Penny from Heaven [NOOK Book]

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Overview

It’s1953 and 11-year-old Penny dreams of a summer of butter pecan ice cream, swimming, and baseball. But nothing’s that easy in Penny’s family. For starters, she can’t go swimming because her mother’s afraid she’ll catch polio at the pool. To make matters worse, her favorite uncle is living in a car. Her Nonny cries every time her father’s name is mentioned. And the two sides of her family aren’t speaking to each other!

Inspired by Newbery Honor winner Jennifer Holm’s own Italian American family, Penny from Heaven is a shining story about the everyday and the extraordinary, about a time in America’s history, not all that long ago, when being Italian meant that you were the enemy. But most...

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More About This Book

Overview

It’s1953 and 11-year-old Penny dreams of a summer of butter pecan ice cream, swimming, and baseball. But nothing’s that easy in Penny’s family. For starters, she can’t go swimming because her mother’s afraid she’ll catch polio at the pool. To make matters worse, her favorite uncle is living in a car. Her Nonny cries every time her father’s name is mentioned. And the two sides of her family aren’t speaking to each other!

Inspired by Newbery Honor winner Jennifer Holm’s own Italian American family, Penny from Heaven is a shining story about the everyday and the extraordinary, about a time in America’s history, not all that long ago, when being Italian meant that you were the enemy. But most of all, it’s a story about families—about the things that tear them apart and bring them together. And Holm tells it with all the richness and the layers, the love and the laughter of a Sunday dinner at Nonny’s. So pull up a chair and enjoy the feast! Buon appetito!

From the Hardcover edition.

As she turns twelve during the summer of 1953, Penny gains new insights into herself and her family while also learning a secret about her father's death.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
A youthful voice serves Sealey well as narrator of this offbeat period piece chronicling the colorful experiences of 11-year-old Penny Falucci during the summer of 1953. Penny plans to have a dream summer vacation spending time at the local pool, eating butter pecan ice cream and listening to her beloved Brooklyn Dodgers on the radio with one of her many uncles or cousins. But not all happens according to plan when she suffers a devastating household accident. As Penny struggles to recover, she learns an ugly truth about her father's death years ago and comes to understand the estrangement between her mother's family and her father's boisterous Italian clan. Holm's plot has surprising twists and turns and plenty of evocative flavor, all of which give Sealey room to stretch a bit. Her crisp, even rhythm complements the pace of the unfolding drama. Ages 10-up. (Aug.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
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From The Critics
Penny has heard two different theories about her name. One is that her father's favorite song was Bing Crosby's "Pennies from Heaven." The other is that Penny, whose real name is Barbara, was called Penny after her dying father said, "That baby is like a lost penny I'll never hold. A lost penny." Sometimes the appropriate name has a way of attaching itself onto an individual no matter what name may be on a birth certificate. Newbery Honor writer Holm has penned a compelling book about a twelve-year-old growing up and finding her place in the larger scheme of things in 1953 New Jersey. She has also introduced the young adult reader to a little-known injustice during World War II: the registration and labeling of Italians living in the USA as "enemy aliens," the prohibition against their living in costal zones, and even the imprisonment of these people if they were caught speaking or writing Italian or even owning a radio capable of short wave communication. Penny is an enchanting character. She is a fiercely loyal Brooklyn Dodgers fan, calling them, "Dem Bums," she'll avoid her maternal grandmother's cooking as much as she will salivate over her paternal grandmother's Ricotta-ball soup and pasteria. Her mother, a nurse, refuses to let her go to the public swimming pool or the movies because of the polio scare. Penny endures these restrictions but she demands to know the truth about her father, whom no one will talk about. Penny's life is full of family. Her cousin, Frankie, is her best friend, she lives with her mother and maternal grandparents in one house and spends much of her time with her father's family just blocks away. These two worlds are very different and veryseparate, but they are forced to come together when Penny is seriously injured by a washing machine wringer. Holm's writing is warm and fine; reading this book is as good as time travel into the life of the 1950s. A real treat awaits the reader at the book's end when the author writes about loosely basing Penny on her mother, complete with family pictures, a photo of the old Ebbets Field, plus a picture example of the records kept on Italian Americans during the World War.

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780375849268
  • Publisher: Random House Children's Books
  • Publication date: 12/26/2007
  • Sold by: Random House
  • Format: eBook
  • Sales rank: 42,478
  • Age range: 10 - 12 Years
  • File size: 1 MB
  • Items ship to U.S, APO/FPO and U.S. Protectorate addresses.

