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reddyrat's review
5.0
The Penderwicks series is an example of how beautiful and complex Middle Grade novels can be. The Penderwicks in Spring is the fourth book in the series. It takes place quite a long time after the prior books. Batty, who was four in the first book, is now almost eleven. She is the central character of the book. The older girls Rosalind, Jane, and Skye are in college or the last years of high school. Rounding out the family is their step-brother Ben and their 2 year old half-sister Lydia.
My main complaint about this series is that there is typically three years between each book. Obviously, my memory fades. Thankfully, it does come back quickly, but it took me awhile to reacquaint myself with the girls' personalities.
Batty has grown into a lovely girl. She is painfully shy (something I didn't recall from the earlier books but surely I've just forgotten). She has a passion for music. In this novel, she discovers that she has a beautiful singing voice and has to battle between her love of music and fear of the spotlight. She is also mourning the death of her beloved dog, Hound, which made me sad because I fondly remember him from previous books.
The book goes to some really deep places for a middle grade read. Batty is not only processing Hound's death, but also has to deal with the death of her mother (who died when she was a baby) in ways she never did before. We come to understand how the mom's death has profoundly affected the kids and their relationship with each other despite its long distance and their love for their stepmother Iantha. There is also a vivid and heart-breaking depiction of depression. It's hard to read the depths of despair that Batty reaches, but I think an important thing for young readers to understand.
Boys are more a part of this book than the previous ones. Rosalind brings him a guy that everyone hates. Their neighbor Nick comes home from the military and is a stalwart young man that the entire family worships. Rosalind's ex-boyfriend Tommy also plays a small role. But Jeffrey - beloved Jeffrey - is the most significant boy. His unrequited love for Skye and her rejection of him have consequences for the entire family. I was really frustrated with Skye in this book. She was so selfish in alienating Jeffrey from the family, just because she didn't "like" him.
I truly hope that The Penderwicks series is still in print in 100 years. It has the feel of my favorite classic children's books. In some ways, the plots of the books aren't that important. What's most enjoyable is experience life with the wonderful Penderwicks children. It is a happy place to be, even when there's a lot of sadness involved as with this book.
Recommendation: Read it! The entire series! Required reading.
My main complaint about this series is that there is typically three years between each book. Obviously, my memory fades. Thankfully, it does come back quickly, but it took me awhile to reacquaint myself with the girls' personalities.
Batty has grown into a lovely girl. She is painfully shy (something I didn't recall from the earlier books but surely I've just forgotten). She has a passion for music. In this novel, she discovers that she has a beautiful singing voice and has to battle between her love of music and fear of the spotlight. She is also mourning the death of her beloved dog, Hound, which made me sad because I fondly remember him from previous books.
The book goes to some really deep places for a middle grade read. Batty is not only processing Hound's death, but also has to deal with the death of her mother (who died when she was a baby) in ways she never did before. We come to understand how the mom's death has profoundly affected the kids and their relationship with each other despite its long distance and their love for their stepmother Iantha. There is also a vivid and heart-breaking depiction of depression. It's hard to read the depths of despair that Batty reaches, but I think an important thing for young readers to understand.
Boys are more a part of this book than the previous ones. Rosalind brings him a guy that everyone hates. Their neighbor Nick comes home from the military and is a stalwart young man that the entire family worships. Rosalind's ex-boyfriend Tommy also plays a small role. But Jeffrey - beloved Jeffrey - is the most significant boy. His unrequited love for Skye and her rejection of him have consequences for the entire family. I was really frustrated with Skye in this book. She was so selfish in alienating Jeffrey from the family, just because she didn't "like" him.
I truly hope that The Penderwicks series is still in print in 100 years. It has the feel of my favorite classic children's books. In some ways, the plots of the books aren't that important. What's most enjoyable is experience life with the wonderful Penderwicks children. It is a happy place to be, even when there's a lot of sadness involved as with this book.
Recommendation: Read it! The entire series! Required reading.
lissi_k's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful and emotional children's literature. I found this on the shelves of my local library and was instantly flooded with nostalgia. I remember loving the first three books as a teenager when they came out, and that I had been very curious how the the story of the four sisters would go on after the third novel. But I guess when the fourth came out, I had already become older and was not thinking about them anymore. All the more joy for me to pick it up today!
Just as I remember, "The Penderwicks" are the ultimate comfort books. The Penderwick family has such beautiful, harmonious bond with each other. It is impressive how the author Jeanne Birdsall manages to paint this while still showing realistic quabbles and conflict between the sisters.
