Status
Available
Local notes
PB Bir
Collection
Series
Genres
Publication
Yearling (2010), 336 pages
Description
The four Penderwick sisters are faced with the unimaginable prospect of their widowed father dating, and they hatch a plot to stop him.
Subjects
Awards
Texas Bluebonnet Award (Nominee — 2010)
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (Nominee)
Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature (Honor Book — 2009)
West Virginia Children's Choice Book Award (Nominee — 2009-2010)
Massachusetts Book Award (Must-Read (Longlist) — 2009)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2008-04
Physical description
336 p.; 5.13 inches
User reviews
LibraryThing member shelf-employed
In Jeanne Birdsall’s debut novel, The Penderwicks were spending their summer vacation in the Berkshires. Now they’re back at home in Massachusetts in their home on Gardam Street. This follow up to the National Book Award winner, The Penderwicks, continues the adventures of the Penderwick
Rosalind calls an emergency MOPS, or Meeting of the Penderwick Sisters. Mr. Penderwick is about to enter the dating pool, on the five year anniversary of his wife’s death from cancer. The girls decide to implement the Save-Daddy Plan and the adventures begin.
Although the plot contains common and modern family issues – a dating dad, cheating in school, lying, a first crush, The Penderwicks on Gardam Street reads like the fiction of bygone days. (think Little Women or Anne of Green Gables). When Skye is responsible for a melee on the soccer field, the official ends the game,
“The Penderwick’s ride home was an unhappy one. ‘The referee told me this league has never had a brawl of that magnitude,’ said Mr. Penderwick after a long, painful silence. “of course, at the time I was pretending to be a casual passerby and not a father at all…..The point is that perhaps the family honor need not be defended so vigorously.’ ‘I think Sky was wonderful,’ said Batty. ‘No, I wasn’t, you nincompoop,’ said Skye. ‘I’m the captain and I wrecked the game. But for the rest of the season I’ll be well behaved if it kills me.’ ‘Try not to take it that far.’ Mr. Penderwick sighed. ‘How I came to be surrounded by such warlike women is beyond me.’”
The story’s conclusion may be a bit too pat, and the surprise ending may stretch credibility (just a bit!), but the Penderwicks are too charming to resist.
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family- the Latin-spouting botanist, Mr. Penderwick, Rosalind, the responsible oldest sister, Skye, the pretty, practical and athletic one of the bunch, Jane, the dramatic and artistic author of many Sabrina Starr adventures, and Batty, the sweet and sensitive youngest of the clan.Rosalind calls an emergency MOPS, or Meeting of the Penderwick Sisters. Mr. Penderwick is about to enter the dating pool, on the five year anniversary of his wife’s death from cancer. The girls decide to implement the Save-Daddy Plan and the adventures begin.
Although the plot contains common and modern family issues – a dating dad, cheating in school, lying, a first crush, The Penderwicks on Gardam Street reads like the fiction of bygone days. (think Little Women or Anne of Green Gables). When Skye is responsible for a melee on the soccer field, the official ends the game,
“The Penderwick’s ride home was an unhappy one. ‘The referee told me this league has never had a brawl of that magnitude,’ said Mr. Penderwick after a long, painful silence. “of course, at the time I was pretending to be a casual passerby and not a father at all…..The point is that perhaps the family honor need not be defended so vigorously.’ ‘I think Sky was wonderful,’ said Batty. ‘No, I wasn’t, you nincompoop,’ said Skye. ‘I’m the captain and I wrecked the game. But for the rest of the season I’ll be well behaved if it kills me.’ ‘Try not to take it that far.’ Mr. Penderwick sighed. ‘How I came to be surrounded by such warlike women is beyond me.’”
The story’s conclusion may be a bit too pat, and the surprise ending may stretch credibility (just a bit!), but the Penderwicks are too charming to resist.
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LibraryThing member ConanTheLibr
What a lovely book! Liked it a little better than the first Penderwick book, I think. Birdsall's stories have a wonderful, comforting timelessness about them. While they're clearly set in the present day, they've got an old-fashioned tenor, without being smarmy or cloying. The four sisters have
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distinct personalities, each independent and feisty in her own way, and there's a great sense of family loyalty, especially since their mother died when they were quite young. Dad is a loving, understanding, slightly absent-minded-professor (botany - go Mr. P!). In this episode his sister decides it's time for him to start dating, much to the girls' dismay. Of course, the girls have their plots, schemes and secrets -- but so does Dad! (Who is this mysterious Marianne Dashwood he's been seeing??) Let's hope Birdsall keeps them coming! Show Less
LibraryThing member pintrader
Birdsall hit a grandslam with the Penderwicks on Gardam Street. The first book was a book that didn't have much of a plot and a book I couldn't wait to stop reading. In the second Penderwick book it revolves a bit around Mr. Penderwick going on dates a little romane from Rosalind a Sabriana Star
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and of course Hound. The book showed all of us more of the characters personality and made you believe the Penderwick family was your next door neighbors. For anyone who enjoys a humorous well written book then the Penderwicks on Gardam Street is for you. Show Less
LibraryThing member Nikkles
A good sequel. The books have an old fashioned feel with out being boring. Jeanne Birdsall writes stories with a lot of heart.
