Penny from Heaven

Jennifer L. Holm

Dec 2007 · Sold by Yearling

About this ebook

Newbery Honor–winning, New York Times–bestselling, and as full of fun and adventure as it is of deeper family issues.
 
School’s out for summer, and Penny and her cousin Frankie have big plans to eat lots of butter pecan ice cream, swim at the local pool, and cheer on their favorite baseball team—the Brooklyn Dodgers! But sometimes things don’t go according to plan. Penny’s mom doesn’t want her to swim because she’s afraid Penny will get polio. Frankie is constantly getting into trouble, and Penny feels caught between the two sides of her family. But even if the summer doesn’t exactly start as planned . . . things can work out in the most unexpected ways!
 
Set just after World War II, this thought-provoking novel also highlights the prejudice Penny’s Italian American family must confront because people of Italian descent were “the enemy” not long ago.
 
Inspired by three-time Newbery Honor winner Jennifer Holm’s own Italian American family, Penny from Heaven is a story about families—about the things that tear them apart and the things that bring them back together.
 
Includes an author’s note with photographs and background on World War II, internment camps, and 1950s America, as well as additional resources and websites.
 
Booklist:
“Holm impressively wraps pathos with comedy in this coming-of-age story, populated by a cast of vivid characters.”

Ratings and reviews

Penny from Heaven is a great book. 'm glad I read this book because it shows how different cultures act. I felt bad for her when her dad died , and she couldn't be a normal kid. At the end she realizes that it was ok

This was one of the best $6.99 I have ever spent. All those people who haven't read it, should read it because you will never regret buying it unless you are a big fat loser.

They need to start giving the books away for free... Like little kids don't have enough money or any money at all to pay for these books... And when I say FREE I don't mean that you putting up things saying that they need to varify they're country.. Like really? We know you charging us although you claim that you're not!! 😡😡😡😢😢😭😭😭 I gave this five stars for the book!

About the author

Jennifer L. Holm is the New York Times bestselling children’s author of The Fourteenth Goldfish and, with her brother Matthew Holm, Sunny Side Up. She is the recipient of three Newbery Honors for her novels Our Only May Amelia, Penny from Heaven, and Turtle in Paradise. Her latest novel, Full of Beans, is a companion to Turtle in Paradise and stars Turtle’s cousin Beans. Jennifer also collaborates with Matthew on three graphic novel series—the Eisner Award–winning Babymouse series, the bestselling Squish series, and My First Comics. Jenni lives in California. You can visit her on the Web at jenniferholm.com or follow her on twitter at @jenniholm.