The books feature a family of six (one father, four daughters, and a bumbling dog named Hound) that is so tightly knit together the reader wants nothing more than to join in.
By EMILY POPE
Belchertown High
Whenever I’m having a bad day, or am so stressed out that I can feel the bags growing under my eyes, there is one book series that I always turn to for comfort. The Penderwick family (a family I very much wish I was a part of) lives in Cameron, Massachusetts — a fictional town loosely based off of Amherst — and have what may be considered the coziest adventures I have ever seen.
Emily Pope The books feature a family of six (one father, four daughters, and a bumbling dog named Hound) that is so tightly knit together the reader wants nothing more than to join in, and become an honorary Penderwick.
There is the oldest daughter Rosalind, who acts as a mother to her younger sisters, then the smartest daughter Skye, who adores math as well as soccer, although her passion and temper often get her into trouble; the next daughter is a dreamer named Jane, who is constantly working on her book series, featuring the heroine Sabrina Starr, and then the youngest is Batty, who never goes anywhere without her beloved butterfly wings, nor her best friend Hound.
The first book, entitled "The Penderwicks," shows the family on a vacation to the mysterious Arundel, hidden deep within the Berkshires, where they encounter a horrible woman, and befriend a wonderful boy named Jeffrey.
The second book, "The Penderwicks on Gardam Street," features the family in their hometown as their world is nearly destroyed when Martin Penderwick, the father, promises to begin dating women who could never — ever — replace the late Elizabeth Penderwick.
The third (and most recently published) book is "The Penderwicks at Point Mouette," in which the family is separated for two weeks during summer vacation, leaving Skye, Jane, and Batty at a small cottage in Maine (along with their beloved Aunt Claire) where they end up finding out something that will change one of their friend’s lives forever.
A series full of lovable characters, intriguing situations, and comfortable writing, the "Penderwick" series is one that I have loved for years.
Fit for all ages, author Jeanne Birdsall, who lives in Northampton, has created a story that everyone should read at one point in life, as it emphasizes unity of family and love between friends. A great series, it is one that I will forever adore, and will always turn to when I’m in need of comfort.
For more information about the author, visit http://www.jeannebirdsall.com/