It's nice to know that sitting among bookshelves full of vampires, werewolves, zombies and gangstas, a reader can still find stories full of old-fashioned innocence and charm. In fact, I purposely chose The Penderwicks because I needed a happy book to read after sinking myself into the bleak world of California gangbangers. Jeanne Birdsall's books about the quirky Penderwicks lightened my heart perfectly. As enchanting as classics like Little Women and Anne of Green Gables, these books simply should not be missed.

The Penderwicks introduces us to the family: There's Rosalind, the pretty, responsible 12-year-old; stubborn, tempestuous Skye; dreamy, romantic Jane; and their 4-year-old butterfly wing-wearing sister, Batty. Since the death of Elizabeth Penderwick, the sole captain of the "troops" is Martin Penderwick, a Latin-spouting botany professor. And, of course, there's Hound, their giant, misbehaving dog.

One summer, the lot of them pack themselves into the car headed for Cape Cod. Since their usual cottage has been sold, they're renting a vacation home they've never seen before. When they arrive at Arundel, they find an enormous mansion with extensive gardens (much to Martin's delight), a friendly teenage groundskeeper (much to Rosalind's delight), large fields perfect for soccer (much to Skye's delight), a sunny-perfect writer's room (much to Jane's delight), two rabbits (much to Batty's delight) and the young master of the house who, much to everyone's delight, turns out to be a grand friend. Jeffrey is nothing like his snooty mother or her nasty boyfriend, Dexter, both of him come to despise the rowdy girls who have invaded their guest cottage. The children, however, have a marvelous time exploring the giant house, playing soccer, shooting arrows at Dexter-shaped targets, and plotting how to get Jeffrey out of going to military school. Unfortunately, everything the Penderwicks do seem to have the exact opposite effect. They aren't about to let Jeffrey become a stiff-backed boy soldier, but how are they going to stop the dastardly plan? Two words: Penderwick Power.

When The Penderwicks on Gardam Street opens, the family is back in Cameron, Massachusetts with a brand new dilemma, one that will require even more plotting than rescuing Jeffrey from soldier school. When Aunt Claudia arrives on Gardam Street bearing a blue envelope - one which Rosalind remembers her mother giving to Claudia on her deathbed - it throws the household into a frenzy.
The letter inside, written by their mother before she died of cancer, encourages Mr. Penderwick to begin dating again. Horrified, the sisters hatch a plan to find the worst possible women for their father to court. That way, their father will not fall in love and they will never have a stepmother (shudder). Though limited to fairy tales and one summer with the dastardly Dexter, their experience with re-marriage has not been pleasant. They're not about to soil the Penderwick Family Honor by allowing it to happen to them.

In addition to putting the Save-Daddy Plan into action, the Penderwick sisters have several other mysteries to solve: What's eating Tommy Geiger? Who is the mysterious Bug Man? And how is Skye going to get herself out of a little disaster known as Sisters and Sacrifice?

Both books are written in such an appealing style that it's easy to overlook their faults. Jeanne Birdsall is just that kind of storyteller - she weaves the kind of magic that makes you care not at all about plotless storylines and predictable endings. Her characters are believable, fun and entirely lovable (except or Dexter, of course). The girls' misadventures will keep you reading, laughing and wishing you had more sisters in your life. Both books are treasures - for the young, the old and everyone in between. I can't recommend them highly enough.

Grade: A

If these were movies, they would be rated: G

To the FTC, with love: One of the books came from my private collection, the other is from my kids' school library.

(Book images are from Barnes & Noble)

Warning: This post will not contain spoilers for Al Capone Shines My Shoes, but it may inadvertently reveal plot elements from its predecessor, Al Capone Does My Shirts. As always, I recommend reading the first book in the series first.

Favors from Al Capone don't come cheap. That's what 12-year-old Moose Flanagan is discovering. After the notorious gangster helps him out with a little problem, Moose discovers a note in his laundry: Your turn. He should have known the favor would come with a price tag, but how much will Capone demand? What will he ask, and what will happen if Moose can't come up with an answer? His friends urge him to tell the warden, but Moose can't risk getting his dad fired, not during the Depression, not when his paycheck's keeping his sister in a good school for "special" people like her. Really, what choice does he have?