As a sucker for well-written romance, I was, after finishing Point Mouette, especially interested in the development of Skye and Jeffrey's relationship. Their personalities clash in a very beautiful way and the two seem to balance each other out very well. The fourth novel didn't gibe me much satisfaction in that regard, since their story plays out mainly in the background, as this book is narrated mainly from Batty and Ben's POV's. Jeffrey is now full-on in love with Skye, who doesn't seem to reciprocate his feelings. There are hints that the reason for that may lie in unresolved issues regarding the death of her mom, though. So there is still hope for romance in the fifth novel, I suppose. I liked that Birdsall dared to show Skye's rude, self-centered side. I like characters who are flawed. Especially female characters are not often this flawed. And I like how despite her flaws, Skye is still a very caringy loving person.
Just as I remember, "The Penderwicks" are the ultimate comfort books. The Penderwick family has such beautiful, harmonious bond with each other. It is impressive how the author Jeanne Birdsall manages to paint this while still showing realistic quabbles and conflict between the sisters.
smallafterall's review
5.0
Another delightful entry in this series. As usual, as I read, I eagerly anticipate introducing these books to my kids (ok, truthfully probably just Nora, though there is certainly nothing overtly 'girly' here.). These are old fashioned in the best sense, seeming to occur in a completely different time and place than modern media saturated culture. That said, it never comes across as quaint or twee, just comforting and happy. Even this title, which seems to have a little more accepting of difficult truths at its center, ultimately comes down on the side of a world that values love loyalty and reaching for dreams. Corny? Maybe a little. But who cares when you enjoy finding out what this family has been up to so much?
guk's review against another edition
4.0
It's fun to listen to the Penderwick's grow up. This was a particularly poignant one.
leskit's review
5.0
These books are a balm for the soul. They also make me tear up which is very difficult for a book to do.
skyes_the_limit22's review
I love these books and not just because one of the main characters have my name. This one was awesome, some say sequels are never as good as the first one, well it not true for this one. This book made me laugh and cry, I haven't gotten so involved in a book for years, this book is freaking wonderful!!
hastings91's review
4.0
The first three books of this series hold a lot of childhood nostalgia for me, and revisiting it was just what I needed.
brandypainter's review
5.0
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
The Penderwicks is not just one of my favorite ongoing series; it is one of my favorite series of all time. I'm always astounded by the depth of emotion and diverse, realistic relationship dynamics Birdsall is able to capture with these characters. The Penderwicks in Spring surpassed my expectations even though they were astronomically high already. It is now my favorite, having edged out The Penderwicks on Gardam Street.
Minor spoilers for first three book are in this review. If you haven't read this series, get started:
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy
The Penderwicks on Gardam Street
The Penderwicks at Point Mouette
Spring is coming to Gardam Street and Batty and Ben Penderwick couldn't be more excited. The season is bringing with it anticipation and new opportunities. Nick Geiger, the Penderwicks' neighbor, is returning home on leave from the Army after being at war. Both Skye and Batty have approaching birthdays bringing Jeffrey and Rosalind to Gardam Street twice within several weeks. And Batty has a newly discovered talent she can't wait to share with her family at her party. In order to prepare for extra music lessons, Batty has begun a dog walking business. Ben's just happy to have his hero back on the street, a male he can bond with when he's surrounded by sisters. But then everything starts to fall apart. The car dies. Jeffrey and Skye are locked in a battle over the status of their relationship. Rosalind brings home a boy from college who none of the younger Penderwicks (or their parents) like. When Batty begins to hope her birthday will be less stressful than Skye's, she overhears a revelation that leaves her devastated and alone. Ben knows something is wrong, but doesn't know what or how he can help. As Batty's eleventh birthday approaches, she falls more and more silent and her family becomes greatly concerned. Batty needs to find the courage to turn to them for help, but given what she now knows, how can she?
Batty is officially my favorite Penderwick. Before it was always Rosalind followed closely by Skye. Batty and Jane were both likeable, but not as interesting to me. One thing that has always impressed me about Birdsall's writing is how well she grows the kids from book to book, but the first three all took place within a year of each other. The Penderwicks in Spring jumps ahead five years form Point Mouette. Each of the original characters maintain the basics of the personalities we have come to love, but they are older now. Batty is still painfully shy. Introverted and far more reserved than her older sisters, she is always trying to escape from the groups of teenagers constantly in her house. She escapes into the world of her music and by helping with Ben and the newest Penderwick, Lydia. Her heart is huge. She is incredibly sensitive. She's a happy little girl though who loves life and everything in it. And then she doesn't anymore. I'm floored by how well Birdsall wrote this. This is one of the threads of the Penderwick story that needed to be dealt with. The relationship between Skye and Batty has always been fraught. Seeing it from Batty's point of view is heartbreaking, particularly after she overhears Skye reveal a devastating opinion that opens up a pit of grief and heartbreak in Batty she didn't ever realize she was caring around. I cried so much for this little girl while reading, but it was a cathartic and good sort of crying-just as Batty's crisis is a good cathartic devastation for the entire Penderwick family. This was tricky because Skye is a great favorite of many readers. Birdsall could have left her looking like quite the selfish and cold-hearted sister. But life and family is never as black and white as that, and the way Birdsall finessed and resolved the situation is nothing short of beautiful. I love when I can feel so in tune with characters in a book that their struggles and triumphs become real to me and feel so much for them. All the Penderwicks are important and present for this story, but Batty is the star and she truly shines.
