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Small Change: The Secret Life of Penny Burford

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"It's not what you have but what you do with it that counts." This is the story of how that philosophy worked out in the life of Penny Buford, an ordinary housewife who leaves an extraordinary legacy.

Yandell's Small Change is about a devoted housewife, Penny Burford, who scoops up her husband Roy's loose change and eventually puts together a substantial bank account. She uses the money for secret charities, of which the phlegmatic Roy learns only upon Penny's death. Why Penny did what she did the way she did it then becomes the story, and the reader must return to Roy and Penny's childhoods to understand it fully. Yandell is sentimental but not syrupy: Roy and Penny's marriage is realistically drawn, and the points she makes about the nature of charity are well taken.

John Mort
Copyright American Library Association

150 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2001

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About the author

J. Belinda Yandell

8 books14 followers
I was born in the little town of Thomasville, GA, where the pool hall is still the best place to get a chili dog. I was raised in Savannah, GA - one of the most beautiful cities in the country and I consider Savannah my hometown. (Contrary to all the books written about Savannah, the air is redolent of neither moonlight nor magnolias, but more often dead fish and the paper mill upriver; still, I love it.)

I received my BA in Art and English from Agnes Scott College for Women, just outside of Atlanta. It was there I began to be serious about the art of writing.

I actually began my first attempt at fiction in the fifth grade (or was it the fourth?) after my mother bribed me a nickel a chapter to read her favorite book, "Gone with the Wind." I was so unhappy with the way the book ended that I tried to write my own sequel. I don't know if I stopped because I had some vague notion of copyright laws or because my mother discovered the pages while cleaning my room.

I wasted a lot of time believing that I couldn't write, afraid to try because I thought you had to be someone really special, a magician actually, to create such a wondrous thing as a book. It wasn't until college that a friend talked me into taking a creative writing class. I never worked so hard in a class, or enjoyed a class more. I came out of the closet, so to speak, and knew I wanted nothing more in life than to write stories for other people to read.

My first published novel was "Small Change: The Secret Life of Penny Burford." "Misery's Child: Book I of the Cadian Chronicles" is the second, published as an ebook. Both are available from Amazon.com

My newest novel,"Something Blue," is about four generations of Southern women trying to survive a wedding. Think Bridget Jones meets Steel Magnolias! Amazon reviewers are loving it!

I also have a fantasy series, "The Cadian Chronicles," of which "Misery's Child" is the first title.

I currently live in Nashville, TN with my overweight and slightly psychotic tabby, Doolittle. I make a living as a graphic artist, painter and crafter.

If you have read my books, please accept my most profound gratitude!

Check out my website, www.jbelindayandell.com

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5 stars
384 (32%)
4 stars
473 (39%)
3 stars
274 (23%)
2 stars
40 (3%)
1 star
12 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 353 reviews
Profile Image for Jen.
259 reviews13 followers
February 23, 2008
This is an afternoon read and a very sweet book. You put it down feeling like you can make a difference and that the small acts of kindness that make up our lives really do have an impact on others. And it contains one of my favorite themes...that although we cannot always control the circumstances we find ourselves in, we can always control our reaction to them.
Profile Image for Cydnie.
345 reviews12 followers
December 9, 2009
This was a quick read- read it in an evening. I thought that it had a good message, that we can choose how we act and react to events in our lives. Penny Burford could have chosen to be miserable in her marriage to a overbearing husband. Instead she chooses to first, understand why her husband was the way he was and second, to make a satisfying life for herself. I thought it sad that he only comes to truly know her, and understand the wonderful things that she has accomplished, after she dies.
I loved the wonderfully descriptive writing style of Ms. Yandell. Phrases like, "She looked like a washrag that had been used hard, then wrung out by vicious, twisting fists and left to dry in an unsmoothed lump" and "She sipped her Sprite, liking the way it seemed to sparkle on her tongue with the sugary bliss of penny candy" [a reference to an earlier story about her childhood:]
Last, I loved Penny's motto, "It's what you do with it that counts". At first it seems to only refer to what she ends up doing with her "small change"; but I think it also refers to what she did with everything in her life: her religious beliefs, her marriage, her understanding of her husband, and the friendships that she developed. A good motto for all of us to adopt.
Profile Image for Jeanette.
285 reviews
January 10, 2017
"It's what you do with it that counts."

The story of Penny Burford is a testament to the fact that "through small and simple things are great things brought to pass".

Penny collects the change her husband, Roy, leaves around the house. The amount of good that she is able to do with those handfuls of coins is inspiring. Interesting view of Charity.

Though it was a sweet story, quick and easy to read, I found it to be terribly sad. Roy is a hard and proud man, who didn't know his wife. After 40 years of marriage. I felt so sad for what "might've been" for Roy, if only he had learned to really love and appreciate Penny. There's a lesson to be learned from Roy as well.

I would recommend to anyone wanting a quick, feel-good kind of story.
Profile Image for Anna.
1,536 reviews31 followers
December 28, 2020
This is my favorite contemporary Christmas story. It is not perfect, Penny's relationships with her husband and her children are seriously flawed. But I love the way she made the world brighter for those around her in her own quiet, almost unseen, way, and I love the husband's redemption story.

Popsugar Reading Challenge 2020: Your favorite prompt from a past Popsugar Reading Challenge: 2017: a book you've read before that never fails to make you smile
Profile Image for Kerri.
1,209 reviews16 followers
July 9, 2018
This book was very different than what I was expecting, but what a delightfully cute book! It is so simple and sweet, and Penny is such a wonderfully strong character even while she is unassuming and content to just play her quiet part. I am just sad about how much of her life she was unable to share with those she loved most. I am really glad I decided to pick this one up.
Profile Image for Kim Lockhart.
1,235 reviews197 followers
June 27, 2019
This is such a sweet uplifting story, which made me surprisingly nostalgic. I felt like I knew every character.

If you're Southern and grew up in the 60s, this story will especially resonate with you.

The author managed to navigate that narrow corridor between sentimentality and moral invective, with a deft lightness.

Feel-good stories are way outside of my wheelhouse, but this took me by surprise. A truly enjoyable quick read.
Profile Image for Shauna Ludlow Smith.
819 reviews
November 28, 2018
This book was short and sweet. I loved it! The main character was a quiet, “boring” woman who actually lived a fuller life than her children or husband ever imagined. Good for her!
Profile Image for Megan.
418 reviews391 followers
June 30, 2010
Generally, I do not seek out inspirational stories. The writing, characterization, and plot all fall short in favor of a higher message ~ which I couldn't care less about. I read for escape, entertainment... getting a good message is secondary to a getting a good story. And, really, a talented author should be able to do both anyway, right? Regardless, I am not a feel-good sort of girl looking for inspiration in life, and I normally find these sorts of things not only badly executed, but so filled with sappy love, tearful emotions and good messages that I want to go out and do something really really bad to even out my scales again ;)

That being said, I can't for the life of me remember what provoked me to add this to my TBR list? Small Change is an incredibly quick read which, as promised, tells of the secret life of Penny Burford. I'm not going to go into the message that can be taken from this book ~ really, a few messages can be inferred. And I'm not sure that someone as cynical as myself can give this book the review it probably should have. What I can say is that my one star is more a reflection of my personal taste in reading material ~ this soooo isn't it. Small Change is a lesson told in story form. As such, the writing isn't fantastic, but it never is in books such as this.
Profile Image for Nancy.
1,499 reviews34 followers
April 3, 2021
April 2, 2021
I first read this 17 years ago! I have downgraded my rating after this second read.

It is so difficult to read about marriages like this and know that they did - and do - exist. It isn't completely just a 'product of its time,' but more a combination of some cultural norms and the deep wounds suffered by Roy in childhood.

I loved what this reviewer, Jo, said about the book, so I am copying her words:
"I loved the simple lesson that little things count... and that great things can come from little things every day..."

Penny found a way to live fully within the constraints of her life. She had learned deep and lasting truths from experiences in her childhood that she was able to then use to the benefit of many other people. It is a good story.


November 20, 2004
I really liked this book - the story of a somewhat ignored housewife who finds a way to make a difference in her life and in the lives of others. It is short and quick and worth the read.
Profile Image for Kiera Beddes.
1,106 reviews21 followers
January 11, 2013
Genre: life lessons, the secret life of married couples, little things matter
Summary: Penny Burford is a preacher's daughter who married a proud man from a very poor background. One day, she decides to do something with the coins she finds around the house.
Response: This is the choice for book club this month. I was willing to read it for that sake alone, but I got caught up in the story. It's a sweet story and the characters become very real. At first, I was worried that it was going to be about domestic abuse, because in a way, the Burfords' relationship wasn't a very healthy one, very restrictive. But what I loved about it was all of the good that Penny was able to do, despite her husband's pride. "It's what you do with it that counts." All in all, it's an adorable little book, worth a read.
Profile Image for Mahdis.
171 reviews
June 30, 2012
I read this book in one evening. A simple thought provoking book that will change the way you look at spare change and the way you choose to use not only your money, but time. It allowed me to yet again think about how I could improve my attitude in all situations. "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to deal with it" I admire Penny for here resilience, charity, patience, and long suffering. If I may one day be surrounded by the amount of people she influenced in small simple ways, then I feel I would have lived a life worth living. "It's what you do with it that counts" is going on my quote wall.
8 reviews
December 14, 2023
I like to read this one from year to year during Christmas time. It always gives me a hopeful, heartwarming feeling and allows me to feel a little of that Christmas magic thats so hard to feel as a grown up(at least for me).
Profile Image for Liz.
30 reviews1 follower
March 13, 2008
This book is a story that shows you can make a difference in your life (and after) even if at first glance it seems unlikely or difficult to do. I was sad for her lack of real communication in her marriage, but also recognize that it may be a way of life for many and that she found a way to communicate with her husband when he may be more likely to be effected. So even though my book club friend found it less than "a good read", I enjoyed it. ha ha just kiddin'
176 reviews
November 4, 2014
This is one of my favorite books. It is very light, but there are things in it that have changed the way I do thing in my life.

It is the story about a woman who starts to collect a nickel here, a dime there from the piles of change her husband leaves around the house. Little by little she saves the money and makes big changes from her small change - but the changes are not just monitary.
88 reviews
August 4, 2008
This is a story about a woman from my mother's generation who were only allowed to like what their husband's liked and had only the money that their husband's allowed them to have. What she did with an irritation in her life was inspirational and heartbreaking at the same time.
Profile Image for Jo.
641 reviews
July 11, 2015
Sometimes you have to wonder how women stay married to some men... But I enjoyed the story how one of those women chose to stay married, but also chose to be true to herself. I loved the simple lesson that little things count... and that great things can come from little things every day...
Profile Image for Nola Arganbright.
1,592 reviews32 followers
August 31, 2016
A Penny Saved

This is such a beautiful story. It reminds me so much of my childhood and my parents. It brings tears to my eyes. This is a wonderful book to share with friends and family. It is what you do with the small things that matters.
32 reviews
August 30, 2010
I loved this book recommended by a friend. It was a real feel-good book and a fast and easy read. It makes you want to do something to make the world a better place, even if it's just a small thing.
Profile Image for Linda Hart.
807 reviews218 followers
December 27, 2014
Fast read, feel-good book with the message little things can make a wonderful difference and difference life is about as good as what you do with.
Profile Image for Rachel.
1,344 reviews21 followers
May 9, 2017
Penny was the daughter of the Baptist minister. She especially loved helping at Christmas: organizing the food boxes, repairing and wrapping clothes and gifts for the children in need. Then, she goes with her father to the home of drunken Mr Burford. His son Roy is in her school. There, in the face of Roy's anger and resentment, the rosy glow of charity - of helping those with less- loses something of its ability to warm the heart.

Fast forward in time, and she has married (for reasons unexplained) Roy Burford. He's determined to not be the man his father was: he won't be drunk, he won't be unemployed, he won't be unfaithful. But neither does he have it in him to be positively kind. He can't shake off the resentment of his history of poverty, and he's very controlling of the money he brings in, even to criticizing how much she spends on bacon.

His funny relationship with money doesn't end there. He dumps his change all around the house: counters, floors, dressers. He can't be bothered to gather it, nor will he permit Penny to put it in paper rolls and take it to the bank. She begins collecting it into the ashtray. Then, one day, it begins with a single nickel. She begins collecting the change.

I found this book by chance at the library. The most recent Reader's Choice challenge had concluded and they had made a display of previous winners. I was surprised by how many I had read and enjoyed, and took a chance on this one that I'd missed.

Lovely, quick read. Touching, interesting, bitter-sweet. One of the best lines: "O Lord, how many marriages just like the Burford's had he seen over the years? Marriages of competent, intelligent women who spent their lives tiptoeing around a husband's prickly pride?" This might be one I buy.
Profile Image for Kathryn.
143 reviews7 followers
August 30, 2024
My favorite part about this book is that it starts out as a kind of sad, difficult story with a sad, difficult ending feeling inevitable, but then it takes a very heart-warming turn. It’s such a unique story structure and I really enjoyed it.

Both Penny and Roy feel like real people, who act selfishly at times and extremely unselfishly at other times. I quite like the way that Penny handles her situation with her husband. She knows he has had a hard life and has a lot of baggage from childhood, but she doesn’t try to change him. Instead, she makes the best of her life as it is, and creatively finds her freedom without hurting her husband. I feel like a lot of stories which start like Penny’s would have ended with the wife leaving the husband and everyone moving on from that situation with a lot of sadness and regret OR the wife staying and being miserable. But Penny takes option 3: she stays married, tries to love Roy as much as he will allow, but also finds a way to take care of herself.

It was a fun twist that the narrative changes to Roy’s perspective in the second half. Even though Penny had kept a big percentage of her life a secret from Roy, you get the sense that she did, actually, love him and had empathy for his difficult experiences and was grateful for the things he did do right. I found her to be quite inspiring in that way.

