Flour Babies

Anne Fine's Carnegie Medal-winning novel, "Flour Babies," delves into the lives of a class of "underachieving" students, particularly Simon Martin, who are assigned an unusual science project: caring for bags of flour as if they were real babies. Over three weeks, the boys must manage their "flour babies" and keep a diary of their experiences. This seemingly simple task becomes a powerful catalyst for Simon, forcing him to reflect on his own childhood, his relationship with his mother, and the absence of his father, who left when Simon was an infant. The book explores themes of responsibility, empathy, and self-discovery, offering a poignant and often humorous look at growing up and understanding the complexities of family. It's ideal for middle schoolers navigating their own identities and family dynamics.

When his class of underachievers is assigned to spend three torturous weeks taking care of their own babies in the form of bags of flour, Simon makes amazing discoveries about himself while coming to terms with his long-absent father