The Penderwicks is an example of what I would call an " good old-fashioned read". It's a recent book (published in 2005) and it happens in modern times -- but the only reason I know that is because there is a brief reference to a computer owned by Mr. Penderwick. Otherwise, it's one of those secret garden kind of books where the kids enjoy the summer by having great outdoor adventures, not by watching tv or shopping at the mall or playing Wii.The Penderwick family consists of four girls, Rosalind, 12, Skye, 11, Jane, 10, and Batty 4, their Dad, a widower, and the dog Hound. The story follows them on summer vacation at a small cottage that sits on the grounds of a large old house, owned by a rich lady who doesn't care for the rollicking Penderwicks. My favorite characters were Skye, who is a total tomboy, and Jane, who narrates aloud everything around her because she is writing a book. They meet Jeffrey, the son of the rich lady, and through the course of the book they help Jeffrey gain the courage to communicate openly with his mother -- he wants to be a pianist, but she wants him to go to military school.
The characters are well written, the pace is great, and there's a little bit of something for everyone -- romance, games, dress-up, and of course a satisfying conclusion. I see that Birdsall has already written a sequel and I can't wait to visit with the Penderwicks again.
2005, NY: Knopf Books for Young Readers
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