Meet the Author

Jennifer L. Holm is the author of several highly praised novels, including Our Only May Amelia and the Babymouse series. She lives in Fallston, Maryland, with her husband, Jonathan Hamel, their son Will, and a rather large cat named Princess Leia.

Read an Excerpt

Penny from Heaven

By Jennifer Holm

Random House Books for Young Readers

Copyright © 2006 Jennifer Holm
All right reserved.
ISBN: 9780375836879
CHAPTER ONE

Me-me says that Heaven is full of fluffy white clouds and angels.

That sounds pretty swell, but how can you sit on a cloud? Wouldn’t you fall right through and smack onto the ground? Like Frankie always says, angels have wings, so what do they have to worry about?

My idea of Heaven has nothing to do with clouds or angels. In my Heaven there’s butter pecan ice cream and swimming pools and baseball games. The Brooklyn Dodgers always win, and I have the best seat in the house, right behind the Dodgers’ dugout. That’s the only advantage that I can see to being dead: You get the best seat in the house.

I think about Heaven a lot. Not because of the usual reasons, though. I’m only eleven, and I don’t plan on dying until I’m at least a hundred. It’s just that I’m named after that Bing Crosby song “Pennies from Heaven,” and when you’re named after something, you can’t help but think about it.

See, my father was crazy about Bing Crosby, and that’s why everyone calls me Penny instead of Barbara Ann Falucci, which is what’s on my birth certificate. No one ever calls me Barbara, except teachers, and sometimes even I forget that it’s my real name.

Iguess it could be worse. I could be called Clementine, which was the name of another Bing Crosby song that my father really liked. I don’t think I’d make a very good Clementine.

Then again, who would?

CHAPTER TWO

Uncle Dominic is sitting in his car. It’s a 1940 Plymouth Roadking. It’s black with chrome trim, and the hubcaps are so shiny, you could use them as a mirror. Uncle Dominic pays my cousin Frankie to shine them up. It’s an awfully nice car; everybody says so. But then, it’s kind of hard to miss. It’s been parked in the side yard of my grandmother Falucci’s house for as long as I can remember.

Uncle Dominic lives right there in his car. Nobody in the family thinks it’s weird that Uncle Dominic lives in his car, or if they do, nobody ever says anything. It’s 1953, and it’s not exactly normal for people in New Jersey to live in cars. Most people around here live in houses. But Uncle Dominic’s kind of a hermit. He also likes to wear slippers instead of shoes. Once I asked him why.

“They’re comfortable,” he said.

Besides living in the car and wearing slippers, Uncle Dominic’s my favorite uncle, and I have a lot of uncles. Sometimes I lose track of them.

“Hey, Princess,” Uncle Dominic calls. I lean through the window and hear the announcer on the portable radio. Uncle Dominic likes to listen to ball games in the car. There’s a pillow and a ratty-looking blanket on the backseat. Uncle Dominic says the car’s the only place he can get any rest. He has a lot of trouble falling asleep.

“Hi, Uncle Dominic,” I say.

“Game’s on,” he says.

I start to open the back door, but Uncle Dominic says, “You can sit up front.”

Uncle Dominic’s very particular about who’s allowed to sit in his car. Most people have to sit in the back, although Uncle Nunzio always sits up front. I don’t think anyone ever tells Uncle Nunzio what to do.

“Who’s winning?” I ask.

“Bums are ahead.”

I love the Brooklyn Dodgers, and so does Uncle Dominic. We call them Dem Bums. Most people around here like the New York Yankees or the Giants, but not us. Uncle Dominic is staring out the window, like he’s really in the ballpark and watching the game from the bleachers. He’s handsome, with dark hair and brown eyes. Everyone says he looks just like my father. I don’t remember my father because he died when I was just a baby, but I’ve seen photographs, and Uncle Dominic does look like him, except sadder.

“Got something for you,” Uncle Dominic says.

All my uncles give me presents. Uncle Nunzio gives me fur muffs, and Uncle Ralphie gives me candy, and Uncle Paulie brings me fancy perfumes, and Uncle Sally gives me horseshoes. It’s like Christmas all the time.

Uncle Dominic hands me something that looks like a big dark-brown bean.

“What is it?”

“It’s a lucky bean,” he says. Uncle Dominic is superstitious. “Just found it this morning. It was packed away with some old things. I got it for your father before he died, but I never had a chance to give it to him. I want you to have it.”

“Where’d you get it?” I ask.

“Florida,” he says.

