The Penderwicks : A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy (The Penderwicks, #1)

Amidst the pages of this ‘tailor-made-for-supine-summers’ read is the delectable mention of a memorable treat. Sizeable chunks of homemade gingerbread are served up with whipped cream and strawberries. This concoction is enjoyed in the cozy nook of a sprawling, impersonal mansion atop a table covered with a checkered tablecloth.
The soul of the book is a reflection of this idyllic setting. Simple, wholesome and interspersed with a dash of tartness. 

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It is the laidback retelling of one particular summer in the lives of four little girls. The girls in question: Rosalind (the eldest, pretty motherly one), Skye (the headstrong, scruffy maths genius), Jane (the dreamy, prone to flights-of-fancy budding writer) and Batty (the painfully shy, youngest sister who runs around with a pair of whimsical wings fastened to her back) have strong shadings of the March sisters.
Their summer vacation in Arundel with the lonely little rich boy, Jeffrey makes for an old-fashioned read. The narrative isn’t high on drama, mystery or unexpected plot twists. But it is rife with playful moments, sibling rivalry/loyalty and the occasional itchy moment that leaves you with the sweat trickling down your back.
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Jeanne Birdsall creates a world that would appeal to young girls still finding their feet and emotions.
While life is an endless trip of discovering hidden passages, creating imaginary worlds and snarfing down unexpected treats.....the author makes it a point to NOT gloss over the uncomfortable moments.

A blend of Utopia and Reality, that’s what The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy is all about.