What do you think?
Rate this book
Mennyms #4
Mennyms Alone
Is this the end for the Mennyms? For the forty years of their existence, the Mennyms assumed that their life would go on forever. Hidden in the safety of their home at 5 Brockenhurst Grove, the Mennyms carefully guarded the secret that they were actually a family of life-size rag dolls. Now Sir Magnus, the family patriarch, has had a premonition that their world is about to come to an end.
Granny tulip is furious with her husband for even suggesting such a fate. Soobie, who has always been the troublesome grandchild, is suddenly serious, concerned with how his sister Pilbeam will take the news. And as the fateful day draws near, Vinetta, Joshua, Wimpey, Poopie, and the rest of the Mennyms think about how they will be remembered. Will they be seen merely as the finest rag dolls ever made, or will someone recognize them as the incredible family who was magically brought to life by the loving hands and heart of their creator?
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
2 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Sylvia Waugh
30 books34 followersSylvia Waugh (sounds like "cough") was born in Gateshead, County Durham -there was no Tyne & Wear till 1974- in Northern England in 1935. Having worked full-time as a grammar teacher for seventeen years, Waugh began her writing career in her late forties, after her three children were grown. In 1993, she published her first book, The Mennyms, which eventually evolved into an entire series. Ms. Waugh said in an "Entertainment Weekly," interview with Lois Alter Mark, "I created the Mennyms because the world is too cynical, too lacking in magic. People with dreams are an endangered species, and I wanted to write for them. I don't want the nastiness-the stuff I see on TV." Since completing her "Mennyms" books, Waugh has continued her focus, as "Horn Book" contributor Martha V. Parravano noted, on "what it means to be human by exploring the lives of those who are not."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 6, 2009
My favorite of the Mennym books -- love the British humor and the fantasy world of all the Mennym titles.
March 6, 2025
I’m not sure I would give this book to child-me. Thanks to religious trauma/the Left Behind [Kids] books, I had a recurring dream (throughout my teens, if not childhood) that the world was ending and I knew the exact date and time, but I couldn’t be saved. (By Jesus, of course.)
Since that matches strongly what the Mennyms prepare for in this book, I think it would have been rather sickening to younger me. My adult self, thankfully, has moved on from this trigger.
This series is so hard to explain. It’s more existential than charming, but I can’t stop reading. I did find the character of Daisy so delightful and when she announced her intention to “love” the Mennyms, per the left instructions, I almost started crying. Her subsequent arrangement of the Mennyms is, honestly, goals. I’m so curious how this will play out in the last book, which I thankfully found and bought in a used bookstore last year!
Since that matches strongly what the Mennyms prepare for in this book, I think it would have been rather sickening to younger me. My adult self, thankfully, has moved on from this trigger.
This series is so hard to explain. It’s more existential than charming, but I can’t stop reading. I did find the character of Daisy so delightful and when she announced her intention to “love” the Mennyms, per the left instructions, I almost started crying. Her subsequent arrangement of the Mennyms is, honestly, goals. I’m so curious how this will play out in the last book, which I thankfully found and bought in a used bookstore last year!
November 15, 2014
Without giving to much away, this book is completely different than any of the other Mennyms books. At least the second half is like none other in the series, while the first half is exactly what you'd expect. While this is somewhat of a surprise, I do think it's something that made sense and probably needed to happen for this series.
I do love all the coincidences in this book. There's several characters that reappear from earlier books in the series, and while it was obviously intentional by the author, they all feel like such a lucky break. Plus it's fun to check in with these others characters and see what became of them.
Growing up, I always assumed this was the last of the series. It wasn't till college when I learned there was one more! But while I do love the last book and think it is needed to wrap up a few loose ends, in some ways I do think if this had been the last it would have been a beautiful and somewhat poetic to end the story of the Mennyms.
I do love all the coincidences in this book. There's several characters that reappear from earlier books in the series, and while it was obviously intentional by the author, they all feel like such a lucky break. Plus it's fun to check in with these others characters and see what became of them.
Growing up, I always assumed this was the last of the series. It wasn't till college when I learned there was one more! But while I do love the last book and think it is needed to wrap up a few loose ends, in some ways I do think if this had been the last it would have been a beautiful and somewhat poetic to end the story of the Mennyms.
November 30, 2020
This was a hard one to rate. But if I’m strictly rating it on how good the writing is then, yes, it’s 5 ⭐️
I am finishing up my Mennym reading with book 4 of this series and it’s plenty enough for me.
First off: these books are very, very out there. And they have sat on the shelf with all my collected children’s reading for years. But after reading these four I have to say I would never ever give these books to a child. Sometimes in the front of the book or on the back cover it will say the ages it is recommended for. Even though I kept looking it is not noted in any of these books.
