YOUth Review: The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and One Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall

I am a sister of three and really connected with this book.  If you also have siblings I think you will too!

The Penderwicks load their van for the small town of Arundel and settle in renting a woman called Mrs.Tifton’s extra house.

Responsible older sister Rosalind, 12 years old. Athletic, enthusiastic Skye, 11 years old. Creative book writer Jane, who is 10 years old. 4-year-old curious and happy Batty. And their botanist father (their mother is dead.)  each child discovers something different; secret gardens, flowers, animals, games, toys, hideouts, and friends.  While each of them growing closer and closer together.  This is how the Penderwick family enjoys their summer.  But of course, that is just the beginning of a smooth summer that quickly becomes bumpy.

The start of this book was a little slow, which was one thing I didn’t like.  I think that more twists could have been made to the storyline, to leave the reader feeling more captivated.  But instead, many times, I knew how the problem would be resolved, and it became very predictable.  If you are looking for a quick, easy, feel-good read, then this is a good book for you.  Or if you are looking for a book to read to younger siblings, or if you like slow-paced books then this is a good book.  But, if you are looking for a fast-paced, exciting book with dragons, fires, runaways, and battles, then you will be disappointed when you find tea parties, games of tag, and frog-hunting instead.