A review by maxsebastian
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

In the words of Jane Penderwick, “This is what made a book great...that you could read it over and over and never get tired of it.” The Penderwicks, and its sequels, are exactly that for me. The Penderwicks is one of those children stories that is timeless. Revisiting it this time, I picked up on a lot about the dynamics of the older characters that was surprising. The "villain" in this story are not as two dimensional as I thought she would be.
Ms. Tifton is a flawed human, but she is also suffering from the loss of her father. Rosalind has been forced to grow up way to quickly, which connects to her fixation with Cagney.
For those who have never read The Penderwicks, this is one of the most heartwarming, complex, children stories out there. For those who have, read it again. And again. And again.
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