Title | : | Blaire |
Author | : | |
Rating | : | |
ISBN | : | 1338267116 |
ISBN-10 | : | 9781338267112 |
Language | : | English |
Format Type | : | Paperback |
Number of Pages | : | 192 |
Publication | : | First published December 26, 2018 |
Blaire Reviews
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I really didn’t like Blaire’s personality. Someone who is addicted to social media is not a compelling character. The way American Girl describes her isn’t much like how she’s portrayed. I also felt like her food sensitivity could have been portrayed a little differently, as they are so common.
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Super cute book! Loved Blaire and the storyline. Looking forward to more stories about Blaire, her family and friends!
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My copy of Blaire arrived today and luckily I was home sick, because I couldn't put it down!
Blaire is very creative and takes on more than she might be able to handle. I loved her family and her farm. And what stuck with me - even though it feels a little silly and self serving - is Blaire's lactose intolerance. It's brought up several times, and someone complained too often, but it felt like my own experience. How suddenly what feels like "a small medical diagnosis" takes over your life and can ruin all your favorite foods. Blaire expressed the feelings I had about how awkward you feel when people bring it up around you. And I feel the book handled it very well. Yes, it's a minor condition in comparison to other issues, but I'm glad to see American Girl spreading out. Girls with different issues or abilities would be wonderful to see.
I was worried Blaire, who likes to cook, would feel like a copycat of Grace who likes to bake. While all American Girls tend to have the same go-getter attitude, having similar hobbies may make them feel too cookie cutter. But Claire had far more to her than just cooking - she loves to plan events and record the memories. Cooking is brought up a lot due to her lactose intolerance, and how she feels she doesn't want to cook anymore because of it. And of course, there's issues with friends. Wouldn't be an AG book without it lol
Her pets are adorable too - fluffy chickens and a lamb and a goat. I love her farm! It felt so sweet and made me understand Blaire's devotion to it.
The only real "negative" thing I'd mention is addressed in story as well - Blaire has a /lot/ of screentime and mentions her tablet or texting/messaging often. My nieces and nephews all aren't allowed phones or tablets young, so maybe this is the new norm for kids? But her family does tell her she has been spending too much time on it. However it feels a little minor in the face of how often it's mentioned.
Overall, a wonderful story and a great introduction to our latest American Girl. I can't wait to see what she plans next. -
This one was not my personal favorite of the Girl of the Year books. To me, the plot and setting feels bland in contrast to Jess's and Lindsey's stories as it focuses on Blaire and her family owning a bed and breakfast and trying to get ready for a wedding. Also, Blaire was not the most likeable character as she seemed to create unnecessary drama with her friend and be obsessed with her phone a bit too much. However, I understand I'm a bit over the target age group so I understand if some find things they liked about it that I might have overlooked.
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Blaire was a really cute story! I would definitely like to read book 2 soon.
It was just an overall short, fun book. -
this was an amazing book, it caught the real struggles of love and what a lot of people go through. Catalina wasn't happy and I got why but there was no reason for her to do what she did. Blaire's farm sounded like a dream, I would love to live there or even stay at her b&b for a night. the best part was the whole fight between Cat and Gabe. this book is recommended by me to kids 8-13. this book is for that age because it is a fiction book, it is also amerinan girl so it would be recommended for younger ages.
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Gosh, does she have to get so upset about being lactose intolerant?
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This book was a little late Christmas present for me, but I am glad to read it.
I love that the new "Girl of the Year" is modern, but still reminds it's readers to not live behind a screen and that life is out in the world. Blaire lives on a sustainable farm with her parents, Grandfather, and little brother. Her recent diagnosis of lactose intolerance has her wavering about hanging out with her friends (because of eating) and continuing to cook (which she loves).
If life hadn't gotten in the way, I feel that I wouldn't have been able to put this book down. I loved it!! (The farm life, her struggle, the wedding planning...all of it!) My favorite American Girl of the Year!! This is a great book for Middle Schoolers, and even younger girls. Let's see what it's sequel, "Blaire Cooks Up a Plan" has to offer, and I'm hoping there's a Blaire #3 book. -
I received this book on Christmas morning for one of my presents and I started reading it right away! Blaire was such a great book! Jennifer Castle's writing style is great! I thought it would be so much fun to live on a farm, restaurant, and hotel just like Blaire! I love stories that have animals in them such as her lamb and her baby goat. I really loved this book but I thought that Blaire had a weird character. Blaire LOVES to spend time on her tablet and she feels like it is the end of the world for her because she has lactose intolerance. I personally wouldn't start crying because I can't eat a funnel cake with extra whipped cream at a fair because that same thing actually happened to Blaire. I did think that this book was really good though and I would recommend this book to younger readers!
