Book Review: Penny from Heaven
Rated by 1 member
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that the central event of this story is
a rather gruesome injury in which a child gets her arm caught
in a wringer machine. She then meets other injured children in
the hospital. There is some mention of wife abuse, and one
parent is an alcoholic. The unabridged audio version is read by
Amber Sealey.
Families who read this book could discuss the Italian-American internment. Why was it done? Why was it hidden for so long, unlike the Japanese internment? Why do they hide it from Penny? The book offers resources to find out more about it.
Common Sense Media Review
Beginning with a hideously dull cover meant to evoke
children's book covers from the '50s (when all books had, well,
hideously dull covers), this is a typical Newbery book -- one
that only librarians and their circle of favorite girl readers
will love.
The first half is a slooooow but evocative and nostalgic slice of life in a '50s Italian family in suburban New Jersey -- fear of polio, saying "swell," rooting for the Brooklyn Dodgers, eating abundantly, etc. Getting through this part takes patience and real reading experience.
Things pick up in the second half, when a terrible accident occurs and leads to secrets revealed and families reconciled. It's all beautifully written and fascinating (though more to adults than to most kids), and it reveals a true but little-known historical event.
Even though this won the Newbery Honor, put PENNY FROM HEAVEN in the hands of a few right kids, and don't try to force it on the rest.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
