Flour Babies

by Anne Fine
Flour Babies cover
Good Books rating 3.5
Children's Fiction
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £7.99
Amazon
Format/Price Check
Technical
  • ID: 830
  • Added: 2025-09-20
  • Updated: 2025-10-13
  • ISBN: 9780141936123
  • Publisher: Penguin UK
  • Published: 2001-03-29
  • Formats: 25
  • Reviews: 4

Flour Babies by Anne Fine is a humorous and poignant exploration of secondary school life that won both the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Children's Book Award in 1992. The story revolves around Mr. Cartwright's class, who are less than thrilled when they are tasked with caring for six-pound bags of flour instead of more exciting science fair projects like soap factories or exploding custard tins. The novel brilliantly captures the dynamics and challenges of teenage life, blending comedy and heartfelt moments to create a memorable narrative./n/nThe book's unique premise and Fine's sharp wit make Flour Babies a standout in children's literature. Through the students' interactions with their flour babies, the novel explores themes of responsibility, empathy, and the often absurd nature of school assignments. The characters' reactions and the unexpected lessons they learn make this a compelling and relatable read for young adults.

Reviews
Amazon · 2025-10-13
fantastic 5.00

The book is praised as a must-read, highlighting its humor and deeper messages. It is considered ideal for young readers.

This reviewer absolutely loved 'Flour Babies,' calling it a fantastic and essential read. They appreciated the humor and the deeper messages woven into the story, making it more than just a simple read. The book is highly recommended for its ability to engage and entertain young readers while delivering meaningful content. The positive rating reflects the reviewer's enthusiasm and satisfaction with the book.

Quick quotes

    Fantastic - a must read!

    A brilliant, well written, humorous book with more to say than the words on the page!

    Ideal for 10 year olds up - an essential read - ...

katelouisepoetry.wordpress.com · 2024-06-01
reflective 3.50

The book started lightheartedly but became very reflective, showing depth and a mix of emotions.

The reviewer found Flour Babies to be a unique reading experience that started lightheartedly but quickly became reflective. This shift added depth to the story, making it a thought-provoking read. The mix of light-hearted and reflective elements created a rich and engaging narrative. The reviewer appreciated the book's ability to evoke a range of emotions, making it a memorable and impactful read.

Quick quotes

    Flour Babies was a strange one because it started out lightheartedly, and then it became very reflective.

    It had depth to it.

    The mix of light-hearted and reflective elements created a rich and engaging narrative.

sschambe.wordpress.com · 2016-10-30
joyful 4.50

The book is a joy and a real gem, highlighting its depth and engaging discussions.

The reviewer absolutely loved this book, describing it as a joy and a real gem. They particularly enjoyed the depth of the discussions among the characters, which added layers to the story. The book's ability to engage readers with its thoughtful content made it a standout read. The reviewer's enthusiasm for the book is evident in their praise, highlighting its unique qualities and the enjoyment it brought.

Quick quotes

    This book is a joy, a real gem

    The book had depth to it.

    The discussions among the characters added layers to the story.

The Guardian · 2013-11-08
disappointing 1.00

The book is unique but not in a good way, and the characters are hard to connect with.

The reviewer found the book to be a unique experience, but not in a positive way. The characters were difficult to connect with, which made the reading experience less enjoyable. Despite its uniqueness, the book fell short of being a compelling read due to its lack of relatable characters. The reviewer's overall impression was that the book's uniqueness did not translate into a positive reading experience.

Quick quotes

    I didn't find any of the characters easy to connect with

    I thought the book was unique. But not the good sort of unique.

    The characters were difficult to connect with, which made the reading experience less enjoyable.

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