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko introduced readers to the kind-hearted Moose and his autistic older sister Natalie. Its sequel continues where the first book left off, taking us back to Alcatraz, circa 1935. The gang's still there - pesky Theresa; Jimmy, Moose's buddy who can't throw a baseball to save his life; Annie, who can; Piper, the warden's beautiful, conniving daughter; and Officer Darby, who thinks The Rock would be a lot better off without the Flanagans on it. With Natalie safely at the Esther P. Marinoff School in San Francisco, Moose can finally relax. Although he hates to admit it, it's nice having his parents to himself, and it's a relief not to have to drag Nat with him everywhere, constantly worrying about when she's going to throw her next fit. Now, he can spend his time thinking about the important things - baseball and Piper.

Then, comes the note from Capone. As worrisome as that is, the next note's even worse. Moose has to figure out how to meet the gangster's demands - failure to comply could mean bad, bad things for his family. The cons who fix his toilets, take out his trash and work in the warden's house seem overly chummy. Are they just being nice or are they Capone's spies? As if he doesn't have enough to worry about, Moose is also trying to keep his friends happy. "Blessed" with the niceness curse, he just can't help worrying about everybody - he doesn't understand Piper's surly moods (which are over-the-top, even for Piper); Jimmy's jealousy over a new friend; Annie's sudden attention; and Theresa's grudge against his intended. Moose's so stressed he's breaking out in hives. Then, he makes the most terrifying discovery of all, a secret that could mean Natalie's not safe at her new school. Things come to a head one terrifying night when Moose finds out - once again - that things are never quite what they seem on the mysterious island he calls home.

Although I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the first, I still love this series. It's fresh and exciting, but also sensitive and moving. One blogger (I can't remember who - sorry) said she found these books disappointing at first because she thought they were going to be funny. While there are definitely lighthearted moments in the story, the books deal with serious topics and are more drama than comedy. This approach works very effectively, making Moose's adventures both amusing and touching. At its heart, the series is about a big-hearted boy who's devoted to playing baseball, helping his friends and, protecting his family - even when it means calling in a favor from the likes of Al Capone. It's also about dealing with autism, long before anyone really understood what it was. Mostly, it's about a kid doing the best he can to deal with life in his crazy, wonderful hometown - a place that just happens to be "an island with a billion birds, a ton of bird crap, a few dozen rifles, machine guns, and automatics, and 278 of America's worst criminals" (1). Home, sweet Alcatraz. If that's not enough to pull you in, consider yourself a lost cause. Or just read these books already.

Grade: B+

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for some violence

To the FTC, with love: Ahhh ... the library ... I love it so.

Since last year saw me fail SPECTACULARLY at all the challenges for which I signed up, I have been trying to restrain myself from joining any in 2009. I've literally been sitting on my hands to stop myself from doing Carl's RIP Challenge. I've got waaaayyy too much to read and review right now. So, when I heard about Linda Ellen's Middle Grade Book Challenge, which doesn't end until next year at this time, I thought, "Now, that's one I can handle." Since I'm already reading so much MG literature, it should be "easy cheesy" as my kids say.

If you're interested in joining me, you can find all the info here.

Even though a list is not required, I love lists, so I'm making one. Just try and stop me :) Here goes:

1. This Book Is Not Good for You by Pseudonymous Bosch - my review

2. The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

3. The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper

4. Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Gennifer Choldenko - my review

5. Palace of Mirrors by Margaret Peterson Haddix - my review

6. Ever by Gail Carson Levine

7. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall - my review

8. The Penderwicks of Gardham Street by Jeanne Birdsall - my review

9. My One Hundred Adventures by Polly Horvath

10. Heaven Eyes by David Almond

11. Skellig by David Almond

12. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

13. Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

14. Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke

15. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

16. The Book of Story Beginnings by Kristen Kladstrup - my review

17. Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

18. The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis

19. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

20. Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy

21. The Treasures of Weatherby by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

22. Beauty by Robin McKinley

23. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

24. The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

25. Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach