I think Scones and Sensibility will appeal not only to Austen fans, but to those who have yet to read her works. It's fun, heart warming story that adults, teens and preteens will enjoy.(less)

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Mar 22, 2010 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 10-in-10-teen-chick-lit-challenge, read-in-2010

Polly Madassa is quite the winsome character, and I adore her. She takes her favorite novels very seriously, allowing them to inspire the way she dresses, talks, and interacts with others. With books as her guide, she tends to get lost in whimsical fantasies and has a flair for the dramatic. But her heart is in the right place.

Though she sometimes slips up and talks like a modern girl, her narration is very much like reading novels by Jane Austen and Lucy Maud Montgomery. It was refreshing. And...more

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Sep 06, 2011 Lrclark83 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: jane-austen-esque

I purchased this book in hopes of adding it to my middle school library in the Bronx. After reading it, I ultimately decided that it wasn't for my students. Although it is titled after "Sense and Sensibility" and the main character is fixated on "Pride and Prejudice", the story is modeled after Austen's "Emma". The main character is immersed in acting out her fantasies of "Pride and Prejudice" and "Anne of Green Gables". One summer on the Jersey coast, Polly decides to help her friends, young an...more

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Jan 21, 2012 Mary-Megan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This novel is a slightly overdone comedy of errors that tries to be unique and quirky but sometimes come across with too much flavor for my palette.

Polly is in love with the romances of Anne of Green Gables and Pride and Prejudice. Lost in those worlds right down to her dress and speak, Polly takes it upon herself to insure that this summer all those around her are happily in love. She decides it is up to her to find a love connection for her best friend Fran's father, two elderly neighbors, an...more

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Apr 11, 2011 Mia Queen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cerita-cinta, hadiah

Polly Madasa, gadis kecil berusia 12 tahun mungkin bisa kita anugrahkan predikat gadis paling romantis yang ada di muka bumi. Bagaimana tidak, buku favoritnya Pride and Predudice and Anne of Green Gables yang dibaca berulang kali. Ia lebih menyukai menulis dengan lilin dibanding mengetik di internet. Bahasa sehari-hari Pollypun sama persis dengan kalimat jadul ala Anne ditambah Polly juga pengkhayal kelas berat, sering kali orang tua dan teman-temannya dibuat bingung oleh tingkah laku Polly yang...more Polly Madasa, gadis kecil berusia 12 tahun mungkin bisa kita anugrahkan predikat gadis paling romantis yang ada di muka bumi. Bagaimana tidak, buku favoritnya Pride and Predudice and Anne of Green Gables yang dibaca berulang kali. Ia lebih menyukai menulis dengan lilin dibanding mengetik di internet. Bahasa sehari-hari Pollypun sama persis dengan kalimat jadul ala Anne ditambah Polly juga pengkhayal kelas berat, sering kali orang tua dan teman-temannya dibuat bingung oleh tingkah laku Polly yang seakan terjerat masa lalu.

"Pesta minum teh dengan hidangan roti isi mentimun adalah kegiatan favoritku sejak usia lima tahun. Sebagian besar pakaianku sejak mulai menghirup napas pertama di dunia ini berhias renda dan kerutan (kecuali kamping sial ketika aku dipaksa memakai celana jins yang dipotong pendek dan tank top bertuliskan whassup?" Kalimat di paragraf awal :p Sudah kelihatan kan lebaynya, hehehe.

Di halaman selanjutnya ".. Saat aku berbaring di kamarku merenungkan semua hal ini, sekonyong-konyong aku dibanjiri kecemerlangan dan keagungan musim panas. Udara pekat dan manis bagai kembang bokor yang baru mekar, serta aroma air garam yang menyeruak dalam embusan angin, bagaikan baju yang dijepit apik pada tali jemuran, terasa memabukkan." Wih, luar biasa berbunga bahasanya dan salut untuk mbak Uci yang bisa menerjemahkan kalimat Polly dengan pas!

Niat mulai Polly selama musim panas ingin menjodohkan orang-orang terdekatnya. Clementine, kakak tersayang yang menurut Polly pacarnya tidak sesuai dengan Clementine, tidak bertindak layaknya seorang laki-laki terhormat. Ada juga Mr. Nightquist yang kesepian setelah kematian istrinya. Miss Wiskerton, perawan tua kesepian yang hanya tinggal dengan anjingnya juga tak luput dari Polly. Terakhir, ayah sobat karib Polly, Mr. Fisk telah 3 tahun menduda dan tentunya Polly tak tinggal diam.