LibraryThing member MaowangVater
The four Penderwick sisters have a problem. They feel their formerly beloved Aunt Claire is pushing a program of remarriage for their widowed father. This can only mean one thing for them: a stepmother. And everyone knows that stepmothers come in only two varieties; they’re either wicked or evil.
Birdsall writes in the tradition of Beverly Cleary and Eleanor Estes. The pleasure of this realistic family story comes from the characters of the siblings, their friends and neighbors and the trials of growing up and finding your place in the world and with the other people in it, even when one of them is an annoying neighborhood boy.
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It’s time for a secret Save-Daddy Plan. Fix him up with some really horrible dates and then he won’t be interested in marriage. But it’s hard to concentrate on the plan when you also have to deal with new next-door neighbors, boys running football drills through your yard, homework—I mean, who would want to write a play about the Aztecs—Sixth Grade Performance Night and soccer games. Birdsall writes in the tradition of Beverly Cleary and Eleanor Estes. The pleasure of this realistic family story comes from the characters of the siblings, their friends and neighbors and the trials of growing up and finding your place in the world and with the other people in it, even when one of them is an annoying neighborhood boy.
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LibraryThing member katcat
Not quite as good as the first in the Penderwicks series, and a bit more predictable, but still excellent. Jeanne Birdsall writes the kind of books you want your children to read, and that you want to read with them.
LibraryThing member Karenbooks
This is another fabulous book by Jeanne Birdsall. Her books are both heart warming and insightful, full of people that you want to meet and a sense of goodness. The stories are funny and droll, without being precious. I wish there were more writers like Ms. Birdsall.
LibraryThing member lindamamak
Great sequel to the Penderwicks, another adventure of the Penderwick sisters as their Dad enters back into the dating field and how it affects their lives.
LibraryThing member emitnick
An old-fashioned read along the lines of the Betsy-Tacy and All-of-a-Kind Family books - or like 5 Children and It (without the It - this is strictly realistic fiction). 4 motherless sisters try to prevent their lonely dad from dating. Not that he wants to date, but it's one of the last wishes of
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his departed wife. You can guess the happy ending. Funny and sweet, but only fans of this kind of fiction will find it gripping. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookappeal
A good, old-fashioned story about four sisters, each with different personalities and abilities, who share an unbreakable family bond with their widowed father throughout life's joys and tragedies.
LibraryThing member librarianjojo
Like the first one, a delightful read. This made me think of the kind of stories I read as a girl.
LibraryThing member AMaykut
I thought this book was great. It is the second book in the series. If you like regular family chaos then you probably want to read this!
I would write more, but I'm kind of tired. Sorry.
I would write more, but I'm kind of tired. Sorry.
LibraryThing member bellalibrarian
The Penderwick family is back again, in Birdsall's second book containing the many mishaps and adventures of the Penderwick sisters. Mr. Penderwick's sister forces him to begin dating, against his will. The Penderwick girls establish a plan to stop the dating once and for all; they don't want
I am thoroughly enjoying the Penderwick books. After finishing this one, I immediately looked at Birdsall's website which states that she is working on the third Penderwick title with plans of a total of five books. Thank goodness; I can't get enough of this family!
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a....stepmother! The girls may be successful in their attempt to stop the dating, but what if they met someone that they actually wanted their father to date?I am thoroughly enjoying the Penderwick books. After finishing this one, I immediately looked at Birdsall's website which states that she is working on the third Penderwick title with plans of a total of five books. Thank goodness; I can't get enough of this family!
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LibraryThing member Bduke
I really enjoyed this book as well as the first one - maybe even better. Just a sweet story.
LibraryThing member periwinklejane
Folks say these books are aimed more at nostalgic adults than at kids, but I'm okay with that. There's enough good books for the kids, and this one makes me feel like I'm ten years old again, lying on my bed with all the windows open, "wasting" a perfectly good summer day on a book.
... On Gardam
There's a very predictable series of deceits and confessions, but all if it is so charmingly done I forgave the lack of surprises in the plot.
Oh, but there was a scene I thought was completely orginal and one of the loveliest things I've read in a while: a description of a climactic soccer match, dreamily described by a girl on the sidelines who's contentedly nodding off. The description is as pretty and lazy as a fat bumblebee looping from flower to flower.
... On Gardam
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Street is the second adventure of the Penderwick sisters. This time, they are trying to rescue their widowed dad from a series of blind dates set up by his sister. There's a very predictable series of deceits and confessions, but all if it is so charmingly done I forgave the lack of surprises in the plot.
