What can I say about The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall? All good things!
It was recommended to us by the wonderful bookstore in Alexandria, VA, that I love sooo much, Hooray for Books (how I wish I there were more like it http://www.hooray4books.com/)
The Penderwicks is a family of four sisters and their father, Martin, a botany professor. Rosalind, the oldest at 12, is quite the mother type and is quite mature, but is also going through typical 12 year old stuff – the beginnings of the “boy phase”. Skye, 11 years old, the one who looks most like their mother (who died of cancer after the youngest daughter was born), is the science geek and the athletic girl. Jane, 10 years old, also athletic, is the author of the family, and even has started writing her own series of books (Sabrina Starr). Batty, the youngest at 4 years old, is absolutely adorable. She is joined at the hip to their dog, Hound. She adores her sisters.
The story takes place while they are on summer vacation at Arundel cottage (which, I think is in the Berkshires). The girls befriend Jeffrey, who lives in the main house with his mother. He is fascinated with the girls and welcomes the excitement and adventures they bring to his life.
There is something for everyone in The Penderwicks. Some girly stuff, athletics, family issues, conflicts, solutions. I read this aloud to my daughter, and we both loved it. She was taken with all of the characters and identified a little bit with each one. She wanted to read as much as possible each night.
I would say this book is probably for the 4th-6th grade independent reader, and you have nothing to worry about with the subject matter. It was a good read aloud for my daughter, who is in 2nd grade. She will probably re-read it on her own in the next year or so.
I would encourage you to read The Penderwicks, the characters are like good friends once you get to know them. Enjoy! (http://www.jeannebirdsall.com/)
