“The Penderwicks at Last” by Jeanne Birdsall follows the story of the youngest Penderwick daughter, Lydia. The Penderwick family includes Mr. Penderwick, Iantha, Rosalind (the oldest), Skye (second oldest), Jane (third oldest), Batty (fourth oldest), Ben (fifth oldest), and finally Lydia, the youngest. Sadly, Rosalind, Skye, and Jane’s original mother died due to cancer. Iantha was their neighbor, and Ben was her son. Lydia and her family are headed back to the place where readers first met them, Arundel. Only this time rather than vacation, there’s a wedding taking place!
Lydia is excited to go to Arundel, having heard all her sister’s stories about it. Rumor also has it that the groundskeeper, Cagney, has a daughter that Lydia hopes to become friends with. Lydia is also a dancer, performing and coming up with steps and moves everywhere she goes. Her sisters are much older and either in college or already grown-ups with their own apartments.
I’ve read all the books in the Penderwick series, and knowing the whole story, this one is one of the better ones. It follows the others well, even if it is years after the originals. I have to say, if you want to read this book, you should probably read all of the other ones because it won’t make sense otherwise. As far as any criticism goes,I only have one thing, which is, I think it would have been better if the author added a few more similes or metaphors. I loved this book, just like I loved the others in this series. If you are a Penderwick fan, this one’s for you.