Oh, but there was a scene I thought was completely orginal and one of the loveliest things I've read in a while: a description of a climactic soccer match, dreamily described by a girl on the sidelines who's contentedly nodding off. The description is as pretty and lazy as a fat bumblebee looping from flower to flower.
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LibraryThing member YouthGPL
Susan says: This is the second book in a series of books about the Penderwick girls. It is written in such a sweet, straightforward style, but there is still enough between the lines for adults to read and appreciate. The Penderwicks’ mother has been dead for 4 years, and she left a letter with
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their aunt to encourage their father to date again. This leads to a series of mistakes, misunderstandings and misfortune that finally lead to him marrying the professor who lives next door. There are also other mysteries incorporated into the book, including Rosalind, the oldest, falling in love with the boy down the street, the two middle girls swapping homework assignments, and a creepy man who is skulking around. This is another great book by Birdsall with enough old-fashioned to make any mother happy, but enough action to keep middle grade readers interested. Show Less
LibraryThing member holmquist
Hey! I am Azhu.I have read The Penderwicks on Gardam St.There are 4 girls Rosalinda , Skey , Jane , Batty.Rosalinda is the eldest an Batty the youngest.In the beginning The girls mom dies of cancer right when Batty was born.I liked when the 4 sisters try to find horrible dates to go on dates whith
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thier father so he will never date again.I thought this book was funny and happy.When the mother died,I felt really sad.Clarie thinks that Martin should start dating ( Clarie =aunt Martin = father ). Will he get married?Will he like any of his dates?Find out if you read thi book.If you like happy and funny books then you will love and enjoy this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member bell7
The Penderwicks sisters' mother died when Batty was a baby, but before she died she asked her husband's sister to give him a letter. When Aunt Claire comes over, bringing the letter that asks Mr. Penderwick to start dating again, the sisters cook up the "Save Daddy Plan" to keep their father from
This story is as funny as the first book about sisters Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty. Though the plot is more predictable the older the reader, I had fun anticipating what was going to happen. I really enjoyed listening to Susan Denaker's narration of the audiobook because she interprets each character well and adds to the humor with her delivery.
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getting remarried. This story is as funny as the first book about sisters Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty. Though the plot is more predictable the older the reader, I had fun anticipating what was going to happen. I really enjoyed listening to Susan Denaker's narration of the audiobook because she interprets each character well and adds to the humor with her delivery.
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LibraryThing member RefPenny
The Penderwick's aunt Claire arrives with a letter written by their mother before she died. The message is that their father, Martin, should start dating again. Martin thinks it is a bad idea but agrees to go on 3 dates. The girls think it is a terrible idea and hatch a plot to prevent their father
This is another warm and amusing book about the delightful Penderwick family.
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remarrying. This is another warm and amusing book about the delightful Penderwick family.
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LibraryThing member mks27
Hats off to Jeanne Birdsall for creating the Penderwicks, an imperfect, yet genuinely good family made up of four sisters, a hound, and one loving father.
As in the first Penderwick book, the characters are spot on, especially the Penderwick sisters. The setting is the Penderwick home where we meet
The themes of this book are family love and support for each other through whatever difficulties need facing and that each member of the family is loved and accepted for who they are, add to this lovely schemes gone wrong, great humor, innocence, and a few tears at the end (at least for me), and you have a highly recommended read for both children and adults.
As in the first Penderwick book, the characters are spot on, especially the Penderwick sisters. The setting is the Penderwick home where we meet
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their neighbors, school friends, teachers, soccer opponents, and Aunt. As before, each sister faces a predicament, and although they want to be good, in the end there is explaining to do and apologies to be made. Birdsall includes the girl’s old friend, Jeffrey, a reminder of their Summer adventure. In my mind, the only improvement would be a prominent evil character, such as Mrs. Tipton, who made the girl's goodness shine in contrast.The themes of this book are family love and support for each other through whatever difficulties need facing and that each member of the family is loved and accepted for who they are, add to this lovely schemes gone wrong, great humor, innocence, and a few tears at the end (at least for me), and you have a highly recommended read for both children and adults.
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LibraryThing member ChristianR
Another enchanting book about the Penderwick sisters. This time they are coping with the idea of their father dating for the first time since their mother died. Each sister is her own person, and they all are lots of fun to be around.
