BIBLIOGRAPHY: Holm, Jennifer L. 2006. PENNY FROM HEAVEN. Random House: New York. ISBN: 0375836874. PLOT SUMMARY: This book takes the heroine, Penny, through the trials and tribulations that any young girl in 1953 faced: her mother's fear of getting polio via swimming in public pools and sitting in moview theater seats, the hazards of washing machine wringers, and even a blossoming romance. Penny also has to deal with situations that are not common, though, such as having a dead father that she knows little about and a lifetime's worth of secrets.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS: This enjoyable read is one that is hard to put down. From the first chapter, in which the character introduces herself and gives hints of the mystery of her father, you can hear the voice on a young woman with a love for baseball and a humorous personality. You begin to feel like one of the family (of which there are two) as Penny's adventures take her down some rough trails. From her mischevious cousin Frankie to her secretive mother and her car-dwelling uncle, these are all characters that we can relate to, and the reader begins to feel truly connected to these people. When the secrets are reveald at the end of the book, the audience will definitely get goose bumps. This one is worth reading!
EXCERPT REVIEW:
2007 Newbery Winner
New York Times Best Seller
ALA Notable Children's Book
New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing Books
"Penny's present-tense narration is both earthy and observant, and her commentary on her families' eccentricities sparkle." --Kirkus Reviews
"Penny and her world are clearly drawn and eminently believable, made up of seamlessly interwoven details of everyday life." -- School Library Journal
CONNECTIONS: As someone who was unaware of the injustices the Italian people faced during this era, I think this book would make a wonderful introduction into that subject. As a read aloud, I believe this would capture the attention of all who heard it. I also think that it would make a good addition to a unit on civil rights in order to show that inequality happens all over the world to everyone.
Other books by Jennifer L. Holm include: Our Only May Amelia, the Babymouse Series, Turtle in Paradise, and Boston Jane.
No comments:
Post a Comment