The Penderwicks

SLIS 5420-Module 7

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

Bibliography:

Birdsall, J. The Penderwicks. Alfred A. Knopf. (2005).

Summary:

The Penderwicks is a delightful story of a family of six- four young girls (Rosalind, 12, Skye, 11, Jane, 10, and Batty, 4), their father, and their loyal dog, Hound. When their usual beach house is unexpectedly unavailable for summer vacation, the Penderwick family is afraid that they are doomed to a boring, uneventful stay at their own home. At the last minute, Mr. Penderwick gets word of a cottage for rent and books the property, sight unseen. The Penderwicks find themselves on the grounds of a mansion, full of immaculate gardens and owned by Mrs. Tifton, an uppity woman who fears that the Penderwicks' presence may negatively influence her son. Wild encounters with a neighbor's bull, raucous soccer games, midnight treks through the garden, and sneaking in and out of windows behind Mrs. Tifton's back set the stage for excitement and trouble in the Penderwicks' short stay.

Jeffrey Tifton is a delightful boy and fast friend to the Penderwick girls. Though Jeffrey desperately wants to please his mother, he does not want for himself what she wants for him- a distinguished military career. With the help of the Penderwicks and courage learned through their friendship, Jeffrey is able to stand up to his mother and bridge the gap between them. Wild encounters with a neighbor's bull, raucous soccer games, midnight treks through the garden, and sneaking around Mrs. Tifton set the stage for excitement and trouble for the Penderwicks and Jeffrey during their three week stay.

The Penderwicks uses the thoughtful attitudes of Rosalind, the feisty temper of Skye, the dreaminess of Jane, and the innocence of Batty to teach lessons in courage, friendship, and, above all, love for family.

Thoughts:

My thoughts about this book are echoed in the Booklist review below. The Penderwicks is a well-written, fun read that is reminiscent of children's stories of old. Immediately drawn in by the descriptions of sisters, all different but all lovable, I found myself relating to their relationships as I do to my own sisters. Nothing is held back- good and bad attributes of the girls are exposed and magnified through the events of the story, but the reader is able to see that all interactions are covered with the love the girls have for their family.

The events of the summer unfold quickly in a way that keeps the reader needing to know what will happen next. Jeffery, the son of the estate owner, and Cagney, the gardener, are fast friends with the girls and often pave the way for new adventures and excitement on the usually dull grounds of Arundel manor. The boys and even Mr. Penderwick, the girls' widowed father, provide depth to the story as they highlight the different qualities in each sister and interact with them all on different levels. With Skye, the hot-tempered second-oldest, Jeffrey is persistently kind in attempts to befriend her. Jane, the dreamy, melodramatic sister, knows the bravehearted and gallant Jeffery, who eggs her on in her pursuit of fantasy. Rosalind, the oldest, finds her summer crush in Cagney, the 18-year-old gardener who treats her kindly and with special attention. Batty, the typical 4-year-old, finds in both Jeffery and Cagney a brother-like protection.

Though one can hardly imagine ever being in the same situations as the Penderwicks, you cannot help but love them and relate to them as though they were your own family or neighbors. The end of the book leaves me looking forward to the next Penderwick adventure.

Reviews:

"This enjoyable tale of four sisters, a new friend, and his snooty mother is rollicking fun. The girls' father is a gentle, widowed botany professor who gives his daughters free reign but is always there to support or comfort them.... The action involves Rosalind's unrequited love for the 18-year-old gardener, Skye's enmity and then friendship with Jeffrey, Jane's improvement in her melodramatic writing style, and Batty's encounter with an angry bull whom she rather hopefully calls "nice horsey." Problems are solved and lessons learned in this wonderful, humorous book that features characters whom readers will immediately love, as well as a superb writing style. Bring on more of the Penderwicks!" - School Library Journal

"Adults who have been longing to find books for children that remind them of their own childhood favorites need look no further. Birdsall follows in the footsteps of Elizabeth Enright, Edward Eager, and Noel Streatfeild, updating the family story yet keeping the old-fashioned charm. The motherless Penderwick sisters- Rosalind, 12; Skye, 11; Jane, 10; and Batty, 4- are spending the summer in a Berkshire cottage on the Arundel estate. Their botanist father and protective dog, Hound, are also in attendance, though Hound is far more involved with the girls than their absentminded professor dad. After a bad beginning, the girls become friends with Jeffrey, the son of the lady of the manor, Mrs. Tifton, whose main concern is the welfare of her garden. On one level, Birdsall might be criticized for one-dimensional characterizations (Mrs. Tifton, her boyfriend) and certain minor elements that don't ring true.... But what this comforting family story does offer are four marvelously appealing sisters, true childhood behavior... and a writing style that will draw readers close. So satisfying, the story begs for a sequel: it would be nice to see more of the Penderwicks." - Booklist

Ideas for Use:

Discuss with the students some of the adventures found in The Penderwicks. Do these sound similar or different from some of your own vacation experiences? Following in the footsteps of Jane, have children first construct their own mini-books out of construction paper. These books are to hold the story (or stories) of a summer adventure, either real, embellished, or made up entirely. Illustrate the story and share with the class.