A review by thelittleb00kworm
The Penderwicks in Spring by Jeanne Birdsall

adventurous emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 

Summary


The Penderwicks in Spring jumps forward in time several years after the events of The Penderwicks at Point Mouette. The Penderwick household is much larger now, as Mr. Penderwick and Iantha are happily married, and their lively two-year-old daughter, Lydia, has joined the family. The once-young Penderwick sisters are now mostly teenagers and young adults—Rosalind is off at college, Skye and Jane are in high school, and Batty is now almost eleven. Ben, their stepbrother, is now eight, and still obsessed with military strategy, rocks, and his “Geiger brothers” role models, Nick and Tommy.


But despite the warm and chaotic Penderwick home, this book carries a different tone from the previous ones. Loss and grief weigh heavily on Batty, who is the main character of this novel. She’s struggling with two major things:


  1. The loss of Hound, her beloved dog    , who passed away six months prior.
  2. A painful revelation—that her mother (who died when Batty was a baby) had not planned to have her and that Skye, her older sister, resents her birth.


These two emotional blows send Batty into a quiet, downward spiral of sadness, insecurity, and self-isolation—but there is one shining light in her life: she has discovered her love for music. She realizes that she has a natural talent for singing and is determined to make money by walking dogs so she can take voice lessons. However, this discovery is both exciting and terrifying—she worries about what her family will think, and whether her newfound happiness is even allowed when she still grieves for Hound.


Meanwhile, Ben is dealing with his own worries—namely, his older siblings don’t take him seriously, and his best friend, Rafael, has a crush on his big sister, Skye. And if that weren’t complicated enough, Jeffrey is coming to visit—but his longtime friendship with Skye is more strained than ever. When Jeffrey confesses his love for Skye and she completely rejects him, it changes everything, making Skye’s usual bluntness seem cruel and Jeffrey’s unshakable place in the Penderwick family feel uncertain.


As secrets unravel, old wounds reopen, and Batty’s emotional burden grows heavier, the Penderwick family must navigate heartbreak, self-discovery, and change in a way that feels both deeply personal and profoundly universal.


Major Themes & Takeaways


1. Growing Up Comes with Growing Pains


Unlike the previous books, which were mostly lighthearted, The Penderwicks in Spring explores the emotional complexity of growing up.


  • Batty is no longer the carefree little girl in butterfly wings.     She is beginning to feel the weight of the world, struggling with grief, self-worth, and identity.
  • Ben, once the baby of the family, is dealing with his own insecurities, as he tries to keep up with his older siblings and prove that he isn’t just a “kid.”
  • Skye and Jeffrey’s friendship, once so easy and natural, is now strained because of unspoken feelings.


This book doesn’t shy away from the bittersweet reality that as we grow, relationships change, people grow apart, and sometimes, our childhood heroes disappoint us.


2. The Weight of Grief & Guilt


Batty’s grief over Hound’s death is one of the most powerful parts of the book. Losing a beloved pet is a deeply painful experience, and Jeanne Birdsall captures Batty’s emotions with raw honesty.


But there’s an even deeper pain beneath Batty’s sadness—her guilt. She blames herself for Hound’s death, believing that she should have done something to save him. This guilt compounds when she overhears a painful secret—that her birth was unwanted and that Skye, her role model, resented her existence.


Batty is a child carrying an emotional weight far too heavy for her, and for a large portion of the book, she tries to handle it alone. This theme resonates deeply because so many children struggle with grief, guilt, and feeling like a burden, even when it isn’t true.


3. The Complexity of Family Relationships


For the first time, we see that the Penderwick family isn’t perfect.


  • Skye is more distant and angrier than ever.     She is dealing with her own inner struggles, but from Batty’s perspective, it feels like Skye no longer cares about her.
  • Rosalind, who has always been Batty’s safe place, is suddenly distracted by a new boyfriend. Batty wants to talk to her, but Rosalind isn’t fully present, leaving Batty feeling even more alone.
  • Jeffrey’s feelings for Skye complicate his place in the family. When Skye rejects him, it creates tension that affects everyone.


This book doesn’t romanticize family—instead, it explores its messy, complicated nature. The love is still there, but it’s not always easy to feel.


4. The Healing Power of Music


One of the most beautiful aspects of the book is Batty’s discovery of music.


  • Her realization that she has a gift for singing is one of the few bright spots in her life.
  • However, because of her grief for Hound and her sadness over Skye’s words, she doesn’t feel worthy of happiness.
  • When she finally allows herself to embrace her talent, it becomes a source of healing and self-expression.


Music gives Batty back a sense of control and joy, proving that even in our darkest moments, creativity and passion can help us find light again.


5. Redemption & Rebuilding Relationships


By the end of the novel, there is hope and healing.


  • Skye, realizing how much she’s hurt Batty, apologizes in the only way she knows how—honestly and directly.     It’s a powerful moment, because it shows that words matter, and that even the strongest relationships can fracture, but they can also heal.
  • Jeffrey and Skye begin to mend their friendship, though their relationship will never be quite the same.
  • Batty finally shares her pain with Rosalind and her father, allowing her to start letting go of her guilt and sadness.
  • Ben finds confidence in himself, proving that he doesn’t need to be like his older siblings—he is special in his own way.


Ultimately, The Penderwicks in Spring is about facing our pain, embracing change, and finding our way back to the people we love.


Favorite Moments


✨ Batty’s secret dog-walking job—her determination to earn her own money is both inspiring and heartbreaking.
✨ Jeffrey’s confession to Skye—a moment that changes everything and sets off a painful but necessary chain of events.
✨ Batty overhearing Skye’s hurtful words—one of the most emotionally devastating moments in the entire series.
✨ The family coming together for Batty in the end—proving that even when things seem broken, love remains.
✨ The final scene, where Batty sings openly for the first time—marking the beginning of her healing journey.


Final Verdict: A Beautiful, Emotional Masterpiece


🌟🌟🌟🌟 (4.5 stars, but bring tissues.)


The Penderwicks in Spring is the most emotional and mature book in the series. It tackles grief, self-doubt, and family struggles in a way that feels raw and real. Batty’s journey is painful but powerful, and by the end, she has not only healed but also found her voice—both literally and figuratively.

It’s a story about loss, love, and the way families—no matter how imperfect—always find their way back to each other. This book may not have the carefree adventure of the earlier Penderwick stories, but it is perhaps the most moving and meaningful of them all.