Berdasar dari kisah cinta ala Pride and Prejudice ataupun kisah cinta Anne - Gilbert di buku Anne of Green Gables, Polly mulai melancarkan aksinya menjodohkan pasangan yang menurutnya pasti menjadi pasangan serasi. Sayangnya Polly lupa, cinta tak dapat dipaksa dan benarkah cinta berbunga ala novel klasik beneran dapat terwujud di dunia jaman sekarang? Nah, Polly harus belajar dari tante Mia kalau gitu :p

Buku yang saya peroleh hasil menang kuis di facebook ini memiliki inti cerita yang menarik ditambah lagi covernya yang manis banget. Sayangnya kemanisan cerita sedikit terganggu dengan tingkah laku Polly yang terkadang sedikit di luar jalur plus kesan yang saya dapat 'duh ni anak sok tua banget sih?' Bagi pecinta romance remaja dan pengagum cover seperti saya, buku ini layak kok untuk dikoleksi :)(less)

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Jan 24, 2010 Rachel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Eland's protagonist, a middle schooler newly obsessed with Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice after a childhood of Anne of Green Gables, is written with quirky charm as she takes up calligraphy, wears dresses and bonnets, and otherwise does her best to live up to the example of her literary heroes. She has even schooled herself to speak (and think!) in an approximation of the proper English of centuries ago. It is the perfect hook.

Unfortunately, the protagonist is blind to the real-world needs of...more

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May 03, 2011 The Winter Rose rated it 4 of 5 stars

What a refreshing breath a fresh air this book is!
There is nothing spectacularly creative or amazing about it, but it is honest, simple and sweet. The author is not attempting to be clever or edgy. What we get is a very down to earth, adorable tale perfect for any romantic, young or old alike. In an industry plagued with poorly written, sensationalized supernatural romances, this story was such a welcomed relief.

The writing is good. There is nothing stand out about it, but the dialogue is fun an...more

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Oct 09, 2010 Montana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Scones a
n
d
Sensibility

While swooning over Pride and Prejudice and Anne of Green Gables,twelve year old Polly Madassa Decides her Purpose in life:to help lonely hearts in search of love.with the summer stretching before her,and no obligations except to make deliveries for her parents bakery,this young cupid has ample time to find and mend some broken hearts in her New Jersey Shore town.
but like Jane Austen's Emma, Polly quickly learns the pitfalls of playing matchmaker. how will she patch up h...more

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May 16, 2010 Books and Literature for Teens rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-ive-read-in-2010, chick-lit, comedy-humor, friendship, middle-grade, published-2009, realistic-contemporary, young-adult, to-trade-swap

Sconces and Sensibility was a fun book to read. It might seem a little juvenile to older teens, but I thought it was a great story for pretty much any age. Polly, the main character, is a true romantic. She brings out the best and the worst in people. During this particular summer, Polly decides to take matters of love into her own hands had find suitable matches for her sister, Mr. Nighquist, Miss Wiskerton, and Mr. Fisk. The results were predicable, but I enjoyed watching Polly’s schemes unfol...more Sconces and Sensibility was a fun book to read. It might seem a little juvenile to older teens, but I thought it was a great story for pretty much any age. Polly, the main character, is a true romantic. She brings out the best and the worst in people. During this particular summer, Polly decides to take matters of love into her own hands had find suitable matches for her sister, Mr. Nighquist, Miss Wiskerton, and Mr. Fisk. The results were predicable, but I enjoyed watching Polly’s schemes unfold to her advantage or to her dismay.
The funny–and special thing–about Polly that sets her apart from most girls, is that she enjoys talking and thinking like Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice and often asks herself what Anne Shirley, from Anne of Green Gables, would do. I think it’s neat that Eland incorporated these two very classic novels into the story. It was also a great way to sort of introduce those book as well to girls who have yet to read or even hear about them. At first, when you start reading Polly’s narrative, it seems silly that she tries to talk in the style of the Regency Era, but if you look past that, you’ll begin to see a character who is much like you and me. Once upon a time, it was every girl’s fantasy to wear pretty dresses, wear bonnets or sunhats, talk and walk like royalty, and be as elegant as possible. In many ways, Polly brings out the romantics in all of us because she is not afraid to be the person she wants to be whether it’s Elizabeth or Jane Bennett or Anne Shirley. The only problem is that Polly has yet to learn the different between reality and fiction. In the end, Polly has to realize her mistakes and the messes she caused from thinking that no matter what she does, everything will have a “happy ending”. I think Eland has very good potential as a children/young adult writer; it’s always nice to see a new voice in children’s literature.

My Recommendation: For kids/teens ages 10-15 (or any age) who have a soft-spot for Jane Austen inspired books, middle grade fiction, or just enjoy a fun story about matchmaking and scones!

Content: None (G)

The Final Straw: "For everyone knows that a girl cannot live on chicken cordon blue alone."
................................................................
|Pages: 309|Year Published: December 2009|Publisher: Egmont US|
|Genre: Contemporary fiction|Content: None (G)|
|Age Group: Ages 10+|Buy/Borrow?: Both|
|Enjoyed It: 4/5|Content: 5/5|Cover: 4/5|
|Overall: 4/5|

Courtesy of Books and Literature for Teens (booksandliteratureforteens.blogspot.com)(less)

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Feb 02, 2012 nicole j. wroblewski rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Pride & Prejudice-loving tweens, fans of The Mother Daughter Book Club series

Shelves: 2012, 7up

“Upon turning the last delicate page” of her first Austen novel, and impassioned by her love of Lucy Maud Montgomery, 12 year old Polly Madassa announces that she will “no longer remain a material girl living in a material world, but [will] grasp on to the skirts of those elegant women before [her] and become at once a young lady of impeccable breeding, diction, and manner”. Alongside her fantasy of living a 19th century lifestyle, Polly idealizes the love lives of heroines Elizabeth Bennet and...more “Upon turning the last delicate page” of her first Austen novel, and impassioned by her love of Lucy Maud Montgomery, 12 year old Polly Madassa announces that she will “no longer remain a material girl living in a material world, but [will] grasp on to the skirts of those elegant women before [her] and become at once a young lady of impeccable breeding, diction, and manner”. Alongside her fantasy of living a 19th century lifestyle, Polly idealizes the love lives of heroines Elizabeth Bennet and Anne Shirley to such a degree that the relationships she finds in real life don’t measure up. Wanting life to be as romantic as possible she appoints herself town match-maker and sets about finding appropriately storybook-like better halves for her older sister, best (I mean “bosom”) friend’s father, and two elderly neighbors. Using her summer job delivering goods for her family’s idyllic Jersey Shore bakery turns out to be the perfect means for plotting romantic entanglements (and delivering delicious baked goods from anonymous — ie made up — suitors). While their aren’t too many hitches in her scheme to unite one couple, Polly fails miserably in her efforts to break up and find love for the others. The results are disastrously funny and it makes for a pretty charming story for those that finish.

Polly’s over-the-top voice is one of the best and worst things about Scones and Sensibility. Her best linguistic efforts to sound Victorian and lovely on each of the novel’s 305 pages will either delight or deter readers from the get-go. Chuck full of adjectives, many of which are unnecessary and overused (she is only 12, after all), Polly’s sentences sometimes feel redundant, but more often the effect is pretty funny. Between her feeble attempts at poetic language, her inability to keep her nose out of other people’s business, and her rather prejudiced view of what makes a passable suitor, Polly’s flaws are obvious. Fortunately her older sister is usually around to tell her when to “can it”. One thing that can more universally be appreciated is the spectacularly breezy descriptions of the story’s Shore setting. And who wouldn’t want to eat at the Madassa Bakery?

Scones and Sensibility treads a pretty cute path but it’s not for everyone. A nice Valentine’s read for tweens with a penchant for the classics, or fans of The Mother-Daughter Book Club will find it undeniably silly and fun. Not a bad one to read with mom either. And a plate of pastries.(less)

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Jun 20, 2010 Kat rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed-from-library, chick-lit, young-adult, jane-austen, read-in-2010

Spell check is not enough. Pray, get thee a proofreader!

Let me preface by saying that I really like this book. Its characters are charming and the plot was easy to sink into. However, its spelling and grammatical errors slightly detracted from my enjoyment of the novel. I find it hard to turn off my brain and not notice errors when reading books, newspapers, magazines, Web sites, etc. How can a mistake like "As I road to Fran's house" (last paragraph of Chapter 19) get through to final printing...more Spell check is not enough. Pray, get thee a proofreader!

