itibaren 46023 Baccanello MN, İtalya
Penny From Heaven By Jennifer L. Holm Published by Random House 2006 Historical Fiction Jennifer Holm has taken her personal family history and crafted an excellent work of historical fiction in Penny From Heaven. Holm's book is funny, moving, and a joy to read. Incoming sixth graders, girls especially, will have a hard time putting it down. The writing is quick and smart and the characters are round and very dynamic. This, in addition to the vignette style chapters that comprise Penny's summer make for a page turner of substance. The book follows Penny and her family throughout the summer of 1953. She lives with her mother, grandmother and grandfather, since her father died when she was young. She still remains close to her fathers large Italian family and is always being encouraged to eat more by them. Penny is an 11 year old like many other; she likes baseball, ice cream, a special boy, her dog, family and getting into trouble. She dislikes: mean girls from school, not being allowed to go to the swimming pool, her grandmother's cooking and her mother's new boyfriend. Penny has a lot of fun working in her Uncle's store and playing with her cousin over the summer, but this all comes to an abrupt end after a serious injury. Throughout the novel, Penny learns more about her family, the past and eventually looks towards a new future. This book has laugh out loud moments balanced expertly with real emotion and sadness as well. Holm grabs her readers with detailed and thoughtful writing and runs them through the gamit of feelings one experiences as an 11 year old and a 22 year old as well (from my own experience). Every time Penny mentioned how awful her Me-me's cooking (and it was often) was I laughed. Writing in the first person, one really gets to know Penny and how smart, funny and thoughtful she is. A great scene is when Mr. Mulligan the milkman, her mother's new beau comes to dinner. Penny makes sure to make him squirm, giving him a large helping of Me-me's infamous peas and onions, "Mr. Mulligan, would you care for some peas and onions?" I ask in a sweet voice" (134). While there are funny moments, there are also extremely touching moments, especially while Penny is in the hospital. She learns the truth of her father's death and grapples with serious issues like death, prejudice, forgiveness and her mother falling in love again. Penny from Heaven is a book that has such a wide range of events and feelings, but never seems crowded or over done. I think this will allow for every reader to grab on to at least one theme, character or event that they can relate to. For me, I found myself relating a lot to Penny's loss of a pet and her first crush. Though set in a different time period, the themes and emotions certainly transcend time.
"When God was a Woman" is an EXTREMELY good book that shows some of the history and eventual suppression of the old Goddess religion. Pagans, as well as any "feminists" should really enjoy this book.
Wonderful collection of short stories (a favorite genre), especially "Eyes of Zapata": haunting and perfect.