Review: The Penderwicks on Gardam Street

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I like the retro feel of the Penderwicks books, the idyllic life they lead. Plus, there are endless book references, especially in this one.

***

I think the Penderwicks will be classics when the Offspring are grown. Both girls and I get so caught up in their adventures, which aren't all that adventurous, by comparison with most of the fantasy we've read. Somehow Birdsall manages to make the little things like baking a cake, practicing soccer, or picking out a Halloween costume, every bit as important to the reader as they are to children.

***

We carry on loving this. Birdsall does an excellent job balancing the thoughts and goals of her different characters from age four to forty-four or so (I'm guessing). The Possum is thrilled with the Latin, and the echoes of words, the PandaBat loves Batty and her way with animals. I love Mr. Pen, his sister, Aunt Claire, and the new neighbor.

Also, Asimov the cat is a really interesting minor character.

***

Continued loving. The PandaBat protested against my reading this aloud last night, because she really likes it and she wanted to read her new Fly Guy books to herself, which she wouldn't be able to do while I was reading the Penderwicks.

The mysteries are all deepening.

***
2008 October 25


Ahh. Contentment all around.

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