Your next Springtime read: Penny From Heaven
- Charity Harvey
- Apr 15
- 3 min read
Ah, it's that time of year again. Pollen flying everywhere; sneezing, runny eyes, and nasal congestion. Is anyone else suffering from spring allergies, or is just me and Lily? I think Lily has it worse than me! I did not realize she had allergies just like me until this year. Hopefully we will both get over it soon, but until then, it's medicine time.
Speaking of spring time, I thought this would be a great time to recommend another one of my favorites, Penny From Heaven. This is such a heartwarming read, it's a great one for this time of year. Something light hearted, fun, but also a bit emotional and thought provoking. You'll laugh out loud, but you also may shed a tear or two.
This historical fiction novel is set just after World War II, in 1953. The protagonist, known as Penny, is half Italian and faces challenges with her family. Her father passed away when she was young, and her mother refuses to reveal the circumstances. Her father's family is lively and boisterous, particularly her favorite cousin, Frankie. Despite her mother's disapproval, Penny continues to spend time with him and her Uncle Dominic. Additionally, she's forbidden from going to the public pool due to her mother's fear of polio, and her dog, Scarlett O'Hara, is becoming very ill. Penny is dealing with a lot!
We learn early on that Penny is actually a nickname. I adore the story behind it; it originates from one of Bing Crosby's well-known songs, "Pennies from Heaven." This makes Penny ponder Heaven frequently and consider how her father is doing there. The novel is rich with references to famous celebrities and icons from that era, including Bing, Gone With The Wind, Gregory Peck, and more. I am familiar with all of them, as I grew up watching films like White Christmas, Holiday Inn, To Kill a Mockingbird, and others. It was quite nostalgic for me, and I believe it would be for many other readers as well, especially adults! Many kids might not know who these people are, but I hope that reading this book will ignite their curiosity and encourage them to explore further! It's time for the next generation to give classic novels and movies a chance!
I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic between Penny and her cousin, Frankie. Frankie often acts impulsively, and while Penny cares for him, she attempts to counterbalance his wild behavior. This effort usually fails, leading her into trouble. Frankie also ends up in hot water, eventually becoming a local criminal. Despite his good intentions, he learns a tough lesson about how they can backfire and the importance of staying out of trouble by working hard.
To top off all of her worries, Penny finds out her mother is dating someone! And of all people, it is the local milk man! How could she? Penny is already being bullied by her previous best friend, worrying about her summer crush, and trying to keep Frankie from winding up in jail.
The story comes to a frightening climax when Penny suffers an accident while spending an afternoon with Frankie and her Uncle Dominic. I don't want to give too much away, because I want you to read the story, but Penny is seriously injured and ends up in the hospital. This was, surprisingly, my favorite part of the story. While in the hospital, she learns a lot about her father and his family, and it puts a lot of her life troubles into perspective.
The author does a great job of addressing some serious problems in Penny's life while still inserting humorous and heart warming moments. When writing this review, I realized Penny has quite a mountain of problems! Everything she is going through emotionally and physically would be tough for anyone, even an adult! But Penny comes out at the end of the story better for it, and while it may not be a fairy tale ending, it is absolutely the happy ending I needed. I hope you take time to check it out! If you are in SC, it is still available for digital checkout on Jasmine Digital and Libby. You may be battling the pollen, but as always, happy reading!
