This was an enjoyable read and young readers will appreciate it as well! Full of extremely quirky characters. Bridget Baxter is the main character, she is the last child at the orphanage and she is living a horrible life with Miss Acrid (it’s in the name really!) a ghastly women who really dislikes children. Luckily Bridget is adopted by the wonderful Mr Vanderpuff and he takes her to his bakery and tries to teach her to bake…
There is adventure, great friendships, orphanage matrons and baking!
Lovely read for Year 3 onwards.

It's a bit rich slamming a book for sounding like something you've read before, when countless potential readers won't have read what you've read. But for my enjoyment's sake, this was too close to a mix of "Cosima Unfortunate…" and "Into Goblyn Wood" – reminding me far too much of the situations, characters and even events of a melange of both. And that's long before "Alice Eclair" and her cooking turns up to make a threesome. Plus, the "comedy" footnotes were really getting on my wick – that and the breathless dialogue suggested someone trying just that bit too hard. A reasonable entertainment for many, but not for me on this occasion.

I can’t deny, I’m a fan of children’s books based in orphanages….they’re always just so much fun, there’s always a mean owner and always at least one rebel.

This hit all of the buttons for me, Bridget is absolutely fabulous, maybe a bit too big for her boots? Her confidence is absolutely sky high, and her heart is pure good. When she meets Mr Vanderpuff her life changes, but has Miss Acrid gone?!!!

A wild ride, well written!

My thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review

This book was a very enjoyable read, I loved the quirky characters, there was something very homely and comforting in reading this. It would make a fabulous read aloud for 7/8/9 yr olds who would appreciate the adventure, daring and cheek if the main characters.

Unfortunately I wasn't very keen on this, it was all a little too silly for me but I did like how Bridget was saved by Mr Vanderpuff and then saves him so some nice parallels and the importance of family. I think younger readers probably would enjoy the silliness however!

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

A unique tale of orphanage matrons, friendships, baking and Bridget Baxter!

Being the last errant child at the orphanage, Bridget is faced with a horrible life alone with Miss Acrid, a horrifying woman who has a particular dislike for children, especially Bridget..
When the local baker comes to adopt Bridget, Miss Acrid vows revenge and curses Bridget.
Mr Vanderpuff, the baker, has a shop of wonderful baked goods, all of which the townspeople line up for in droves. He brings Bridget into the mix by welcoming her and sharing his shop and home with her. Trouble begins when he tries to teach her how to bake- proving the only thing she is bad at….baking.
Some strange mixtures are created….scream cream, suction cup cupcakes and exploding jelly. But Bridget will need to be a bad baker when Miss Acrid comes to finish the revenge….

With heartwarming moments between Bridget and Mr Vanderpuff, a quest to free his heart and a baking elf named Pascal, this is a unique and charming story.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What fun! This middle grade book is packed full of suspense and action in the best kind of ways. It's the first in a new series, and I can't wait to see what happens in the next ones.

Think Matilda meets Masterchef, Bridget Baxter lives at The Orphanage for Errant Childs. Miss Acrid, the headmistress, is a horrible woman with a penchant for fish sandwiches. When Mr Vanderpuff arrives at the orphanage and asks to adopt Bridget, Miss Acrid denies having any such child in her care - as she is determined to keep Bridget miserable forever. However, Bridget has her own ideas...

This little novel is a genuinely fun read. It has short chapters, perfect for younger readers, a wide use of language so it's not all "he said... She said... He said..."
There's some cracking puns in there too, making it fun for parents to read to kids. Honestly, loved every page!