The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall. Yearling, 2012 (originally 2011). 320 pages.

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-12

Recommended for: Ages 8-12

Bottom Line: While Rosalind and the Penderwick parents are off on their own adventures, the remaining Penderwicks head to the Maine coast for a very eventful summer vacation.

At the start of this third volume, Mr. and Mrs. Penderwick are headed to England for their honeymoon with young Ben along for the ride, and Rosalind heads to the beach with one of her own friends. The remaining three sisters head to the Maine coast with Aunt Claire firmly in charge, Skye as the acting OAP (Oldest Available Penderwick) in Rosalind’s absence, and Jeffrey and Hound in tow, little expecting that this summer their family loyalty will be tested in new ways.

Skye struggles with her new leadership role—particularly the daunting responsibility of keeping Batty from blowing up, but Jeffrey, Jane, and Aunt Claire provide solid support. Friendly as ever, the Penderwicks soon meet their closest neighbors (Alec and his dog Hoover). Hound and Hoover are fast friends instantly, while Alec is a knight in shining armor when Aunt Claire badly sprains her ankle. With Aunt Claire hobbling around on crutches, it’s up to Skye, Jane, and Jeffrey to keep everything running smoothly. Alec’s assistance comes in handy, and everyone keeps thinking he reminds them of someone. Moose sightings, a skateboarding heartthrob, more golf balls than anyone can count, and Batty’s newly discovered musical talent keep the plot moving along until the Big Reveal near the end of the novel.

The Penderwick books enthusiastically celebrate family; the core Penderwicks are a tight bunch, and they eagerly adopt honorary Penderwicks (such as Jeffrey), loving them just as much as they do each other. Birdsall deftly brings this third novel to a tender conclusion that showcases the strength of the Penderwick family ties as well as their ardent desire for everyone to experience the same familial bliss. Would that we all felt as strongly about strong families! We were designed to be in families, our heavenly family as well as the earthy families in which the Lord has placed us. Our earthly families are not perfect, and the Penderwick books provide both good and bad examples of family relationships. In the end, the Penderwicks remind us that family members who love and support each other in their unique personalities and interests are healthier than those families with selfish, grasping members. Note: There is reference to voodoo and the Firegod, but these are very much in the guise of melodramatic pre-teen interactions, and the reader isn’t inclined to take them seriously. [See our reviews of the other Penderwick books: The Penderwicks, The Penderwicks on Gardam Street, and The Penderwicks in Spring]

Cautions: Spiritualism (mild—references to voodoo and the “Firegod”)

Overall Rating: 4.25 (out of 5)

• Worldview Rating: 4
• Artistic Rating: 4.5

Categories: Middle Grades, Realistic Fiction, Life Issues, 4 stars and up
Cover image from Amazon