Second: these books (to me) were a cross between Disney and a Steven King. While at times there was something very whimsical about the story of these life size rag dolls most of the time it was dark and sinister.
Just a very odd story about a family of animated life size rag dolls who live in a house (a real house in a neighborhood-no dollhouse here) and spend their days pretending lives and trying to figure out how not to be discovered.
As much as I don’t like books of this genre I certainly read through the four I had in 3 days so there is that. Most of the time I was fighting my incredulity but if you like fantasy then I’m sure these books would be high on your list. No one can fault the story telling skills here.
But there are some very dark themes addressed and even though I’m an older adult I was quite frankly creeped out by them. And there was also the recurring thought as I read: You do know these are rag dolls right?
So. Bottom line for me is I won’t be giving these to or reading these to my grandkids. But if fantasy is your thing you will probably enjoy them.
I am finishing up my Mennym reading with book 4 of this series and it’s plenty enough for me.
First off: these books are very, very out there. And they have sat on the shelf with all my collected children’s reading for years. But after reading these four I have to say I would never ever give these books to a child. Sometimes in the front of the book or on the back cover it will say the ages it is recommended for. Even though I kept looking it is not noted in any of these books.
Second: these books (to me) were a cross between Disney and a Steven King. While at times there was something very whimsical about the story of these life size rag dolls most of the time it was dark and sinister.
Just a very odd story about a family of animated life size rag dolls who live in a house (a real house in a neighborhood-no dollhouse here) and spend their days pretending lives and trying to figure out how not to be discovered.
As much as I don’t like books of this genre I certainly read through the four I had in 3 days so there is that. Most of the time I was fighting my incredulity but if you like fantasy then I’m sure these books would be high on your list. No one can fault the story telling skills here.
But there are some very dark themes addressed and even though I’m an older adult I was quite frankly creeped out by them. And there was also the recurring thought as I read: You do know these are rag dolls right?
So. Bottom line for me is I won’t be giving these to or reading these to my grandkids. But if fantasy is your thing you will probably enjoy them.
October 9, 2022
This series just keeps getting better! I read this as a read aloud to my 17 year old daughter, this series makes a good YA read, there are certainly some dark and depressing themes that people thinking about reading this to young children might want to consider. Half way through this book (big spoiler ahead) Soobie, our blue Mennym friend suffers an even worse fate than the others.
The second part of the book introduces some new characters and beautifully ties in some old forgotten plot lines.
The story ends on a high note, and as one reviewer mentioned this wouldn't have been a bad end to the series. Luckily we had book 5 waiting for us so have gone straight on to the last book.
Very enjoyable story, we love how the book covers always make sense sometime into the reading!
The second part of the book introduces some new characters and beautifully ties in some old forgotten plot lines.
The story ends on a high note, and as one reviewer mentioned this wouldn't have been a bad end to the series. Luckily we had book 5 waiting for us so have gone straight on to the last book.
Very enjoyable story, we love how the book covers always make sense sometime into the reading!
November 26, 2021
Ich wusste nicht, dass es sich hierbei um eine Reihe handelt und habe dieses Band gelesen, ohne die vorherigen zu kennen. Man kann es jedoch auch ohne Vorkenntnisse lesen. Die Idee von lebendigen Lumpenpuppen fand ich wirklich toll, aber alles in allem hat mich die Geschichte nicht komplett in ihren Bann ziehen und faszinieren können. Tatsächlich habe ich das Buch immer wieder zur Seite gelegt und was anderes zwischendurch gelesen.
June 24, 2019
was a very good next step in the series, made reading the prior ones all worthwhile, now can't wait to see how the series ends!!!
January 17, 2025
I never would have thought that I would become this invested I afamil of ragdolls. A fun series with an engaging storyline that is interesting to both children and adults alike.
June 2, 2025
Tapping my foot impatiently, waiting for my hold on the last book in the series to show up at the library.
September 2, 2025
I never read this one as a kid, so I thought the series basically ended with the sadness of the last book. This one is actually even more depressing & bittersweet, although it ends more happily...
December 31, 2012
If anything, this book is even more depressing than the first (I have not been able to read the two intervening volumes since the library no longer owns them). The Mennyms have a premonition of their approaching “death”, or whatever that means to a family of life-size rag dolls. If I had read this as a child I would have been completely terrified by this book, especially Soobie alone in the attic. I am glad I am reading these as an adult; I do enjoy the writing and the characters and the old-fashioned feel to the story, but I will be thoughtful about recommending these books to children.
Read
June 16, 2008JF Wau
August 12, 2014
(re-read)
November 22, 2020
A lot different than the other books but I really enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews