Penelope

by Penelope Farmer

Experiencing memories of places and people she has never seen, Flora becomes alarmed when the memories intensify as she grows older and reveal her link to a privileged child from the past.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1996

About the author

Penelope Jane Farmer is an English fiction writer well known for children's fantasy novels. Her best-known novel is Charlotte Sometimes (1969), a boarding-school story that features a multiple time slip.

Reviews

[Kachina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book about a subject not often visited in children's books, reincarnation. The supernatural plot elements were very well-written and believable and they did not detract from the other themes of the story -- family, friendship, fiting in. The friendship between the main character and a girl from India was fun to read about, too.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because it's by the author of "Charlotte Sometimes," which I love, and which I think captures a feeling of loss and wistfulness that you don't usually get in books about time-travel. This one has that feeling, too, but it isn't as well done.

Also, it needles me that Penelope is referred to as Flora's "ancestor" when said ancestor died when she was 5, and her parents apparently didn't have other children. So I would have liked for that connection to be explained a little better. But I guess it's probably enough that we know that Flora's grandmother was a Boothby and related somehow in the chain of Penelopes.

I would recommend this book despite my quibbles because it's a fun, short read with a really interesting premise.

[Banbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

Along with the main plot, there are beginnings or hints of subplots, such as the apparently abusive home life of Marilyn. However, these subplots just seem to fade away as the book progresses. There is a lot of pleasurable tension built up, and one reads eagerly to find out how it will be resolved, but the ending is a disappointment, with nothing being explained or resolved. For example, why did Pen hate her mother? Also, as another reviewer has noted, it makes no sense to say that a girl who died before she was six years old could be anyone's ancestor. In short, there were many great elements to this book, but it feels unfinished and in need of an editor.

[Marmot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book. I wish my library had more books by this author! Many of her books seem to be hard to find or out of print. I read this after really loving Charlotte Sometimes. Would be a great book for a 10-12 year old girl. I will try it out on my son who is 10 to see if he enjoys it as much as I did.

[Valeria Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

i liked this book because it is creepy and kind of scary. i never really knew about reincarnation, but after this book i do believe in it. i liked the parts of India because i love India and i want to visit there and i enjoyed reading more about that. also about those mean friends you can really relate to that in real life, and i liked the happy ending. but it also has sad parts in it that made me cry:( but i recommend it.

[J.L. Lennon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an okay read. It was hard to hold my attention. The idea was interesting. I love the concept of reincarnation. It was just lacking a little pizzazz.