Skye and Jane are now at the end of high school. Their sisterly bond is as strong as ever and they still foil each other in the same wonderful ways they did when they were younger. Jane has a constant group of friends over, many of them boys so she can observe and write about them in her stories. Skye is focusing on graduation and going to college. She has her friends from soccer. Jeffrey's relationship with the family is still strong, but he and Skye are having trouble and it spills into his relationships with everyone else. (This is particularly devastating for Batty.) Rosalind is in college, but still manages to be the responsible, loving, focused, older sister. Despite her infatuation with a pompous windbag of an upperclassman that distracts her for a bit, she is still willing to listen to and help her siblings.
There is a great deal of fun and humor injected into the book via the two youngest Penderwicks. Ben, now seven, finds himself often exasperated by all the girls in his life. His bond with Batty is strong though and they complement each other in a similar way to Skye and Jane. They are a strong team. Lydia is the newest addition to the family. Two years old and as adorable as can be, she adds a wonderful new voice to the family dynamic.
It is interesting to me that my two favorite books in the series are the ones that take place at the house on Gardam Street, and not during the summer vacations. I think a large part of this is due to the presence of the Geiger brothers. (Tommy, also away at college and no longer Rosy's boyfriend, isn't in it that much, but is mentioned often.) Nick is amazing though. His older brother concern and care for Batty and Ben is incredibly touching. He is one of my favorite parts of this book. And I really like how Birdsall shows the importance of community and neighbors through their relationship. Martin and Iantha are amazing parents, but even the most amazing of parents miss thing, particularly when they have six kids.
Basically this is as good as it gets when it comes to MG fiction. I flagged so many pages with excellent quotes. I love the characters, the relationships, the way Birdasall was able to balance humor and grief, and the way she made this so emotive without resorting to cliches or manipulating of emotions.
This is the penultimate book in the Penderwick series. There will be one more. The wait for it will be hard, but man Birdsall tells such wonderful stories. I love that her publisher gives her the time she needs to get them perfect.
I read an ARC received by the publisher, Random House Children's, at ALA Midwinter. The Penderwicks in Spring is available March 24.
The Penderwicks is not just one of my favorite ongoing series; it is one of my favorite series of all time. I'm always astounded by the depth of emotion and diverse, realistic relationship dynamics Birdsall is able to capture with these characters. The Penderwicks in Spring surpassed my expectations even though they were astronomically high already. It is now my favorite, having edged out The Penderwicks on Gardam Street.
Minor spoilers for first three book are in this review. If you haven't read this series, get started:
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy
The Penderwicks on Gardam Street
The Penderwicks at Point Mouette
Spring is coming to Gardam Street and Batty and Ben Penderwick couldn't be more excited. The season is bringing with it anticipation and new opportunities. Nick Geiger, the Penderwicks' neighbor, is returning home on leave from the Army after being at war. Both Skye and Batty have approaching birthdays bringing Jeffrey and Rosalind to Gardam Street twice within several weeks. And Batty has a newly discovered talent she can't wait to share with her family at her party. In order to prepare for extra music lessons, Batty has begun a dog walking business. Ben's just happy to have his hero back on the street, a male he can bond with when he's surrounded by sisters. But then everything starts to fall apart. The car dies. Jeffrey and Skye are locked in a battle over the status of their relationship. Rosalind brings home a boy from college who none of the younger Penderwicks (or their parents) like. When Batty begins to hope her birthday will be less stressful than Skye's, she overhears a revelation that leaves her devastated and alone. Ben knows something is wrong, but doesn't know what or how he can help. As Batty's eleventh birthday approaches, she falls more and more silent and her family becomes greatly concerned. Batty needs to find the courage to turn to them for help, but given what she now knows, how can she?
