Baking for Dave

Baking for Dave

Iris, a 15-year-old girl travels cross states to enter a baking contest, but ends up winning a bigger prize

by Melissa Palmer

Future Horizons

Sensory World



Children's Fiction , Teens & YA

Pub Date 11 Nov 2016

I am reviewing a copy of Baking for Dave through Future Horizons: sensory World and Netgalley:

Fifteen year old Iris Heller has a sensory processing disorder, but that does not stop her from running away in her Mom’s car to compete in a National Bake Off. She travels through several states and despite her disorder and the most terrifying part for her is she interacts with actual people. Iris has never been like other girls her age, but she refuses to let that stop her from going for her dreams. When she gets nervous or overwhelmed Iris has a habit of chewing on her fingers until they bleed.

Iris has a profound fascination with musician Dave Matthews and feels compelled to compete in the bake off for him. In order to deal with her nervousness she either chews her fingers, hums or beat boxing or makes musical instruments out of items on hand. This talent gets her noticed several stops along the way, and soon she finds that her talents have gone viral. At a donut shop she sings like an angel, at a coffee shop she plays a symphony using cups and a soda fountain. At a restaraunt she makes a magnificicent musical instrument out of dishes and pans. Iris has the kind of spirit that brings the good in people out Houghton she does not realize it.

After realizing her daughter ran off to take part in the completion Maisy and her best friend Eric go looking for Iris. Finally they all meet at Happy World the Disney Like Place the bake off takes place. It is here that Iris finds out how much she is loved and how far those who care about her to make sure she is okay, even if it means letting her stand on her own.

I give Baking for Dave five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

I’ve said it before, I think, but this is one of those books I find it hard to write a review for. It was just that good. Probably one of the best books I’ve read in my entire life. There was a tiny thing putting me off, but it really was tiny tiny tiny.
The characters were what kept this story going. Iris is such an interesting, wonderful character. She is described beautifully and wasn’t only reduced to her disorder. She is intelligent and has the ability to take in people with her whole being, she rambles and loves music, sees through it, communicates with it and uses it to cope with life. Iris also loves baking, which sets her mind free, she just knows her way around a kitchen and improvises fantastic creations.
While Iris is the main character and the story is mostly told from her PoV, Chris is a major secondary character. He ran away from his life, from his wife and his job because he feels like he is a burden to everyone and thinks his wife deserves better. He is such a nice, sweet and caring man. Chris helps Iris as much as she helps him. They show each other so many new facettes to life, they give each other advice while always being mindful. The two of them develop such an unlikely, but beautiful friendship. On their way, they meet so many different people, make new friends and try new things.
Maisy is the third important character. Like Chris, I would call her a major secondary character. She is Iris‘ mother and best friend. They are a deeply bonded unit, knowing each other incredibly well. Maisy and her daughter have a caring, deeply loving relationship.

The writing style was another thing that carried the story. Each character had a very unique PoV. Because there were changes of PoV in the middle of some chapters, it was sometimes confusing who was talking or telling this story. But Iris‘ voice was all short sentences, sometimes frantic, sometimes full of passion. Chris had a slower, slightly sad voice that mixed very well with Iris. Maisy’s PoV was especially loud and detailed, from time to time hectic and full of swear words, depending on her mood. I absolutely loved the writing, it was amazing and fitting and distinguishing the characters from each other.

The plot was okay. It was a fun story about unlikely friends on a roadtrip, made serious by the characters. I loved how the characters were the most important thing in this book, while the plot was more of a general theme that helped the characters grow and develop. The mix of lighthearted roadtrip and deep, thoughtful and unique characters was just perfect. This book shows how good people can be, how wonderful humans are. This book is definitely a new favourite and I think everyone should read it. No matter if you have Sensory Processing Disorder or not or know someone with it, this book is really important and tells a beautiful story.