The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall

An emergency MOPS (Meeting of Penderwick Sisters) hatches the Save Daddy plan, in which the girls orchestrate dates so dreadful their father will see widowed life is best. The Penderwick sisters-Rosalind, Jane, Skye and Batty-learn of this valediction four years later when Aunt Claire begins arranging blind dates. Penderwick on her deathbed as she instructs her husband's sister, Claire, to make sure he finds love again after sufficient mourning. The prologue hits the only maudlin note, flashing back to Mrs. This sequel to Birdsall's National Book Award winner, The Penderwicks The Penderwicks on Gardam Street Jeanne Birdsall I think shes on the right track, and Im craving more of her delicious writing.Happy families are not all alike, as previously met characters continue to prove. Its the emergence of Jeanne Birdsall, author extraordinaire, here to show us that the fast track isnt necessarily the only track. Itd be easy to call this book a kick back to the days of THE FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS or a tip of the hat to the whimsical style of L.M. I couldve sworn I felt Hound nudging my hand as I turned the pages. Every single character could be there next to you, reading over your shoulder. Rosalinds motherly kindness, Skyes stoic avoidance of all things dramatic, Janes flair for&everything, and Battys sweet and gentle nature all come through even more clearly in this timeless tale than the last.īut, how, in this ever-faster, evermore adventure-craving world does a quiet story like The Penderwicks stand out? Through good, solid characterization and empathetic storylines. I think this second book made me fall deeper in love with each sister.

With each girl having a distinct voice of her own, I was never once confused about the switch from Rosalind to Skye or from Jane to Batty.

Birdsall masterfully handled the rarely successful alternating viewpoint. I so enjoyed re-acquainting myself with the four sisters. National Book Award winning, THE PENDERWICKS: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy, was a great lead-in to this second book, but this one definitely stands alone. The author kept every promise she made to readers, beginning with the promise of an equally fantastic sequel to her first book. I finished this book with a great, satisfied sigh.

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall