Tuesday, 12 November 2013

Penelope Crumb Never Forgets by Shawn K Stout (Children's, 9 years +, 10E/10E)


 September 2013, Quercus, 192 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Themes: school life, going on a school trip, how to behave in a museum, the importance of telling the truth, the difference between borrowing and stealing, hanging on to death, momentos, drifting away from a friend, other friendships strengthened, being in big trouble, random realistic illustrations of human organs
 
Content: lots of humour, a tissue is needed

Summary from Quercus

Patsy Cline is becoming best friends with another girl!
 

It looks like Penelope is going to lose Patsy to Vera Bogg… forever.

So Penelope starts a secret museum full of things that remind her of the people she loves, in case she loses them too. Lizzie Maple, who loves adventures, is on board to help.

But other people seem to think ‘taking their things for a museum’ is the same as ‘stealing’… and Penelope is suddenly in a whole lot of trouble!

Can Penelope win back Patsy Cline? And can she figure out a way to create her memory museum without stealing things?

 
Nayuleska's thoughts 
I confess that I'd temporarily forgotten what happened in Penelope's first story (see suggested read) but a quick reread of my own review had me remembering exactly who she was. I love her because her voice makes me laugh - there's not one dull moment in her life. I felt so sorry for her as she grew apart from her best friend - it was heart wrenching to watch at times. 

I wanted to point out that Lizzie is a decent friend too - I find her as hilarious as Penelope, especially with what her overprotective mother gives her - the device comes in handy during an adventure with Penelope. I was happy to see that Penelope was able to start moving on from her father's death - although that part of the story made me cry too. I'm eagerly awaiting her next adventure because I know it'll make me smile a lot.

Find out more on Shawn's website (I confess I'm quite taken with the US covers!). 

Suggested read
Be sure to check out Penelope's first adventure: Penelope Crumb Follows Her Nose (Children's, 9 years +, 9/10E)

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