The Penderwicks- Jeanne Birdsall
This acclaimed novel more than met my expectations. The Penderwicks has been coming up on recommended sites for some time now, and I finally was able to read it. A wonderful mixture of memories for me- Little Women, The Secret Garden, and the more recently acclaimed novel by Kit Pearson, Perfect Gentle Knight. This lovely, old-fashioned romp of a story takes you back to more idyllic times where even though life isn’t perfect, stories are. The 4 Penderwick girls, with their gentle, absent-minded father and loyal family dog, Hound, are on vacation in a cottage on the estate of a rich and pretentious woman. Fortunately, she has a fun-loving son who is only too happy to break free of his restricted life and join them in their many escapades; some planned, others hilariously inopportune. Their antics are many, their loyalty unquestioned, but have they gone too far and have they propelled Jeremy to a life in a military school, which he dreads more than all things? This will be a classic read for boys and girls alike for as early as grade 4 and likely through grade 6 or 7. It will be on my list of recommended reads of the last ten years. I look forward to the second book about these intrepid sisters.
Middle Years, Realistic Fiction | Comments (2)2 Responses to “The Penderwicks- Jeanne Birdsall”
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I just knew you would like this book. While reading it I felt like I did when I was that age reading a book. It has a timeless quality. Unfortunately it is one of those books we will have to point out and put in the hands of students.
I do plan to promote it- I just think it is a new classic!