Batty is officially my favorite Penderwick. Before it was always Rosalind followed closely by Skye. Batty and Jane were both likeable, but not as interesting to me. One thing that has always impressed me about Birdsall's writing is how well she grows the kids from book to book, but the first three all took place within a year of each other. The Penderwicks in Spring jumps ahead five years form Point Mouette. Each of the original characters maintain the basics of the personalities we have come to love, but they are older now. Batty is still painfully shy. Introverted and far more reserved than her older sisters, she is always trying to escape from the groups of teenagers constantly in her house. She escapes into the world of her music and by helping with Ben and the newest Penderwick, Lydia. Her heart is huge. She is incredibly sensitive. She's a happy little girl though who loves life and everything in it. And then she doesn't anymore. I'm floored by how well Birdsall wrote this. This is one of the threads of the Penderwick story that needed to be dealt with. The relationship between Skye and Batty has always been fraught. Seeing it from Batty's point of view is heartbreaking, particularly after she overhears Skye reveal a devastating opinion that opens up a pit of grief and heartbreak in Batty she didn't ever realize she was caring around. I cried so much for this little girl while reading, but it was a cathartic and good sort of crying-just as Batty's crisis is a good cathartic devastation for the entire Penderwick family. This was tricky because Skye is a great favorite of many readers. Birdsall could have left her looking like quite the selfish and cold-hearted sister. But life and family is never as black and white as that, and the way Birdsall finessed and resolved the situation is nothing short of beautiful. I love when I can feel so in tune with characters in a book that their struggles and triumphs become real to me and feel so much for them. All the Penderwicks are important and present for this story, but Batty is the star and she truly shines.
Skye and Jane are now at the end of high school. Their sisterly bond is as strong as ever and they still foil each other in the same wonderful ways they did when they were younger. Jane has a constant group of friends over, many of them boys so she can observe and write about them in her stories. Skye is focusing on graduation and going to college. She has her friends from soccer. Jeffrey's relationship with the family is still strong, but he and Skye are having trouble and it spills into his relationships with everyone else. (This is particularly devastating for Batty.) Rosalind is in college, but still manages to be the responsible, loving, focused, older sister. Despite her infatuation with a pompous windbag of an upperclassman that distracts her for a bit, she is still willing to listen to and help her siblings.
There is a great deal of fun and humor injected into the book via the two youngest Penderwicks. Ben, now seven, finds himself often exasperated by all the girls in his life. His bond with Batty is strong though and they complement each other in a similar way to Skye and Jane. They are a strong team. Lydia is the newest addition to the family. Two years old and as adorable as can be, she adds a wonderful new voice to the family dynamic.
It is interesting to me that my two favorite books in the series are the ones that take place at the house on Gardam Street, and not during the summer vacations. I think a large part of this is due to the presence of the Geiger brothers. (Tommy, also away at college and no longer Rosy's boyfriend, isn't in it that much, but is mentioned often.) Nick is amazing though. His older brother concern and care for Batty and Ben is incredibly touching. He is one of my favorite parts of this book. And I really like how Birdsall shows the importance of community and neighbors through their relationship. Martin and Iantha are amazing parents, but even the most amazing of parents miss thing, particularly when they have six kids.
Basically this is as good as it gets when it comes to MG fiction. I flagged so many pages with excellent quotes. I love the characters, the relationships, the way Birdasall was able to balance humor and grief, and the way she made this so emotive without resorting to cliches or manipulating of emotions.
This is the penultimate book in the Penderwick series. There will be one more. The wait for it will be hard, but man Birdsall tells such wonderful stories. I love that her publisher gives her the time she needs to get them perfect.
I read an ARC received by the publisher, Random House Children's, at ALA Midwinter. The Penderwicks in Spring is available March 24.
rosannelortz's review
5.0
In The Penderwicks in Spring, five more years have elapsed. Rosalind is away in college, having abandoned Tommy Geiger, the neighbor boy, for a black-leather-clad poser named Oliver. Teenagers Skye and Jane attract a coterie of male admirers to the house every evening, but the one admirer Skye has no patience for is her best friend Jeffrey. Tommy’s older brother Nick is home from war, and he’s determined to keep all the Penderwick girls out of trouble. Meanwhile, Batty is the ten-year-old heroine of this story, trying to overcome her shyness enough to earn money to pay for music lessons. But how will she spend time with her music mentor, Jeffrey, if Skye keeps forbidding him to visit? This book was a real tear-jerker, exploring the psychological effects a family member’s death can have on a child. The Little Women-esque threads established in the first book blaze into full glory here, leaving one to wonder just which sister will end up with Jeffrey/Laurie in the final book of the series?