Uncle Dominic loves Florida and goes to Vero Beach every winter, probably because it’s too cold to live in the car then. Even though he lives in this car, he has another car that he uses for driving, a 1950 Cadillac Coupe de Ville. Frankie says he bets Uncle Dominic has a girl down in Florida, but I kind of don’t think so. Most women want a new Frigidaire, not a backseat.

“Put it in your pocket,” he says. “It’ll keep you safe.”

The lucky bean is big and lumpy. It feels heavy, not the kind of thing to put in a pocket, but Uncle Dominic has this look about his eyes like he might just die if I don’t, and because he is my favorite uncle, I do what I always do.

I smile and say, “Thanks, Uncle Dominic.” For a moment the strain leaves his eyes.

“Anything for you, Princess,” he says. “Anything.”

Continues...
Excerpted from Penny from Heaven by Jennifer Holm Copyright © 2006 by Jennifer Holm. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating 4.5
( 68 )

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 21, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    One of my New Favorites!!

    I absolutely LOVED this book!! It was so good! It was an easy book to read yet it was very descriptive and very easy to understand. This book made me laugh and it even made me cry in some parts! (which for me is very hard to do) And most important it was very educational. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone from an Italian family, and even if you are not Italian, I think you would still LOVE this book like I did.

    5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 13, 2008

    This Is A GREAT Book!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I loved this book!!! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

    5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 26, 2008

    AMAZING

    This book is really good! I am currently reading it and I am at the end! It gets better and better as you get farther into the book! The author perfectly expresses the different emotions of each character. As I was reading, I could hear the Italian accents in my head!

    4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 10, 2011

    This was fantastict!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    This book is really good . I think all kids should read it . So rrreeeeaaaaadddddd ittttttttttttttttt!!!!

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 20, 2008

    Will the Real Barbara Ann Falucci Please Stand Up?

    Penny is an 11 year old girl who lives in New York in 1953. Her journey through the summer she turns 12 is humorous and sensitive. Penny lives with her mother and maternal grandparents. Her father died when she was a baby. Her father's family lives close by and neither family will talk about her father. She's not even sure how he died. During this particular summer she shares many exciting adventures with her cousin Frankie. He is a typical encourager of naughtiness!! He's fun-loving and Penny is very close to him and empathetic to his circumstances. This book is written authentically from a child's perspective and is entertaining from beginning to end. If you enjoy stories about family relationships and the things that hold them together AND break them apart...read Penny From Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm '2006'

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 6, 2012

    Laughed and cried

    This book is so funny! The adventures will captivate you. This book will maybe make you cry cause it is so touching and realustic. Read.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 25, 2011

    Love this book!

    OMG I read this book in 4th grade and loved it and LOVED it so I bought as a NB

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted September 2, 2011

    I would recommend this book to any of my friends.

    In this book, a girl named Penny lives with her maternal grandparents, her mother, and an un-housebroken poodle named Scarlet O'Hara in 1953.Penny's father died when she was very young. Although her father died, she still visits her father's Italian family. Penny has a hard time dealing with her father's death. Her mother is very protective over Penny.Over the summer,Penny really wants to go to the pool,but her mother is afraid she will get polio.Penny has always wondered why her father died, and in the book, her curiosity grows, especially because the two families cannot get along.Penny works in her uncle's butcher shop with her cousin, Frankie. Frankie is Penny's best friend. The story tells about many interesting adventures they get into, including an accident that sends Penny to the hospital. Both sides of her family visit her while she is in the hospital, and they tell her stories about her father that gives her clues about his death. I think this book is very good and it is funny as well as interesting. I would recommend this book to any of my friends.This book is not that thrilling at first but as you get into the book, it gets more and more exciting.I think the author of this book did a great job at keeping the reader interested while making them laugh at the same time.

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 16, 2011

    Not Enough POW!

    It is repetitive but still nice. Also it needs to really press the point across once it is found.

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 3, 2011

    A must read! :)

    This story is set in 1953 New Jersey. This has an effect on this story because of the characters. Penny, the main character, is a young girl that is EASILY relatable to, as are her crazy Italian family from her father's side of the family, who all treat Penny like a princess. I root for Penny as she undergoes a character development. All the characters talk as a normal or very busy and crazy, family would. Penny lives with her loud and very opinionated Pop-Pop, Me-Me, a widowed Mother, and the naughty Scarlett O' Hara, the house dog. She has tons of very unique uncles and trying to grow up and live is all Penny wants. There's much mystery in the finding out of information of her much missed father, Alfredo, or Freddy. You'll be filled with suspense to see what happens when Cousin Frankie and Penny get mischievous. The overall theme is familiar, but with a very fresh twist. The main theme here is: "Everything will be just fine"-also, "Friends are God's way of apologizing for your family."

