Module 4 Book Review: "The Penderwicks"

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Birdsall, Jeanne. (2005). The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN: 0-375-83143-6.

Synopsis:

The Penderwick family, comprised of a single father, four sisters, and Hound, their dog, arrive at the lavish Arundel estate for their summer vacation. Eldest sister Rosalind, eleven year old Skye ten year old Jane, and the shy little sister Batty embark on summer escapades in the New ngland countryside that they will always remember. While the family stays in the cottage behind the mansion, the girls explore the estate grounds, and discover lush gardens, rabbits, a bull, and a young boy. But they soon discover that the boy is the son of the haughty Mrs. Tifton who owns the mansion next door.

My Impression of the Book:

Absolutely delightful! The tale gives us a nostalgic view of a summer vacation in the New England countryside. Although it may seem a bit idealistic at times, the character's dialog is filled with such real emotion and consciousness that any reader can immediately relate to. For instance, when the eldest daughter, Rosalind mentions her mother's death, this is followed by a description of the look on her face. The way in which Jeanne Birdsall, author, describes a scene is simply breathtaking. I fell into the book instantly and was sad to finish it. What a beautiful tale of sisterhood and the magical wonders only experienced in childhood.

Uses Within a Library Environment:

This is a perfect book to introduce to older elementary (4^th and 5^th grades) and middle school students during the summer programs. I recommend holding a book talk, or introducing it in a book club meeting as the read for the week. If the library typically pulls books that are “Good Summer Reads,” and puts them on display, I would suggest this book should be added to that collection.

Awards and Reviews:

• The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy is on many State Award Master Lists, including those for Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan (winner!), Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia.

• 2005 National Book Award Winner

• New York Times Bestseller

• A Junior Library Guild Selection

• A Children’s Book Sense Top 10 Pick

• A Nick Jr. Magazine Best Book of the Year

• A Child Magazine Best Book of the Year

• A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year

• A 2005 Kirkus Reviews Editors’ Choice

• A Booklist Editors’ Choice

• A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

• 2007 Kalbacher Klapperschlange (Germany)

• BookBrowse Sapphire Award for 2005 Most Popular Debut

• “Crisp as seersucker and not too breezy, this nostalgic novel is the literary equivalent of a perfect summer day.”
  – Family Fun Magazine

• “Readers will hope for a return visit from this memorable cast.”
  – Publishers Weekly, starred review

• “Anyone who has ever longed to sneak through a hedge into a forbidden estate will enjoy these four loving sisters, their widowed father and their poor-little-rich-boy friend.”
  – Seattle Post-Intelligencer