As a big fan of the first Penderwick story, I was eager to see what Jeanne Birdsall would do with the girls back at home. These stories remind me of classic stories from years past like All of a Kind Family (maybe it's all those sisters) and Betsy, Tacey and Tibb. Birdsall's voice is reminiscent of a more classic author in a current setting and I enjoy every word.Back home after their adventures at Arundel, Rosalind, Skye, Jane and Battie are confronted with the wishes of their dear departed mother that their widowed father begin dating. Horrified by the idea, they put their clever heads together to make sure a step-mother is not part of their future. With misadventures and cherished moments, this second tale of the Penderwick sisters has all the appeal of the first, with a little romance thrown in for good measure.
While it may seem a "girl" book, it should most definitely appeal to younger boys -- and might give them a good lesson about their female counterparts as well. The first book won the National Book Award... I'll be interested to see if this one is nominated on October 15th. In my opinion, it absolutely should.
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