The Penderwicks in Spring

As a widower with children who are approximately Penderwick age, this series has been very helpful to our family. It's a series about four sisters (and their father) as they continue with life after the death of their mother several years prior. Due to very different personalities, the sisters must constantly work at how to best love and support each other as they grow up and their lives change.The first three books each surprised me when the early adventurous chapters gave way to surprisingly weighty crises for one or more of the children. Birdsall reminds me of JK Rowling in the way she is able to provide a child's point of view of very real problems. She neither shields nor indulges children--no Peter Pans here.However, I found The Penderwicks in Spring to be significantly more intense than the first three. While previously there was always a sense of resolution and moving forward for each character, this outing delves into enduring trauma that one of the sisters has been dealing with the entire time. That in itself would be emotionally taxing enough, but the book isn't about her. We learn about this trauma after it inflicts immense suffering on another sister, sending her into a deep depression. The resolution doesn't so much tell you they have healed, but that they are headed in that direction.This relational brokenness would have felt out of place next to the previous books, except that it is so true to the characters involved. It illuminates the family dynamic that has always been present. It's just very difficult to process here because the character with the trauma is mostly offstage and if you as the reader want to know more about whether and how much she recognizes this brokenness and its effects on those she loves... you'll probably be disappointed.So take that into account if you are going to be purchasing this for younger readers. You may find that if your situation is like ours, this is a bit too intense for the time being, or that you will want to proceed slowly, and with lots and lots of discussion.

I think The Penderwicks on Gardam Street always will be my favorite, but The Penderwicks in Spring may be a close second. This book jumps seven years ahead in time: Rosalind is in college, Jane and Skye in high school, and Batty is almost 11. This story is truly hers and Ben's (oh, I do love Ben!) who is now seven. Batty finds herself in need of money for a very special purpose and somewhat reluctantly begins a dog-walking business. Their sports-loving neighbor, Nick Geiger, is due back from the war, and Ben, an accomplished rock digger, can barely contain himself. There's a new baby sister, Lydia, who simultaneously brings out love and exasperation from everyone as only a 2-year-old can do. While longtime readers may be disappointed at first that the three older sisters are supporting characters in this, don't worry--they still have their shining moments (especially Skye), and the story does not suffer for it.Jeanne Birdsall previously has reached down and touched deep emotions--particularly in the third book, The Penderwicks at Point Mouette--but not like she does in this one. Batty unintentionally overhears a conversation, which shakes her very foundations. This series has always had the ability to bring me to tears, and Batty's inner turmoil is no exception. However, never fear, the trademark Penderwick humour and levity are still here, as well as an ending that will leave you wiping away tears of happiness.The fourth Penderwick novel has certainly been worth the wait. Spring has indeed come to the Penderwicks, and no family deserves it more!

Read this book with a box of Kleenex! In a departure from the generally happy- go-lucky feel of the first three Penderwick novels the family we have grown to love shows themselves to be much like everyone else;feeling growing pains and long stowed feelings that touch us all at some time or another. Brilliantly written and devastatingly honest, this entry into the Penderwick saga is as lovely and satisfying as the rest!!!

My children love the Penderwicks, and we are very much enjoying this latest installment! I got it for my son's eighth birthday, and he loves that Batty, Ben, and Lydia are getting a lot of page time - though up 'til now Skye has been his favorite character. We're about halfway through (reading it aloud), so I can't speak for the end, but so far this book has all the charm and humor that we've come to expect from these books. I know some people have been sad about the time gap between the last story and this one, but so far I think its a good choice, allowing for the exploration of a new stage of the Penderwick's lives. And Batty is a good POV character at this age.If you're new to the Penderwicks, this series is just fantastic. My older two kids are only 6 and 8 (and my 8 year old is dyslexic), but these books have completely captivated them. And I love that these books include loving parents (rather than stupid or out-of-touch ones), intelligent and kind children, and healthy relationships. I've seen these described as new classics, and I feel that is not over the top. The Penderwicks easily belong on the shelf with Laura Ingalls, The Five Little Peppers, Little Women, or Ballet Shoes.

This could be the most disapointing book of all time. It migth as well be called a random family in spring. Charecters all just get erased. We dont see anyof the old Penderwicks, and so far evry charecter has been terrible. Batty, is better as a younger charecter. Ben likes rocks, but they constantly show that he likes rocks, I mean we know already. Jane no longer has her imagination, Rosalind, wait Rosalind was in this? That isint all. I havent even mentioned Syke, who is just mean, and Jeffrey who is actually ok. Congraualations. Then theres Lydia who is very unnecesery. It lacks the chrm that the previous three books had. Also had much less adventure. Could not finish it.

Great read

More tales of day to day life of the Penderwick siblings and their close friendships. Delightful, though at times heart wrenching.

Daughter very quickly read and enjoyed - can't wait for the next Penderwick's book

I love these books and I rated them all stars because they so fun to read recommend the for everyone

Absolutely wonderful, just as good as the three previous books in the series. When is the next book due?