Let me preface by saying that I really like this book. Its characters are charming and the plot was easy to sink into. However, its spelling and grammatical errors slightly detracted from my enjoyment of the novel. I find it hard to turn off my brain and not notice errors when reading books, newspapers, magazines, Web sites, etc. How can a mistake like "As I road to Fran's house" (last paragraph of Chapter 19) get through to final printing? Another classic example of when a computer program's spell-check feature is not sufficient. And all the instances of "she and I" when it should be "she and me" really bugged me. But perhaps those were intentional because Polly, the narrator, likes to speak in a highfalutin manner so she can sound like a character from her favorite books.

Okay, enough being persnickety. Let me talk about what's good about this book. First of all, the title. It's adorable! As a Jane Austen fan, I naturally gravitate toward books that are inspired by her works. As a foodie, Scones and Sensibility was doubly appealing to me because it centers on a girl who delivers baked goods from her family's bakery.

Polly Madassa's favorite books are Pride and Prejudice and Anne of Green Gables. She feels like she's living in the wrong time. Instead of being stuck in contemporary New Jersey, she'd rather live in the nineteenth century. She calls her mom and dad "Mama" and "Papa", wears floral dresses instead of jeans and sneakers, and speaks like a Dashwood sister. One summer she makes it her life's mission to bring love to the people in her neighborhood who she feels need it most. These include her sister Clementine, her best friend Fran and her father Mr. Fisk, the kind-hearted Mr. Nightquist, and the lonely Miss Wiskerton. Polly is a young girl, so what does she know about love? It doesn't matter to her, because she feels it's her duty to make these people's lives happier through her intervention.

As one would expect, Polly's plans don't go so well, and she makes more of a mess than she'd ever imagined. While I don't blame the other characters in the book for being angry with her, Polly proves to be a dynamic character who learns from her mistakes and understands that love just has to work its own magic — without her 'guidance.'

I've always enjoyed reading young-adult books, and Scones and Sensibility is right up my alley. It's a fun, light read that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

(less)

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Nov 24, 2010 Erica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-obsession

A romantic book for tweenage readers who love Anne of Green Gables and Mr. Darcy?! That was all I needed to hear before delving into this charming tale of twelve-year-old Polly Madassa, who decides to play matchmaker (ála Austen’s Emma) in her small beach town, often with disastrous and comical results. The language is hilariously overwrought and the chapter titles adorable, as in “In Which My Family Is Introduced and My Bosom Friend Gives Me Distressing News.” I happily embraced my “30 going on...more

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Jun 28, 2011 Jasmine Ko rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, borrowed-from-library, middle-grade

For a full review, please check out my review at the bookish mama

I chose to read this book because of the beautiful artwork on the cover. The story sounded intriguing from the recipe on the back and I was sold. Unfortunately, the story itself wasn't as great as I was expecting.

The main character, Polly is a very bookish young lady of 12 years. She loves Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice in particular) and Anne of Green Gables. She loves all the romance of the books - the language, the relationshi...more For a full review, please check out my review at the bookish mama

I chose to read this book because of the beautiful artwork on the cover. The story sounded intriguing from the recipe on the back and I was sold. Unfortunately, the story itself wasn't as great as I was expecting.

The main character, Polly is a very bookish young lady of 12 years. She loves Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice in particular) and Anne of Green Gables. She loves all the romance of the books - the language, the relationships, everything. So much so that she models her own life after her favorite characters.

She speaks the way Elizabeth Bennett would speak in Pride and Prejudice. This is cute for the first half of the book or so, but it gets pretty aggravating towards the end. For me, it was hard to believe that a 12-year old would maintain speaking so grandiosely throughout the WHOLE book. It reminded me of the old TV Show, Dawson's Creek, because the characters on the show did not speak like normal teenagers would. They spoke fast and furious and the vocabulary they used was definitely above average for a teen. The main character in this book does the same thing and I'm surprised that her family and friends put up with it for so long. I think this is an issue for this book because it would be hard for a pre-teen/tween to read and understand. The language of Jane Austen is not easy to read even for adults. I had to re-read a lot of passages myself just to understand what Polly was really saying.

Polly decides to play match-maker on her summer break to the fellow people in her seaside town. Her ideas of romance, however, seem to muddle her ability to see that she is just meddling in everyone's business.

What I did enjoy about this book was the fact that Polly's family owned a bakery and the author's descriptions of all the yummy pastries that Polly would deliver sounded very delicious. Even though Polly is overly meddlesome and the language gets old after awhile, you do believe in her and root for her (at least for most of the story) because she really does have good intentions even if she going about it in all the wrong ways.

