The Penderwicks at Point Mouette

Okay, today, I only have time to really talk about one book. It’s been a crazy week getting summer reading signups ready for Saturday’s 9am start time! So I’m choosing to highlight one good one today…

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall

This book has “summer” all over it, the perfect pick for a 8-12 year old girl (or one in her 20s!) who wants a fun, non-angsty realistic fiction read. This is the third summertime adventure for the Penderwick sisters, but this time, oldest Penderwick, Rosalind, has gone on a “much needed vacation” (according to Dad), leaving the three youngest, adventurous Skye, romantic writer Jane and 5 year old Batty alone for two weeks. In fact, all the Penderwicks seem to be going different directions. Rosalind to New Jersey with her friend Anna, the three youngest Penderwicks to New England area with their Aunt Claire and Dad has gone to a conference/honeymoon with his new wife, Iantha and her 2 year old son Ben.

The Penderwicks don’t deal with separation well, especially Skye, who must assume the role of O.A.P. (Oldest Available Penderwick) to keep the youngest in line. Along for the trip with that crew is their friend Jeffrey. The main focus of the story is the largest contingent of sisters, and they get into plenty of trouble, have lots of fun, and a discovery three books in the making is revealed. A little bit of a stretch, but the Penderwicks books (Beginning with The Penderwicks and the sequel, The Penderwicks on Gardam Street) are such feel-good summer reads, you love these sisters and can relate to them so easily (even for the reader who doesn’t have a sister, like me) that you can’t help but get swept into the story. It was only after reading the first book that I found out that these were contemporary in setting; instead, they felt like an old-fashioned Shirley Temple movie. Not boring. But just feel-good. So if your daughter (or you) are looking for that, look no further than the Penderwick Sisters!