The Penderwicks on Gardam Street

It took me awhile to get to The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall, but I am glad I did. I kept seeing it but passing it up, I think because I was afraid it would not impress me as much as The Penderwicks.
I must say that it impressed me MORE! I really liked the flow of this book better than the first. Although it still had that feel like a book along the lines of Little Women or Laura Ingalls Wilder, but I felt like the characters were a little more modern. I like how there aren't many references to the time period in which the story takes place. It makes me feel like the book can withstand the test of time.
In this second book, Mr. Penderwick is urged to look for a date. The whole story does not however, hinge on Mr. Penderwicks dating life. Each daughter kind of has her own story going on this time. I like to see how each daughter is growing. The book doesn't assume nothing has changed since last we read. New characters are brought into the mix and old characters are revisited. I am very anxious to see how these new characters and old characters may or may not come together in following books.
One piece I was a little disappointed with was the ending. It left nothing to my imagination. I felt as though, although I would never want this to happen, the series could have ended right with this book.
This book again satisfied my need to read a good book that takes me back to listening to my grandma read Little Women to us. I think I would be taking a risk assuming EVERYONE in my class would enjoy this book as a read aloud, but I know I could recommend it without worrying one bit that they wouldn't enjoy the story.
Other Reviews:
Jen Robinson's Book Page
Bookshelves of Doom
Miss Erin
Booktopia
Link to Jeanne Birdsall's Website:
Jeanne Birdsall Website

I Am Not Joey Pigza by Jack Gantos

I have long been a fan of Jack Gantos and his Joey Pigza series, and there is now a brand new book, I Am Not Joey Pigza. I cannot believe it has been 3 years since Gantos has written a book about Joey. This year some of my students listened to Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key and Joey Pigza Loses Control. They thought both were great. They related to the main character Joey on so many levels. I thought it was neat that after listening to the first book the students were so excited they demanded I get the second book on tape as well. The third book is titled What Would Joey Do?
In this the fourth installment of the life of Joey Pigza, Joey's good-for-nothing dad has again arrived at the door. This time he swears he has changed and has even taken a new identity. (Clue number one that he has not) He wants Joey and his mother to change their identity as well. (By the way, Carter Pigza, Joey's dad has won some money in the state lottery)
As you know, I never like to give hints to the plot of the story, so you will have to read to find out if Joey and his mother follow along with the scheme.
One thing that was missing from this story was the wacky grandmother, Grandma Pigza, who is in the other stories. She has passed away from her horrible smoking habit. I missed her in this book. She really brought out some goofy behavior in Joey.
Another slightly disappointing part of this book is the fact that Joey is suppose to be in the sixth grade, but his character tends to still come across as a third or fourth grader. I know he is suppose to be very immature, but for Joey to hold the interest of repeat readers of the series, it seems as though he would need to have some of the issues of a twelve-year-old.
The plot lends itself to a sequel so I will be keeping my eyes peeled.