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4.42 AVERAGE
4.42 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This series is one of my favorites that I love to revisit. The first time I read it, I was turning 11 in April, just like Batty. It is amazing for ages 9-12 in my opinion.
Written proof that problems stem from two things: film students, and women.
Lovely. I wept buckets. Partly because I'm the kind of person who cries at movies and when reading books, but partly also because the sadness was derived from something (grief at the loss of a dog and lingering issues around a death in the family) that I know all too well. But I love this family and their niceness and the not-too-perfect relationships and a glimpse at simpler values. I love Batty, too. There is to be one more; I can't wait to read it, but will be sorry to lose acquaintance with this lo likeable family.
#4 takes place some years later and it was actually kind of heartwrenching in places as Batty has to work through some serious misconceptions about her life and ohhhhhhh so sweet. Also I'm loving the music parts of this book---either the author really is a music lover or did very good research. Bravo! Loved the music teacher inspiration here! Can't wait for #5 to get to me via the library e-book hold system!
I was so glad when everyone was truthful about how they felt about Rosalinds boyfriend. That doesn't always happen and it felt true to the penderwicks.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I don't know how I forgot to record when we finally finished this wonderful novel, but I know it was sometime in September, as my 7 year old son was including it on several reading logs for school. As always, we loved everything the Penderwicks had to offer us loyal readers. This book's tone was decidedly more melancholy, and as a parent, it was particularly hard to read aloud from sad Batty's perspective. It was so lovely to see the other girls all grown up, though, even though it was a bit jarring at first! We hope Birdsall isn't done with this awesome family just yet!
(2018 reading) Gawh. When I decided to reread the series before the final book, I assumed I'd approach it at a moderate pace, over several months, finishing this book just as AT LAST arrived on my doorstep. But once the first was under my belt, I was off an running with no brakes in sight. May is so far, far away!
I can't exactly pinpoint what it is about this series that puts it in my top five of all time. I just love these people. I just do. I will not allow a single spoiler to infiltrate my, as of now, blissful ignorance of anything to do with the next book. People with their show-offy ARCs are already posting about it here on GoodREads. I won't go as far as to read even the abstract. I'm going to wait and read about Batty and Jeffery's love affair, as told through Lydia's eyes, like any red-blooded American, in hardback.
To actually comment on the book at hand: PENDERWICKS IN SPRING is the most emotionally-charged of the existing quartet. Batty's brush with depression felt so genuine and heart-breaking. This is the crying book for sure. I remember when it first came out how distraught I felt that the older three had been relegated to supporting cast members. But as Lydia danced in, tugging Ben from the bushes, I felt safe in the knowledge that all the cast members would charm the pants off Gardam Street. (whatever that means) But Batty! This is her story. She is still the shy, sensitive girl we met at four as we watch her navigate her way to eleven, mostly tentatively but with bursts of decisiveness.
I love how everyone in this corner of reality has so much integrity without feeling too uptight and proper - Penderwick Family Honor, indeed. Another thing I'm struck by is how bully-free these stories are. Besides a few slightly comical, over-the-top buffoons (Dexter, Oliver), Birdsall manages to create tension without the need of overt heavies.
I can't exactly pinpoint what it is about this series that puts it in my top five of all time. I just love these people. I just do. I will not allow a single spoiler to infiltrate my, as of now, blissful ignorance of anything to do with the next book. People with their show-offy ARCs are already posting about it here on GoodREads. I won't go as far as to read even the abstract. I'm going to wait and read about Batty and Jeffery's love affair, as told through Lydia's eyes, like any red-blooded American, in hardback.
To actually comment on the book at hand: PENDERWICKS IN SPRING is the most emotionally-charged of the existing quartet. Batty's brush with depression felt so genuine and heart-breaking. This is the crying book for sure. I remember when it first came out how distraught I felt that the older three had been relegated to supporting cast members. But as Lydia danced in, tugging Ben from the bushes, I felt safe in the knowledge that all the cast members would charm the pants off Gardam Street. (whatever that means) But Batty! This is her story. She is still the shy, sensitive girl we met at four as we watch her navigate her way to eleven, mostly tentatively but with bursts of decisiveness.
I love how everyone in this corner of reality has so much integrity without feeling too uptight and proper - Penderwick Family Honor, indeed. Another thing I'm struck by is how bully-free these stories are. Besides a few slightly comical, over-the-top buffoons (Dexter, Oliver), Birdsall manages to create tension without the need of overt heavies.
I love this series. Reading about the Penderwick siblings is so tender and real, it makes me nostalgic for childhood. I tear up in each book.