Happy Readings! ♥ -
I can't remember the last time I read a book from this genre so I can't give an opinion on weather this is good or not, as an adult I have found the book to be quite lacking. Things I like about the book: 1) Blaire lives on a farm, but isn't the typical farm girl. she likes pinterest and uses her tablet to text and look up ideas, she is a crafter, and she likes to cook. She is what I imagine a modern girl living on a farm/at a B&B could be like. 2) American girl is finally exploring the theme of a girl with food intolerances and how that can make her feel interacting with those who don't. I just wish they explored this further or did a little better job with it, but it isn't bad. 3) Blaire seems real. her family seems real.
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This was a good book. I enjoyed reading it and it went fast. The lessons were about communication and living in the moment. Which we all find hard sometimes during the technology age. It’s especially important for the kids who are allowed to have tablets and phones at such a young age. I don’t think they should have them but if they do it should be limited. Life does not revolve around them. No matter what your problems are you need to communicate them to the people important to you so they understand why you’re acting and feeling the way you are. We watch Blaire and Thea learn all these lessons and watch them work hard to bring people together to make someone other than themselves happy which is a great quality about Blaire.
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Blaire's family owns a family, b and b, her mom and herself run a food blog (vlog?) online, and the family is converting the barn into an event space. And of course 10 year old Blaire is helping with it all, including planning the wedding of her 'almost' sister. Blaire was also recently diagnosed as lactose intolerant and isn't sure how to handle the questions and life changes.
Blaire is probably my favorite contemporary girl of the year so far (but note I haven't read Z or Tenney). It reads as very '2019'. -
Took me forever to figure out how to phrase what I thought of this book. Then when I tried to post it, something went wrong and I lost it.
Joy. But I digress. I didn't exactly love this book, because of the two main problems I have with it.
One, and the biggest, is how it seemed unrealistic that a 10 year old would be in some of the major situations she was in. If Blaire had been a teenager, I could have bought it. But I couldn't supend belief enough to see a 10 year old helping that much to plan a wedding. The second problem is how issues were piled on in the first three chapters, in a way that felt like too much was happening at once. Like before I could process one thing, another happened. And honestly, if it hadn't been for the wedding planning, it would have been okay. It would have been plenty of conflict for a book. But there was too much.
That said, I'll give it that it had some high points. Things were stung together in a logical sequence of events, and to me it wrapped up with no loose ends. It was also well written and well edited. I also liked these parts:
The symbolism may not have been intentional, but I like it. -
I absolutely love this book! It’s about a girl named Blaire who is working at her bed and breakfast, but she soon finds out that she is lactose intolerant! This is a huge deal because one of Blaine’s favorite thing to do is cook! How can she possibly bake without being able to taste all of her concoctions? Blaire then finds out that one of their favorite workers gets engaged, and Blaire gets to plan it! But can Blaire find time to hang out with her best friend and planning a wedding? Find out in this amazing book by Jennifer Castle!
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I wanted to read this book because I thought Blaire was boring, but maybe I was being unfair. I needed to give her a chance. Upon reading this book? Not only is Blaire boring, but annoying as well, and not in a lovable kid way, just in a self absorbed way.
Also, the book is just not... amazingly written. The plot is very thin. The characters are one-dimensional, except for I guess Cat is one-and-a-half dimensional. -
Very cute book. Read with my 9 yo daughter for her AG book club. It’s great for her reading age, shows great character development, lots of new vocabulary to learn and has a good plot. We were able to have a great discussion about being excited for things but then getting ourselves over committed.
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Aside from some poor editing, this is a great addition to the girl of the year line.Blaire struggles with some things that girls (and adults!) today also struggle with whether it’s food allergy or screen addiction or work life balance. Seeing her struggle and get scolded and then change her behavior consciously mirrors what people are trying to do today.
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What a sweet, cute, and fun read! The setup took a little while, but eventually, I was attached to the characters and hooked to see what happened next. I was again impressed with American Girl for making sure that every single little detail is important, and unlike most AG books, this made me laugh, hard, a couple of times. One of my favorite Girl of the Year books yet!
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I just bought a 2nd Blaire doll so I decided to read the book that came with her to understand her story better. I liked her farm animals and that she had food sensitivities. I have issues of my own and don't remember any characters in a book that had any before reading about Blaire.
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This one wasn't my favourite. It was a little bland. Blaire is fine and nice. She's a little bratty, but gets over it. There's no real conflict in the story, what there is, is all self-inflicted. She became a bit one-dimensional, but I guess that's the lesson.
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Blaire is a book about Blaire Wilson and her journeys on her farm. In the novel, she learns the struggles between feeling different, inclusion, and family. Although it was an easy read, I though the story was well thought out.
-Patron E.H. -
Cute little book my grand daughters will love hearing. I liked the fact that she is lactose intolerant and how she learned to adapt.
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Cute. Solid realistic fiction that American Girls fans will enjoy.
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This was such a fun read with my daughter. I really enjoyed the story.