Publishers Weekly
01/30/2023
Thoughtful Leeva Thornblossom, who’s “somewhere between eight and nine,” lives a life of servitude to her dreadful parents. Leeva desires to attend school, but her fame-absorbed mother, the town’s mayor, and her money-obsessed father, its treasurer, forbid her from going, an act that proves the last straw. Though Leeva, raised on soap operas and periodical Nutsmore Weekly, is seldom allowed to leave her home, she sets out each day, seeking to answer the question “What are people for?” She first visits the Nutsmore library next door, where a kindly librarian and her nephew introduce the girl to the astonishing worlds of literature, friendship, and freshly baked cookies. When an opportunity to meet more new people arises, Leeva jumps at it, soon encountering hazmat-suit-wearing, risk-averse Osmund and good-natured, familially obligated Fern. Learning that her greedy parents are responsible for many of Nutsmore’s financial struggles, Leeva resolves to keep her identity a secret while attempting to set things right. Strongly recalling elements of Roald Dahl’s Matilda, this archly narrated satire from Pennypacker (Here in the Real World) slyly integrates potent themes such as fairness, responsibility, and trust. Characters default to white. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. Illustrator’s agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary. (Mar.)
From the Publisher
"Pennypacker delivers a hugely entertaining mix of outsized comedic villainy, dreadful parents, delicious cookies, and kindness rewarded. Leeva’s sturdy instincts for both survival and justice are worth celebrating, as is the gift of books that expand her world. Splendid fun." — Kirkus Reviews
"Pennypacker tells the story with warmth and whimsy, recalling the tone and charm of Matilda. Though stuck in comically gloomy situations, Leeva is a delight, her eccentric companions are lovable, and the writing sparkles. A terrifically funny, tender tribute to the power of perseverance, community, and kindness." — Booklist
"Strongly recalling elements of Roald Dahl’s Matilda, this archly narrated satire from Pennypacker slyly integrates potent themes such as fairness, responsibility, and trust." — Publishers Weekly
"Versatile Pennypacker has written a book that is by turns outrageous and wise, funny and touching, fantastical and true; Cordell’s sketches contribute to the levity." — Horn Book
June 2023 - AudioFile
Stephanie Willing's performance is full of vim and vigor that amps up the absurdist humor in this charming fairy tale. Leeva's parents are villains. They never tell Leeva her birthday or let her leave their property. She learns about the world through soap operas and the local newspaper's word-of-the-day. One day, Leeva squeezes through the hedge and discovers the library next door with its friendly librarian, her nephew, and a limit of 10 books a day. Willing's pacing and tone are perfect. She keeps the story light as she shows listeners Leeva's big heart, can-do attitude, and need to right the wrongs her parents have done to the whole town--along with the magic of friends, books, cookies, and toast. A.B. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2022-12-24
A neglected child asks a poignant and essential question: “What are people for?”
Leeva Thornblossom only knows that she’s around 8 or 9, but when she learns that a school will open in her town, she longs to go. But her mother, the mayor, and her father, the town treasurer, only love power, fame, and money. Their Employee Manual (Leeva is the sole employee) forbids Leeva to leave the grounds. What Leeva knows of the world comes from reading the Nutsmore Weekly and watching the soap opera The Winds of Our Tides. The accumulation of injustices propels Leeva beyond the hedge surrounding their property, and she discovers a building next door filled with books. A young man named Harry runs the library for his librarian aunt, whose skateboarding injuries hinder her from doing the work she loves. Leeva learns that most of the problems in her town can be attributed to her parents. Harry helps her befriend Osmund, so afraid of disasters that he wears a hazmat suit, and Fern, who must care for several siblings and her aging grandparents. Leeva also takes charge of Bob, a cranky badger whose family was displaced to make room for the mayor’s statue. Pennypacker delivers a hugely entertaining mix of outsized comedic villainy, dreadful parents, delicious cookies, and kindness rewarded. Leeva’s sturdy instincts for both survival and justice are worth celebrating, as is the gift of books that expand her world. Main characters read White. Final art not seen.
Splendid fun. (Fiction. 8-12)
