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Birdsall's first book, The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy, had a timeless and innocent charm. Reminiscent of many childrens' books from the first half of the twentieth century, it could have been set at any point in the past century. Although the summer adventures of the four sister and their friend and dog had serious elements (eg Jeffrey's miserable home life) and were sometimes dangerous (eg the bull) they were truly child-like and carefree
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Sheer delight!
I enjoyed this when I read it in 2005, and I enjoyed the 2nd one as well, so I thought I'd reread them on audio in preparation for the third book. I'm sure glad I did - I really loved the Penderwicks this time around. The audio versions are excellent - they feel like the sort of thing you should listen to on a family car-trip, with something for everyone. The range of kids is similar to other classic series like the The Saturdays (and yeah, I think the Penderwicks will reach classic status, too)
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Rereading yet again in anticipation of the 5th (and final) book coming out in May. My love for the Penderwicks grows each time, especially with the cumulative effect of watching them grow up.
2024 - my first time reading it aloud, and the writing is so perfect for that! Bumping it up to 5 stars because I love it (even though I have serious questions about how much parenting Mr Penderwick leaves to Rosalind).
2024 - my first time reading it aloud, and the writing is so perfect for that! Bumping it up to 5 stars because I love it (even though I have serious questions about how much parenting Mr Penderwick leaves to Rosalind).
Pleasant but not extraordinary
Mar 11, 2012
Kerry (The Roaming Librarian) O'Donnell
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
childrens-lit
I have to say that I absolutely loved this novel. It was fresh and fun, and felt very much like a contemporary nod to Little Women. The story is about the four Penderwick sisters—Batty (4), Jane (10), Skye (11), and Rosalind (12)—on summer holiday with their father in the guest house of a large Berkshire Mountains estate called Arundel. When they arrive at their destination Jane spies a young boy in the window of the main house, a boy named Jeffrey, who becomes completely intertwined with the gi
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Fun, sweet and a quick read.
Sep 21, 2007
Jackie "the Librarian"
rated it
really liked it
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review of another edition
Shelves:
childrensbooks,
awardwinners
An old-fashioned story of four sisters having summer adventures while staying at cottage. The girls are charming and sweep up the boy from the big manor house up into their adventures. If you like this, try The Saturdays, and Gone-Away Lake, both by Elizabeth Enright.
For the most part, I liked it, but it did seem to be a rehash of other stories, specifically Little Women, the later Anne of Green Gables series (the vicarage children), and (for the mean landlady and her paramour-type) something of 101 Dalmatians.
A lovely children's book that I thoroughly enjoyed ---- not in the same class as the Little House books for me, but good enough that I purchased a copy for my niece. Hopefully she will enjoy it as much as I have!
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A light, sweet, predictable story filled with old-fashioned charm, animals, and slightly too-precocious-to-be-believable children.
Dec 17, 2007
Meg
marked it as to-read
Aug 31, 2013
Sharon
marked it as b-list
Apr 28, 2015
Adrienne
marked it as to-read
May 17, 2018
Katherine
marked it as to-read
Oct 07, 2020
Shoshanah
marked it as wish-list
May 15, 2022
Summer Rae Garcia
marked it as to-read
Jan 21, 2023
Lori
marked it as to-read
Oct 05, 2023
Flynn
marked it as to-read