LibraryThing member lycomayflower
I can't be entirely sure if the Penderwicks series are only the kind of books I think, now, in my thirties, would have been the sort of thing I would have loved to bits and read over and over if it had been around when I was ten or if it really would have been the sort of thing I read over and over
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when I was ten. I'm leaning toward the later, but I'm not sure it matters. I love this series to bits now, and it's like a lovely breath of childhood to read them as an adult. The children characters are lovely and real, the world they inhabit is safe but never sterile, and the adventures they have are fun, touching, and important without ever being preachy. A beautiful second installment in this modern old-fashioned series. Show Less
LibraryThing member RidgewayGirl
This is the second of Jeanne Birdsall's books about the Penderwick sisters; Rosalind, Skye, Jane and Batty. They live on Gardam Street with their father and Hound, Batty's dog. In this installment, their Aunt Claire tries to get their father to begin dating and the girls come up with a Save-Daddy
Birdsall handles this book with the same sensitivity and light touch that made The Penderwicks such a joy to read. With the four girls ranging in age from pre-school to adolescence, there is someone for every reader to relate to. I read this with my two children, and they both loved it, as did I. It reads like an old-fashioned kind of book, where the siblings are united and courageous, while being very much set in the world of today.
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plan, spearheaded by Rosalind, who is feeling threatened by the idea of a new woman in their lives. Also, they have new neighbors, Skye and Jane do something dishonest and suffer the consequences and Batty insists that there is a strange man spying on them.Birdsall handles this book with the same sensitivity and light touch that made The Penderwicks such a joy to read. With the four girls ranging in age from pre-school to adolescence, there is someone for every reader to relate to. I read this with my two children, and they both loved it, as did I. It reads like an old-fashioned kind of book, where the siblings are united and courageous, while being very much set in the world of today.
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LibraryThing member norabelle414
The Penderwick sisters - Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty - are back home in Massachusetts and back in school, but still having adventures. Their father is starting to date again and the girls are going to do .... something .... about it. They just don't know what. They also variously fight with
I ... did not like this much. A little bit was my own expectations - I kind of expected the next book to take place the next summer, not immediately after the first. But other than that, a few small problems I had with the first book only got bigger.It was one thing in the first book for 12yo Rosalind to be swooning over a college student and then embarrassing herself, but now she's swooning over an at-least-16 year old and at one point Tommy tells Rosalind that Nick said she was really pretty which I just don't believe. Normal 16 year old boys do not notice how pretty their 12yo neighbor has recently gotten. That's gross. I guess there was dating stuff going on at my school when I was 12 but most people weren't and definitely not the ones as un-materialistic as the Penderwicks. . I did like the schemes around Mr. Penderwick dating, especially referencing Marianne Dashwood , but I did not like how fast he and Iantha got together, and how we don't get to see any of it. We just skip ahead seven months to their wedding? Shouldn't they wait a little longer than 7 months to get married? At that point they've only known each other 9 months. And why does a GROWN MAN have two preteen boys he is not related to as his groomsmen????? Because they're dating his preteen daughters? Does he not know any adults? I did like Skye's storyline, having had a similar encounter with plagiarism run amok myself in middle school. I liked that she got caught, and also that the girls confessed to the "Save Daddy Plan", but then they turn around and concoct another plan, right after promising their father that they wouldn't anymore? They could have just said "hey dad, we think you like Iantha, why don't you ask her if she would like a ride to the University? I'm not sure why they weren't driving to the University together in the first place, to be honest. Also, the ending is super scary???? There's been nothing sinister going on through the whole book and suddenly 12yo Rosalind has to apprehend a grown man who is crazy and breaking into her neighbor's house???? It seemed very disproportionate to the rest of the book
I'll probably continue with this series, but not as eagerly as after I read the first book.
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and/or swoon over the neighbor boys, 16-year-old Nick and 12-year-old Tommy. Also, a new neighbor moves in next door, a single woman with an adorable baby.I ... did not like this much. A little bit was my own expectations - I kind of expected the next book to take place the next summer, not immediately after the first. But other than that, a few small problems I had with the first book only got bigger.
I'll probably continue with this series, but not as eagerly as after I read the first book.
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LibraryThing member Thesaminal
Though I enjoyed the original Penderwicks book more I thought this was an excellent sophomore effort from Birdsall.
The family continues to be charming and sweet but believably drawn and not cloying. The girls, though showing more interest in the opposite sex, resist turning into slobbering, boy
I think my favorite thing in this book was that Batty became more of a charter and I find her to be as charming, clever and emotionally intuitive as any of the other family members.
I look forward to watching the Penderwicks continue to grow up into charming young women.
The family continues to be charming and sweet but believably drawn and not cloying. The girls, though showing more interest in the opposite sex, resist turning into slobbering, boy
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crazy flirts (as I'm afraid often happens in young adult novels). But the young Penderwicks are not by any means aloof, or stuffy. The adventures in this book were a little less compelling (to me personally) than in the last, but I did enjoy seeing the Penderwick home life.I think my favorite thing in this book was that Batty became more of a charter and I find her to be as charming, clever and emotionally intuitive as any of the other family members.
I look forward to watching the Penderwicks continue to grow up into charming young women.
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Pages
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