Pennington's Heir

Pennington #3

by K.M. Peyton

After nine months in prison, Patrick Pennington returns to pick up the pieces of his musical career and his relationship with his girlfriend Ruth. But he's faced with an unexpected emotional crisis: Ruth is pregnant, and he's about to become a father...

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens

196 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Kathleen Wendy Herald Peyton MBE, who wrote primarily as K. M. Peyton, was a British author of fiction for children and young adults

Reviews

[Brianna Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful book in the Patrick Pennington series. The first one, "Pennington's Last Term", a.k.a. "Pennington's Seventeenth Summer", was told from the point of view of Pat. (He was called Penn in that book.) The second book, "The Beethoven Medal", was told from the point of view of Ruth, the teenage girl who falls in love with him. This book was told from the point of view of them both, it switches back and forth. In the first book, Pat was a surly teen. He was also a loyal friend, and a boy who was doing his best to survive growing up in a brutal environment. In the second book,he had at last embraced his musical gift and was working hard with the Professor who had taken him under his wing, but he still had self-destructive tendencies getting in the way of his success. It was also in the second book that he met Ruth, a quiet, mild-mannered girl on the outside, but at her core, passionate and strong-willed. At the end of "The Beethoven Medal", Pat was headed to prison for assaulting a cop. At the beginning of this book, Pat was getting out, after nine months. His first night out, Pat and Ruth have sex. Both of them believe the myth that you can't get pregnant the first time. It's Ruth's first time, not Pat's. But Ruth does get pregnant. They get married, and struggle financially. Pat does his best to line up playing gigs, and to work other jobs in the meantime. There is a lot of anxiety about affording the basics. But they find an unusual room to rent, in a bohemian like atmosphere. The room has a piano, a good one, so they are thrilled to find it. Like the other two books, this book is a drama, but there is a lot of humor. Pat is obsessive about his music, practicing the piano for hours a day, along with working as a chauffeur. Ruth realizes as the book goes on that her life will not be an easy one. Pat is very moody, and she comes to realize that her role will be to support him through those moods, and to reassure him when he starts to doubt himself. Ruth is still only a teenager when she marries Pat and becomes a mother. She loves him totally, to the point she is willing to sacrifice so much of herself in order for him to realize his potential and become a great pianist. What Ruth really wants is for Pat to be happy. She isn't with him for the promise of money and fame to come. Being able to give amazing performances is Pat's goal, and if that's what will make Pat happy, Ruth will do all she can to be as supportive as possible. Pat can be self-centered, but he really does love Ruth. There is a crisis towards the end of the book that they have to deal with, but the novel ends on a satisfying note. This book is considered to be a YA novel, I think, because the characters are so young. But this series of books are among the best I've ever read. There is only one more to go, "Marion's Angels". I wish there were more!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brilliant writing and characterization, as one expects from Peyton, but the storyline was so fraught I found it painful to read.

[Priscilla King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick Pennington, the promising classical pianist, is out of prison and trying to provide for his wife, problem pony rescuer Ruth Hollis, and their baby. Never one to make life easy for a character, Peyton really stacks things against these two in this book, but leaves readers hopeful that their considerable strengths of character will outweigh their weaknesses.

This is the sort of novel likely to be thrust at young readers who seem to be too much in love with love, a wake-up call. As that I'm not sure that it will succeed. Because Peyton has presented these characters' flaws as uncompromisingly as their problems, lovesick readers can always tell themselves "But we're not as bad as these two are, in this way..." when, in other ways, they're probably worse.

[Yellowoasis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely conclusion to the trilogy. I wonder what happened next - did they live happily ever? I like to imagine Ruth leaving Pat when she was a little older and wiser, realising that he would always be a difficult person to love. She would find her own place in the world, be a great single mum, and then there would be a magical reconciliation after Pen had become a feted concert pianist. But they wouldn't go back to their old pattern, it would be a much more equal relationship.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 4 out of 5]

20-year-old classical pianist/thug Patrick Pennington and 17-year-old pony clubber Ruth Hollis are in love. She visits Pat regularly when he's imprisoned for assault, is is there to welcome him when he's released. Back in their seaside Essex village they have only an afternoon together before he has to leave to take up his piano scholarship in London. 6 weeks later, Ruth discovers she's pregnant. When they marry, Pat loses the scholarship. To support themselves, Pat takes on 3 jobs (busboy, hired car driver, & accompianist), while Ruth waitresses til the baby arrives. Pat rises before dawn for 5 hours of practice so he can compete for music prizes. They both mature, working out their problems, & build a strong life together.

[Patti Flanagin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed the Pennington series. Peyton was able to get so thoroughly inside Pat's head, especially in his classical piano journey. As a musician myself, her descriptions of the music, the process, and the performance anxieties are top notch.

The rest of the story is good, too. It was wonderful to "see" John Bates (Pat's best friend from school) again, and learn a bit more of his story.

[Joanne Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuing my immersion in children's & young adult fiction, I spent time with the adult Pennington in this book. Tragically, the qualities which made him such a brilliant bolshy teenager - recalcitrant, furious, monosyllabic - are much less adorable in a grown man with a wife and child ("brat"). Strictly for die-hard Pennington groupies, of which I confess I am one.

[Kayli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh, this didn't do it for me. Too much worry and angst and drama. I couldn't handle Penn, he just became annoying for his moodiness and stupidity.

[Hazel Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kept expecting there to be more to the story🤷🏼‍♀️

[Melody Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this years ago as a follow up to the first two, definitely the best of the series as both Patrick and Ruth grow up in this dealing with some very adult situations. Deftly written with a real depth to all the characters. Absolutely loved this book and have reread many times.