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 3, 2011

    A must read! :)

    This story is set in 1953 New Jersey. This has an effect on this story because of the characters. Penny, the main character, is a young girl that is EASILY relatable to, as are her crazy Italian family from her father's side of the family, who all treat Penny like a princess. I root for Penny as she undergoes a character development. All the characters talk as a normal or very busy and crazy, family would. Penny lives with her loud and very opinionated Pop-Pop, Me-Me, a widowed Mother, and the naughty Scarlett O' Hara, the house dog. She has tons of very unique uncles and trying to grow up and live is all Penny wants. There's much mystery in the finding out of information of her much missed father, Alfredo, or Freddy. You'll be filled with suspense to see what happens when Cousin Frankie and Penny get mischievous. The overall theme is familiar, but with a very fresh twist. The main theme here is: "Everything will be just fine"-also, "Friends are God's way of apologizing for your family."

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted December 26, 2010

    sweet but lacks a point

    this is a sweet but sad story of a young girl searching for togetherness of her family. it doesnt seem to have a strong point, but none the less, it is heart touching

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted November 13, 2008

    more from this reviewer

    Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

    PENNY FROM HEAVEN, a new offering by author Jennifer L. Holm, is an excellent pick for middle grade readers. Set in the early 1950's, it tells a story of everyday life and rich Italian heritage.

    Penny lives with her mother and her grandparents. At the start of the novel, she's almost twelve. Most of her time is spent hanging out in the neighborhood with her cousin and best friend, Frankie.

    Bike riding would be fun, but Penny's bike was unfortunately backed over in the driveway. Going swimming in the city pool or taking in an afternoon matinee sounds like quality entertainment, but Penny's mom believes those places are breeding grounds for the dreaded polio everyone seems to be contracting. That doesn't leave much to do, but Penny and Frankie always seem to find something to get into. It might be an attempt to fix the leaky toilet that turns into a major repair job, or the secret mission to discover if great-grandma Nonny wears black underwear to match her old-fashioned black dresses.

    Penny is surrounded by tons of Italian aunts and uncles, but she misses her father. His death years ago is still shrouded in mystery, one that Penny seems unable to uncover. Her mother is becoming interested in Mr. Mulligan, the milkman. Penny's attempts to pair her mother up with favorite Uncle Dominic fail miserably.

    Day-to-day life is pretty predictable for Penny and her family until the unthinkable happens. After a tragic accident, Penny finds herself making plans for a very different life. Readers' emotions will be tested as Penny's story unfolds.

    Jennifer L. Holm is also known for Newbery Honor book OUR ONLY MAY AMELIA and her BOSTON JANE series, which is my personal favorite.

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 7, 2008

    A reviewer

    This is a funny novel about an eleven year old girl,Penny, in the summer of 1953. Penny is living with her grandmother, her grandfather, her mother, and their un-housebroken dog, Scarlet O'Hara. Penny's father is dead and nobody will tell her the secret surrounding his death. Although Penny is lucky to have her deceased father's Italian-American family to spoil her, she still misses her Dad. The characters are well fleshed out and you get the feeling that you are there in 1953 in that car with Uncle Dominic or eating an authentic Italian meal with the family.The book is a snapshot of what it was like to be growing up in the 1950's. World War II is still affecting the family in that they only speak English in public. Penny cannot swim in a public pool for fear she will contact polio. The book is about the importance of family, friends and also contains a mystery about buried treasure as well as her father's death. This is a good read for Middle Schoolers with its quirky, yet realistic characters. I think young people can identify with the story today even though it is set in the 1950's. Read it. You will not be disappointed.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 1, 2012

    Olivia

    I have not read this book. But i want to because all of the reviews say it is great and most of them are 5 stars! Thank you

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 28, 2012

    Best book ever!!!!!!

    This the best book you could ever read in tbis world it is heart warming and gives a very good lesson, two thumbs up! Would recommend it to anyone!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 25, 2012

    Love it

    Luv it

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 6, 2012

    I want it

    I havent read it but it i good well sound good i want it im getting it ahhhh

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 2, 2012

    Recomended

    I have a thing called battle of the books at school and you sign up and you get a list and you try to read the whole list of books by may and you go against other schools to see what you remember this is very useful so i dont get any fines

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 15, 2011

    Hated it

    I started reading it and after the first 40 pages l got so bored and l just had to put it down. Do NOT read this book what so ever.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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