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I’m so glad I met
the Penderwicks. What an entertaining, infectious cast of
characters, right down to Asimov, Duchess and Cilantro.
The
Penderwicks in Spring is a contemporary storyline written
in what I call an old fashion writing style – similar
to the children’s books I read in the fifties and sixties.
The author keeps the reader’s attention through the
characters, their likes and dislikes, their relationships
and their life lessons. It’s reality with a bit of fun
thrown in. The Penderwicks is a family that thrives on experiencing
life and love. They live life to the fullest, love to discover
their talents and learn to get along.
Eleven
year old Batty is the lead character but her youngest sister,
Lydia, tends to upstage her. Batty’s adventures range
from humorous to tearful. Her life is her family and her talent.
Batty has older sisters, a young brother and a younger sister.
She has a father and a step mother who are professionals,
very laid back in nature and involved in their children’s
lives. They live on a charming cul-de-sac with eclectic neighbors.
When Batty opens her own business, we get to meet some of
her charming neighbors and their pets. In this storyline,
Batty suffers the effects of a loss, discovers a surprising
talent and the heartbreak of a shocking secret. Her response
is to have secret meeting with her brother and this may be
her down fall.
The
Penderwicks in Spring is a refreshing look at childhood
and how it should be. Readers will notice the absence of the
television and video games. I have to say I did not miss them
at all.
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