Mennyms Under Siege

Mennyms #3

by Sylvia Waugh

Living in terrible isolation with her large family, sixteen-year-old Pilbeam throws them all into danger when she cannot bear it any more and ventures out, prompting Sir Magnus to condemn them all to life indoors. Reprint.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Fiction, Young Adult, British Literature, Middle Grade, Science Fiction Fantasy

211 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Sylvia 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."

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

My reviews of the first two books in the series are probably sufficient, with one addition. This third book in the series of five has a shocking twist! But my lips are sealed. No spoilers here. For those who read the first two in their entirety, this is a satisfying third volume. I guess at this point I'm committed, since there are only two books left in the series.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay cool i'm crying

[Shoshanah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have such vivid memories of all the Mennyms books growing up. At least every single one except this one. I'm not quite sure why, especially since it's not just the first two I remember but the 2 that come after this as well. Either way, it definitely made the rereading experience different that the others since I really didn't know what to expect here.

So much of this book is a bit heartbreaking. The dolls spend so much of the book afraid that they're about to be found out and completely change their lives to avoid detection. But yet, as a reader we know they don't have the full story and it's almost painful that you can jump into the book to shake them and tell them not to worry so much.

Then of course there's the ending, something I only remembered was coming moments before it happened. But that still wasn't enough time to prepare. Fortunately for me I do have a hazy memory of how things work themselves out in future books, because otherwise would be a bit devastated by the cliffhanger.

It may sound a bit cliched, but these books really are utterly charming, and I love that I'm going back and rereading them now. Although it is a little disheartening to look back and see that these book never managed to take off the way they really deserved to.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was absolutely fine. I always find Sir Magnus cantankerous and a bit of a bully, while Appleby is spoilt and brattish and this was no exception.

I thought this would be a 3.5 but near the end it became more magical realism (than a family of rag dolls already is!) which just personally isnt to my taste.

[Jannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sylvia Waugh manages to portray human nature so beautifully in these rag dolls, and all the more without making them hateful, though annoying their actions may be.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first two books in the Mennym series more than I did this one and gave them higher ratings. The first book was largely an introduction, explaining how the Mennyms came to be, what their relationships are and how they manage. How dolls coped with living in a world of flesh & blood humans created interesting situations with sometimes convoluted solutions. In the second book the dolls meet a specific challenge from outside by going further outside.

But Mennyms Under Siege takes a different and unhappy direction. Events cause Grandpa Magnus to declare that the dolls are once again under siege but this time the family must remain hidden inside the house for the duration. I am reminded of a news report about a home renovation project where a lot of rags soaked in volatile chemicals were disposed of in a cardboard box while the house was locked up over the Christmas/New Year holidays. The pile simmered and smouldered in the locked up house until they burst into flames.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wondered if this third book in the series would continue to be as enjoyable as the first two. It certainly was, we continued to get to know these really well formed characters and experienced their feelings of desperately wanting to be a part of the world around them, which they couldn't because of their differences. In this book a mysterious door is introduced and something awful happens to a couple of the characters. We were left wondering if by the end of this series the dolls will gradually die or whether all or some of them will find a way to keep living.

The series is a wonderful read for older children/teens/adults. There are some parts that might not be interesting for younger readers and some parts might be too much for younger children.

I deliberated on whether to buy this US edition as I was worried that too many words would be changed to US words. One word was changed -fringe to bangs, apart from that even English spellings were kept.

Have moved straight on to book 4.

[Ramona · Rating 4 out of 5]

How many little girls have wished that their favorite dolls would come to life? Adult Kate made life-size rag dolls to keep her company. She brought life to them, and they have lived beyond Kate's life, in her home, for many years. The family of dolls live like a real family, and they have somehow escaped the notice of people...which is unrealistic, but it makes for a great story. Some repetition in dialogue, and not the ending I was looking for, but a wonderfully told tale from over 30 years ago.

[Emkoshka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favourite book of the series so far, and it's a strangely apposite one for this current moment in time, telling the story of the Mennym family in lockdown due to nosy neighbours. The chapters towards the end concerning the forbidden door in the attic made me gasp audibly and showed an unexpected level of depth in storytelling; I hadn't realised how attached I was to the individual characters until then.

[Kelsey]

That ending, unexpected, I do not remember it being so harsh. I do respect that it treats the subject carefully. And appreciate that Albert Pond isn't used as a deus ex-machina. Time has passed ...
Mortal terror for rag dolls.

[Melissa Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Enchanting and supernatural.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Pollymoore3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series continues to be brilliant. The dark, edgy feeling hinted at in the earlier books is stronger here.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The continuing story of living ragdolls has become intriguing. Looking forward to the next installment.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming gentle children's book with some suspense and twists in the plot. I enjoyed this reread from my childhood and this should be a more widely known classic children's book series.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent entry in the series. This one actually is pretty harrowing. Must read on....

[Mara Vetters · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first two Mennym books a great deal. Although I found them in the children's section of the library, they interweave some very interesting themes about life and reality with the whimsical daily adventures of a family made of living dolls, creating something that adults and children can both enjoy. Mennyms Under Siege continues the adventures, and the themes that the first two books introduced and eventually goes much further with some of them, focusing in particular on the Mennyms' relationships with one another and their attempts to remain undiscovered. One thing that I noticed was that the melancholy edge that was an undercurrent in the first two books really comes out in this one. A lot of the conflict is more internal within the family rather than be a product of the outside world, and the conclusion is undeniably tragic. I am still looking forward to finding the next book, and I hope that it will be a little bit more hopeful.

[Tannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this a long time ago, but I remember that it was a good book. I just remember that they were dolls but you kind of feel sorry for them because they have emotions and fall in love with real people. But they can't, because they were dolls. I just know the ending was a bit sad, when Appleby did something she wasn't supposed to.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks FabEm for the recommendation, I'd never heard of the Mennyms until she told me she thought I'd like them... and she was very right!

[Saya · Rating 5 out of 5]

(re-read)

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my new favorite series of children's books. It's amazing how well-drawn and complex these characters are.

[Kit Feral · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are possibly the worlds most underrated books.

[Amy Gourley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book where the Mennyms started to get a bit ridiculous...