Lynn's Review of The Penderwicks at Point Mouette

The Penderwicks, including the four famous sisters - Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty - are growing up and on vacation again in the third book of the series. This time the family is going their separate ways - Mr. Penderwick, Iantha, and little Ben are off to England for a honeymoon, Rosalind is off to New Jersey with Anna, and the rest go with Aunt Claire to the Birches in Maine. The story focuses on Skye, Jane, Batty, and Aunt Claire along with Jeffrey on a new vacation and adventure. New friends are made, firegods are called, kisses are traded, noses are bloodied, love is surveyed, moose is stalked, and surprises are in store for all of the clan. It proves to be a thrilling vacation for them all!

What's not to love? Time and again, Birdsall proves that the Penderwick stories just don't get old. The characterization is so deep that the reader sees the girls talents as well as flaws. I loved the fact that Jane has writer's block and then uses the idea of the Love Survey to do background research for Sabrina Starr to fall in love. She is so over-the-top, I just can't wait to see what she will come up with next! Tough tomboy Skye surprised me the most with her overwhelming fear of being the OAP - Oldest Available Penderwick - while they are on vacation. I wasn't prepared for her insecurities as the OAP, since she has always been so confident. Finally, Batty has to break the stereotype of Penderwicks being musically challenged, a tall order for the youngest and smallest of the Penderwicks.

I wasn't surprised by the fact that The Penderwicks at Point Mouette was a leisurely read for me. I love the fact that it's a feel-good read that captures the innocence and exaggerated viewpoints of children growing up. The characters are real and relevant for generations young and old, and promotes the strength of family without being preachy. I can't wait for the final two stories!

Lynn's Review of The Penderwicks on Gardam Street

Who wouldn't want to be a part of the Penderwick family?

This sequel to The Penderwicks picks up right where the first one ended. We become more familiar with the Penderwick clan, as the Prologue explains the untimely death of their mom due to cancer. The sisters become wrapped up in a host of hilarious adventures, with the most important being their their father returning to the dating world. Adamantly against it at first, they finally realize what their mother wanted for them as a family, and in convenient fashion, their new next door neighbor, Iantha, turns out to be the ideal addition to the Penderwick family, along with her baby Ben. Of course, it's the happiest of endings that concludes the second book, and just like a fairytale, they all live happily ever after.

I thought this book was sweeter than the first, and I just love the way Penderwicks exemplify a strong sense of family despite the less than ideal circumstances. Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty form a strong bond and conduct their MOPS - Meeting of Penderwick Sisters - in order to protect the family and their father from dating in the Save-Daddy Plan. They strategically work together to make sure that the New Save-Daddy Plan goes off without a hitch, so that he goes on the date of their choice. They back each other up, like in the final soccer game when Jane passes off to Skye for the game winning goal. Things don't always go perfectly, but it seems to all work out in the end...with more than a few laughs along the way. Here's to the Penderwick Family Honor!