Penny from Heaven
by: Jennifer L. Holm
Price: $6.99
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Product Description:
It’s1953 and 11-year-old Penny dreams of a summer of butter pecan ice cream, swimming, and baseball. But nothing’s that easy in Penny’s family. For starters, she can’t go swimming because her mother’s afraid she’ll catch polio at the pool. To make matters worse, her favorite uncle is living in a car. Her Nonny cries every time her father’s name is mentioned. And the two sides of her family aren’t speaking to each other!
Inspired by Newbery Honor winner Jennifer Holm’s own Italian American family, Penny from Heaven is a shining story about the everyday and the extraordinary, about a time in America’s history, not all that long ago, when being Italian meant that you were the enemy. But most of all, it’s a story about families—about the things that tear them apart and bring them together. And Holm tells it with all the richness and the layers, the love and the laughter of a Sunday dinner at Nonny’s. So pull up a chair and enjoy the feast! Buon appetito!
From the Hardcover edition.
It’s1953 and 11-year-old Penny dreams of a summer of butter pecan ice cream, swimming, and baseball. But nothing’s that easy in Penny’s family. For starters, she can’t go swimming because her mother’s afraid she’ll catch polio at the pool. To make matters worse, her favorite uncle is living in a car. Her Nonny cries every time her father’s name is mentioned. And the two sides of her family aren’t speaking to each other!
Inspired by Newbery Honor winner Jennifer Holm’s own Italian American family, Penny from Heaven is a shining story about the everyday and the extraordinary, about a time in America’s history, not all that long ago, when being Italian meant that you were the enemy. But most of all, it’s a story about families—about the things that tear them apart and bring them together. And Holm tells it with all the richness and the layers, the love and the laughter of a Sunday dinner at Nonny’s. So pull up a chair and enjoy the feast! Buon appetito!
From the Hardcover edition.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Worth more than a penny!
An exciting book that makes you stop and wonder about various situations Penny goes through. It's not really adventurous, however, which seemed to dissapoint me. In the long run, it's worth reading.
Rating: 
- Just OK
I guess I'm the odd-ball out on this one.I'm not sure why but this was just ok for me.I liked the characters and such but it just wasnt that interesting to me.It wasn't easy staying tuned into this book.I'd end up putting it down and/or reading something else.I ended up taking it back before I finished it.
Rating: 
- PENNY FROM HEAVEN!
Penny from heaven was exciting and thrilling!Every sentence and character sparkled with creativity and originality!With an amazing story and bright, interesting characters, this book will definitely have you hooked!
Rating: - A Gem of a Book
Being a Newbery Honor book, I had to give this book a read. I definitely wasn't disappointed! This was a beautifully written coming-of-age story that children and young adults will be able to enjoy for years to come. Jennifer Holm, author of the Newbery Award winning book, Our May Amelia, is back with another lovely book about children growing up faster than they should have too, but enjoying themselves on the journey.
Penny, a half-Italian girl living with her mother and grandparents ... Read More
Rating: - Strong Female Protagonist - strong writing
This delightful piece of historical fiction set in New Jersey in the 1950's explores the life of "Penny" who lives with a single mother and grandparents, but who has a whole other life on Sundays with her father's family, a large Italian American one with uncles who dote on her. The mystery that threads itself through this story is that no one will talk about her father, and how and why he died. Or, why the families do not intereact, except through her.
Strong writing, a strong female ... Read More
- Worth more than a penny!An exciting book that makes you stop and wonder about various situations Penny goes through. It's not really adventurous, however, which seemed to dissapoint me. In the long run, it's worth reading.
- Just OKI guess I'm the odd-ball out on this one.I'm not sure why but this was just ok for me.I liked the characters and such but it just wasnt that interesting to me.It wasn't easy staying tuned into this book.I'd end up putting it down and/or reading something else.I ended up taking it back before I finished it.
- PENNY FROM HEAVEN!Penny from heaven was exciting and thrilling!Every sentence and character sparkled with creativity and originality!With an amazing story and bright, interesting characters, this book will definitely have you hooked!
- A Gem of a BookBeing a Newbery Honor book, I had to give this book a read. I definitely wasn't disappointed! This was a beautifully written coming-of-age story that children and young adults will be able to enjoy for years to come. Jennifer Holm, author of the Newbery Award winning book, Our May Amelia, is back with another lovely book about children growing up faster than they should have too, but enjoying themselves on the journey.
Penny, a half-Italian girl living with her mother and grandparents ... Read More
- Strong Female Protagonist - strong writingThis delightful piece of historical fiction set in New Jersey in the 1950's explores the life of "Penny" who lives with a single mother and grandparents, but who has a whole other life on Sundays with her father's family, a large Italian American one with uncles who dote on her. The mystery that threads itself through this story is that no one will talk about her father, and how and why he died. Or, why the families do not intereact, except through her.
Strong writing, a strong female ... Read More
