Scones and Sensibility [Hardcover]

Lindsay Eland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 22, 2009 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

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 deliveries for her parents' bakery, leaving ample time for this young cupid to find hearts to mend--beginning with the kite-store owner, Mr. Nightquist, who will pair perfectly with Miss Wiskerton (the unfairly labeled town curmudgeon). Polly's best friend Fran Fisk is in desperate need of a mother ever since hers ran off with a man she met on the Internet; Polly must find a match for Mr. Fisk. And while she's at it, it wouldn't hurt to find Clementine, Polly's teenaged sister, a beau worthy of her (so she can shed that brute, Clint). Polly's plans are in full swing, so she definitely cannot be bothered by the advances of classmate Brad Barker.

But maybe Polly should have turned her attention to Miss Austen's Emma next, because she quickly learns the pitfalls of playing matchmaker. How will Polly patch up her own relationships, while ensuring that destined love can take its course?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5–7—Polly is a hopeless romantic whose favorite books are Pride and Prejudice and Anne of Green Gables. This summer she has decided to adopt her version of the speech patterns of Austen and Montgomery as she strives to find the perfect—in her estimation—romantic partner for her older sister, her best friend's father, and several others, whether they are interested in meeting someone or not. Her attempts at matchmaking have disastrous results for the participants while providing a few chuckles for readers. The book is much too long for the plot and the faux speech gets very old very quickly. The characters, even 12-year-old Polly, are one-dimensional. It would be difficult to find an audience for this book as Austen/Montgomery fans would find it silly and those readers looking for a light comic romance would not wade through it for the little humor and romance it contains.—Nancy P. Reeder, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia, SC
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Growing up in a cozy seaside community above her family’s bakery, 12-year-old Polly has always been a romantic. After she reads Pride and Prejudice, though, her yen for successful love stories spills over into daily life, and she determines to spend her summer matchmaking among the locals. Of course, everything goes horribly awry, and Polly is forced to confront the impact of her meddling: “This isn’t your dumb Green Gables or England or whatever. This is real life!” says her furious best friend. To better emulate her favorite book’s “enchanting heroine,” Polly narrates in a mannered, archaic voice (“I vow to call you on the morrow!”) that may try some readers’ patience but provides comedic moments in her mixed metaphors and the curt responses she receives: “Put a cork in it,” growls her sister. The plot is as light as pastry filling, but young romantics may recognize themselves in Polly and in her puzzlement over the way love and attraction happen in the twenty-first century, beyond the pages of books. Grades 4-7. --Gillian Engberg

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: EgmontUSA (December 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1606840258
• ISBN-13: 978-1606840252
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 1.1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,316,326 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lindsay Eland is married to a man with a smile so wide it makes his eyes water and take on the shape of half moons. Together they have four kids who make every day an adventure in love, in laughter, in mystery, and in wonder.

Other little facts? Lindsay has a great big dog named Cowboy, and two rats...yes rats. She's pretty good at imitating people. She will never kill an insect unless it is in her shower. Rainy days are her favorite. Lindsay gets easily sick in the car, on airplanes, and swinging on swings. She has her nose pierced. Making people laugh is the best feeling in the world to her. She love, love, loves to sing and still does ballet, even though it's in her living room. Lindsay has an affinity for chicken fajitas and homemade chocolate chip cookies...though not at the same time. She adores anything chocolate (hold the nuts please), and she's only had long hair once in all her 30 years of life (she was able to keep herself away from scissors for about eight months).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tween version of Pride and Prejudice, January 27, 2010

By 

M. Talalay "Edamommy - Mom, Reviewer, Writer,... (Lutherville, MD United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Scones and Sensibility (Hardcover)

Kiwi Magazine Review:
I remember as a young girl that I adopted the prairie vernacular of Laura Ingalls; my family tolerated it, my friends teased me and my teachers were appalled. The protagonist in this tween book speaks like her favorite characters in Pride and Prejudice and Anne of Green Gables, although she lapses into normal teen speak when she is with her friends sometimes. Inspired by these books, Polly sets out to be the town matchmaker with very mixed results including one arrest, one tumble off of a pier (complete with jellyfish stings) and an angry suitor. This book is a fun remix of the two classics but we'd nudge the age recommendation to 11-15.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!, January 4, 2010

By 

E. Chavez - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scones and Sensibility (Hardcover)

I am a 14 year old bookworm who got this book from my aunt's bookstore. I was a little nervous that this book would be too young for me, but I ended up really liking it. It was one of those books that made you slap your forehead in frusteration at the main character's actions, and feel those pangs of "oh no" because you felt so much like you were right next to Polly all the way. I read this book during any spare time I could find, and was really sad when it was over because I wanted to keep reading!!! I really hope that Lindsey Eland comes out with another book!

AWESOME BOOK FOR 10-14 YEAR OLDS :-)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars endearing, March 26, 2010

By 

Victoria Hanley "Seize the Story" (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Scones and Sensibility (Hardcover)

Polly has such good intentions, oh my! With her head filled with romantic dreams of matchmaking, and her bicycle-basket filled with pastries from her parents' bakery, she embarks on a summer delivering parcels. Sometimes the parcels have been ordered--and sometimes they haven't! Polly delights in taking on the role of go-between for couples she wants to match up, pretending each has ordered treats for the other. The havoc that ensues is simply delicious, for Polly is so busy listening to her own ideas about what love *should* be that she fails, again and again, to listen to what people are telling her in plain English. In the end, she learns that she's been leaving out an important ingredient in her recipe for love, namely reality. Humbled, but still believing in true love, she delivers a fresh perspective. This book is a delicacy, delightful to ingest.