My mother recommended this book to me! And after I finished it I thought that mother actually has a lot of the same creativity and generosity as Penny :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Collette.
901 reviews
February 18, 2019
This is just a little book I read for book club. It’s about a woman named Penny who has a secret life. It has a nice ending message. As I read, it was hard tying to not just feel my feelings of annoyance and anger at her husband Roy and just feel the message of the book. A cold, controlling man born out of a sad, hurt little boy stilted his wife’s life so much. She found a way to make and do good. To take control over her life. And in the end, that is the message to hold on to - help others, live life, be kind...”It’s what you do with it that counts.”
I think this book struck a personal chord for me. I’ve never felt like I have enough money, but have never wanted to be rich. I always feel like I want to be more giving and generous, but lack the funds for financial help and the courage to give time/a listening ear/connection. It’s dumb really. I have enough money to buy crap I don’t need but just want, so I could always share that. And I certainly can step out of my comfort zone like Penny did and actually live the life I want. She led a fine life full of good examples. I still am annoyed at Roy though. 3 stars for the book, 5 for Penny’s message
789 reviews2 followers
May 26, 2017
This was a cute little quick read and I loved it. It was published in 2002 and I had never heard of it before I went into the library last night and spotted some past "reader's choice" winners from years past.

On the front of the book it says it is the winner of the Salt Lake County Library System's 2003 Reader's Choice Award. The story is about a wife who isn't treated the best by her husband of many years. He leaves spare change around when he empties out his pockets after coming home from work for the day and everyday she starts to collect that change.

Since he doesn't notice that it is gone a little here and there she amasses quite a collection and turns into a substantial amount of money. The husband finds out years later what she was doing with the money. Sweet, heartfelt and feel good all around.
Profile Image for Amy Plitt.
118 reviews1 follower
February 22, 2019
This was a fantastic book! I truly can't say enough about it. It was a very fast read about a stay-at-home mom and wife, daughter of a pastor. She married a poor boy she had grown up with. Quiet and humble as she was, she knew she was here to make a difference. In her own creative way, she touched more lives than her husband, family, or town ever knew about. Isn't that what being a Christian is all about--not advertising your good deeds by shouting them from the rooftops but quietly shining God's love to everyone around you? Yes, I cried (I'm a crier), but they were tears of joy and praise. Everyone needs to read this book! I'm going to buy it and add it to my library, which is reserved for only my most favorites!
Profile Image for Shirley Kummer.
96 reviews1 follower
January 23, 2020
This sure was a different book for me to read. What a beautiful lesson we can all learn from it. Some people may not have very much, but what they do have can be used it special ways. I remember my parents teaching me at a young age to start putting your pennies and nickels away and watch it begin to grow. No one has to be rich to start saving. Just using a little wisdom can help you later on in life when those so called "rainy" days pop up. And believe me, they do.
This book will stay on my bookshelf forever, and remember that "its what you do with that counts."
Profile Image for Jenifer.
580 reviews26 followers
January 20, 2025
A super-easy read in under 2 hours. I wouldn’t have known of this book had it not been a book club pick and I’m glad it was chosen! A deceptively simple and sweet book with powerful messages. What is kindness against pride? What is personal fulfillment against expectations? What does one person claim for themselves when they cannot be truly themselves in public? This is a story about compassion and what it means to truly give, but it is also a story of suppression and hidden potential. I’ll be thinking about this for a very long time.
Profile Image for Sterling Walker.
Author 8 books40 followers
April 25, 2019
A sweet short read that I could relate to in my own life. Penny Burford saves the coins her controlling husband leaves around the house to have a fulfilling life of her own outside the realm of his influence. An excellent testament to the idea that spouses should each have a fund of their own, 'mad money' if you will, to spend as they choose without having to ask the other's permission.
Profile Image for CarolAnn.
666 reviews2 followers
March 24, 2020
This a very small book that was inspiring, fun, and uplifting. I need to get my life in order just in case I should drop dead and my surviving family find out how cluttered, disorganized, and not very wonderful I lived. This book helped me want to change even at my older age. Penny's mantra - "It's what you do with it that counts" Small change or life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Mary Jackson.
110 reviews13 followers
February 22, 2017
This actually was a quick fun book. I liked how she had a "role" as a wife and mother but she was able to do so much more without praise. And she learned new things instead of staying in her housewife box.
12 reviews
May 22, 2017
My mom gave me this book at Thanksgiving, it was a fun book to read before Christmas-easy and quick to get through. A great reminder about the importance of serving others and saving your pennies!! :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 353 reviews

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