Jul 17, 2011

Practically Perfect Penderwicks

By Wendy A. Jones


I picked up my copy of The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy (by Jeanne Birdsall) used, at Goodwill or a garage sale. It's been sitting on my shelf for almost two years, waiting until the perfect moment to be read.


This weekend brought the perfect moment.


I was in the mountains with my extended family for a family reunion. We gathered at my grandparents' cabin and renewed our bonds with each other by splitting into groups and re-making Johnny Lingo. In our downtime, we went boating and rode the jet skis. I enjoy going on the boat and jet skis occasionally, but it's not my favorite thing. I was content to let everyone else have a turn and only headed out when one of my kids begged me to take them on a ride.


Instead, I would relax on the deck and visit with aunts, uncles, cousins, and/or their children. Or else I would read.


Thus arose the perfect moment to read about Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty Penderwick. I loved them from the first page. Ms. Birdsall's writing reminds me very much of Elizabeth Enright (Thimble Summer, Gone Away Lake) and Maud Hart Lovelace (The Betsy-Tacy books) and yet is still fresh and modern.


Even better, she has two other Penderwick books already written! I can't wait to discover them.


What have your favorite summer reads been so far?

2 comments:

  1. A newly discovered triology by Jan Guilliou a Swedish author. It had a wonderful twist at the end. Now I guess an old fav????

    ReplyDelete
  2. Laurie Lewis' Free Men and Dreamers series and Heather B Moore's Book of Mormon novels. Lots more to read as so many of our ANWA ladies are getting published! hugs~

    ReplyDelete

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