Overall:
It was an okay book. It was quick to read and I think the pre-teens/tweens might enjoy it if they are familiar with Jane Austen and Anne of Green Gables. Otherwise, I'd pass on it.(less)

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Mar 09, 2011 Reading Vacation's Mom rated it 4 of 5 stars

This romantic book was unique because of Polly’s obsession with the rich society of the early 19th century. She speaks like the characters in Pride and Prejudice and Anne of Green Gables. Polly’s interest in that era makes the story even more romantic. I tried to picture Polly in the society she so loved. I have read the children’s editions of those two books, so I was familiar with the stories they told.
The idea of bringing lovers together is sweet, but Polly realizes that she may have bitten o...more

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Jun 11, 2010 Kristen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: youngadult, realistic-fiction

Why I read this: It's an Egmont debut.. and I love Egmont books.. seriously :-D.

Plot: A cute plot that parallels with Austen's Sense and Sensibility plot. I love how Polly is obsessed with Austen and LM Montgomery's books and I always cracked up when she reverted back to normal teenage speak (always just momentarily, of course). Definitely a fun story full of sweet intentions and consequences that Polly innocently does not anticipate.

Characters: Polly loves Pride and Prejudice and Anne of Green...more

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Apr 06, 2010 Becky R. rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really wanted to like this book, with its cute premise of a young girl infatuated with all things Jane Austen, the pastry shop, and multiple courtships, but I just didn't. While it might be because the 12 year old character Polly grated on my nerves with her endless talking as if she somehow was a Romantic period character, I simply couldn't shake my annoyance over her behavior. Yes, Polly was cute, the way a 12-year old is supposed to be cute, but I didn't really believe her either. I couldn'...more

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Sep 29, 2012 Felita rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, young-adult

komen:

aduh....aq ga suka dg karakter polly. mungkin dia tipe pemimpi, gara2 tergila-gila dg cerita Pride and Prejudice, dia kepingin orang-orang di sekelilingnya (yg jomblo) mengalami hal yang sama. tapi di balik itu, polly punya kepedulian yang tinggi (walaupun salah tempat).

jadinya, usaha polly jadi mak comblang gagal total. gara-gara, ukuran kebahagiaan yg dia gunain hanya standar dari dirinya. dia lupa untuk mempertimbangkan penilaian si orangnya sendiri. akhirnya, semua orang yg dia jodohi...more

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Jun 30, 2011 Utami rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

BEgitu selesai membaca buku ini, what comes to my mind was: "Untung deh saya gak punya temen kayak Polly". Seriously, this girl was drowning in her own dreams. Memang tokoh sentral yang terlampau sempurna tidaklah menyenangkan. Tapi seseorang seperti Polly membuat saya pengen mengguncang-guncang bahunya dan berteriak, "WAKE UP!".
Cerita mdiawali dengan cukup manis, dan Polly sudah langsung muncul karakter romantisnya. Kemudian juga waktu dia mulai menyusun rencan perjodohan, I was like, oh... oka...more

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Jan 06, 2010 Wanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Wanda by: Libbeth

Shelves: 2010, childrens-books, heartwarmer

Beware! I made the mistake of picking this book (just to add to the TBR pile) and I looked inside it and before I knew it, I was held captive by Polly Madassa.

Let it be known that if Polly makes get it into her head that she can find you a match for your broken heart; you are in trouble, indeed. For Polly believes life is like the characters portrayed in her favorite books - Pride & Prejudice and Anne of Green Gables. However, while Polly might have the heart of Elizabeth, she has the match...more

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Jan 22, 2010 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-book, charm

Polly seems like a typical pre-teen helping in her parents' bakery in a seaside resort. But--thanks to her love of Jane Austen--Polly sees herself as a gracious lady, and one with a talent for encouraging romance. She decides to spend the summer finding mates for her best friend's divorced father, a spinster neighbor, an elderly widower who keeps a kite shop, and most of all for her older sister, whose long-tiem boyfriend is clearly not worthy at all. Watching Polly entrench herself in a web of...more

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Lindsay Eland knew she wanted to be a writer ever since fifth grade, when she won an honorable mention for her book “What Can You Learn From a Giflyaroo.” The book received rave reviews and was highly acclaimed among her family members. Sadly, with only ten hard-bound copies produced, the book is now out of print. In high school and early college, Lindsay traveled to India and had the privilege o...more

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