The Penderwicks at Pointe Mouette

Gr 4—6—The Penderwicks are all going on separate two-week vacations. Daddy will be on his honeymoon with Iantha and Ben, the sisters' new stepmother and stepbrother. Rosalind, the eldest, is going to New Jersey with her friend Anna, while the other sisters (Skye, Jane, and Batty) are going to Maine with Aunt Claire and their friend, Jeffrey. Skye is left with the dreaded duties of being the OAP (Oldest Available Penderwick). To make matters worse, their vacation gets off to a rocky start. Skye loses Rosalind's instruction sheet for taking care of Batty. Jane gets distracted by Dominic, and almost breaks her nose. Aunt Claire gets tripped by Hoover, the neighbor's dog, and has to be on crutches. Can the Penderwicks survive their vacation and prove to Rosalind that they can take care of themselves? Narrator Susan Denaker does a great job of bringing Jeanne Birdsall's third book (2011) in the series to life. She employs a distinct voice for each character, perfectly capturing their ages, personalities, and changes in mood. Those who are familiar with the first two titles—The Penderwicks (2005; National Book Award winner) and The Penderwicks on Gardam Street (2008, all Knopf)—will enjoy this offering.—Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City, UT