bake your way out of your shell
Fans of the Great British Baking Show may remember Kim-Joy from season nine. She had a quiet smile and made bakes studded with whimsical animals and bright colors. She brought flavors like matcha and orange blossom along with her sweet spirit, intelligence, and masterful piping skills. Along with several cookbooks, she’s written a graphic novel about an anxious young woman who finds her place in Baking Club.
Yan is a young woman who struggles with anxiety and low self-esteem. She’s in therapy and trying to do the work to change her overthinking, but she still has bad days. She’s trying to find a job, and the rejection is difficult to take. But as she’s waiting for the bus one day, she sees an invitation to Baking Club. Yan loves to bake and needs friends, so she gathers up her courage and gives it a try.
Yan is greeted by an older woman, Bea, who is cheerful and welcoming. There are several others there, and at first Yan is nervous, feeling like a burden. But Bea gets them all working on baking a Victoria Sponge, and Yan feels a little better. As she keeps going back, she starts to come out of her shell more and more, like the turtle that Bea made to decorate the Victoria Sponge that first night.
When another baker, Geraint, wants to make a bread for a competition at work, they all put their heads together and come up with a recipe for him, for Turtle Bread. Yan finds that helping others makes her feel better, and she finds her own confidence growing. She finds a job and even starts dating.
But then, one week, she goes to Baking Club and finds that Bea is missing. Yan is crushed and wants to know where she’d gone, and why. Did she do something to cause Bea to leave? She didn’t really know all that much about her, and she feels selfish for not asking more questions. Will she be able to track down Bea and make things right with her? Or will Yan just go right back into her shell and give up on Baking Club?
Turtle Bread is the charming, gentle story of taking chances and finding your way in life from baker and mental health professional Kim-Joy. The same gentle beauty of her bakes comes through this story, which would make a great gift for those who struggle with anxiety. There is a lot of warmth and support through the pages, and there are even several recipes for cake, bread, and shortbread, along with ideas for decorations. The illustrations by Alti Firmansyah are full of movement and emotions, and they work beautifully with Kim-Joy’s story.
I loved Turtle Bread, and I think it’s appropriate for kids and adults, for anyone needing a boost of courage or some healing from bullies or grief. It’s a beautiful reminder that we all have something to offer and can feel better about ourselves by helping others with what they are going through.
