The Penderwicks on Gardam Street-Jeanne Birdsall

Today's extra special guest blogger is a another returning hero, Ephos Sapphire. They have decided to focus on the sequel to Jeanne Birdsall's delightful tale of summer vacation and adventure, The Penderwicks. Read on to decide if the followup is worth your time...

-Sir Readsalot

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street is a thrilling must-have for everyone. However, you should read the first book: The Penderwicks before you start its follow-up. The plotline is about a hysterically funny family named the Penderwicks who have just gotten back from a family vacation to Arundel in the Berkshires. The four girls are Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty. Rosalind, or Rosy, is a sweet 13 year old who took over for her mother. Skye is a soccer-loving tomboy who hates babies and cats. Jane is a creative writer who is fixated on her book series: Sabrina Starr. Fourth and finally comes Batty (Elizabeth) who is funny and cute. Four and 1/3 years before the book begins, right after the fourth sister, Batty, is born, their mother gets very ill. The doctors are sure she won’t live long. The day before she dies, she writes a letter to her husband. It’s about dating. She feels that he may get lonely. When giving the letter to her sister, Mother tells her to deliver it to him when she feels the time is right. When Batty is almost five, the sister, or Aunt Claire, gives the letter to the father, Martin. While eavesdropping on their father, the four girls hear about the dating. In order to discourage a potential step-mother, they plan terrible dates for their father. These only make him come home mad and muttering Latin swears. Their father seems to have a growing interest with the astrophysicist next door, Iantha. Will Skye outgrow her feelings and learn to like Iantha’s son and cat, Ben and Asimov? Will the sisters end up with a step-mother or will Martin stay single forever? Read this new, hilarious, and compelling book and you will be amazed at how wonderfully Jeanne Birsall spins her words.

Jeanne Birdsall's Website

The Wanderer- Sharon Creech

Today's blog comes courtesy of Ephos Sapphire, to date the only person to leave the meaning of the name of this blog in comments. Batten down the hatches because the weather's about to get nasty...

-Sir Readsalot

The Wanderer, by Sharon Creech, is an intriguing book. It is a book about a girl named Sophie. She sails across the ocean with her cousins on their ship-The Wanderer-to her grandfather who she calls Bompie. She is an adventurous and tough girl who does everything to help her ship. They go through many storms, especially a very bad one where The Wanderer is thrashed around and everyone is severely hurt. She realizes she is an orphan after telling Bompie and her cousins about her life. You never know what really happens to her parents, but there is a brief hint about it.
This story is all about the hazards of riding a ship. It is a perfect story for children. This book is so interesting you can’t put it down! It’s adventure, and could absolutely happen!