The Willoughbys

A parody of fairy tales

Review by Jill Williamson

The four Willoughby children live with parents so wicked, they feel they would be better off as orphans. They seek a way to get rid of their parents, not knowing that their parents are formulating their own diabolical plan inspired by the story Hansel and Gretel: abandon the children.

Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby put their house up for sale, hire a level-headed Nanny, and take off on an endless vacation. As the children plot and plan, Nanny takes good care of them. But there is more to the story than the Willoughbys. With a candy bar tycoon, an obsequious postmaster, two more winsome orphans, a number of references to classic children's stories, and a thorough glossary at the end for all the new vocabulary words, this amusing parody is sure to bring a smile to the reader's face.

Award-winning author Lois Lowry spins an old-fashioned parody tale reminiscent of terrible situations that befall characters from Grimm fairy tales. This book is entertaining. The plot is a bit depressing with the Willoughby family in such a mess. The eldest son is a bit ruthless, but Nanny tries to teach all the children some values. She does admit, however, that their parents are truly dolts and that she, herself, is a Presbyterian.

This book is harmless satirical fun, mocking fairy tales and classic stories in just about every way. All turns out well in the end for everyone but the evil parents.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

BRRRRRRRR............

I dont know why, but this book made me feel cold inside. It was a little sad and strange. Unfotunately, i would not recommend this book. But only in my opinion, others could feel different about this book. I also felt as if the ending was to sudden.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

great book

i luv this book

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Orphans or not?

This book is a mix of funny and old fashion life. In this book the parents don't want the kids and the kids don't want the parents. This book is good for 8-11 year old age group.

I love it

My family and i have listened to this book on tape countless times on long car rides, and every time we are doubling over in laughter. I love how they are an "old fashioned family" and the way thay act and think about situations over fresh-baked lemo n soufle is hillarious. My favorite characters are Ruth, a baby who the Willoughby's found on their doorstep and who becomes the adopted daughter of Count Melanough, Tim, an old fashioned boy with a heart of gold hidden by bossiness who later marries Ruth, A and B, twin boys tjat not even their parents can tell apart, and Jane, who thinks that every name, even a girl's, should have three sillables. I adore this vook and if you haven't read it yet, you should.

It is hilarios and kids love it. Great Book

It is hilarios and kids love it. Great Book

Best book ever!!!!!!!!!!

I dont even know how many times i have reas this book. It is so funny and good. It has somethin for everyone romance comedy adventure... this is my fave book EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Luv it

This book was full of lafs and hillariously funny words and phrases. I enjoyed it because it showed what kids can do if not suporvised and parents who dont care that much about their kids. LOVED IT!

Steven

Steven dorris is a dork

Meh

I thought it was great when I finished it, but as days and months passed, it wasn't that great.

Should i get it

I dont know!!!!

AWESOME!!!!!

I keep on reading it agin and agin! : )

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Would read it again

I really liked this book i read it twice and each time i couldn't stop reading. End was better than i thought it would be! Very good book with interesting vocabulary. Lois Lowry never disappoints

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Awesome!

This is the only funny book Lois Lowry ever wrote, and she does not disappoint. Filled with witty humor, quirky characters, and a great plot, this is a must read for all ages!

Acceptable behavior is turned inside out in sometimes humorous and sometimes outrageous ways.

"The Willoughbys" is a delightful children's book which takes all of our accepted mores and turns them inside out! It is a spoof on life which lets us laugh at ourselves. It is a combination of The Sound of Music, Pippi Longstocking and Hansel and Gretel, all rolled into one.
Instead of a happy home with a warm hearth and nourishing meals, the Willoughby children live in a home in which selfish parents dote on themselves instead of their children. The children tease each other with the older preying on the weaker younger ones. Their parents dislike them and they dislike their parents. They hatch a plan to get rid of their parents even as their parents decide to take a trip, sell their home and abandon the children. Their are many unusual adventures and mishaps.
A baby is found on their doorstep and the mother doesn't want it so the children deposit it on the doorstep of a mansion. The parent's behavior is less than stellar. The grieving owner of the mansion finds that the child breathes new life into his own sad existence so it turns into an opportunity rather than a burden. A nanny is engaged by the Willoughby parents without checking her qualifications but she turns out to be better at taking care of the children and the home than they were.
Although the concepts in the book deal with abandonment, dysfunctional families, danger and death, there is a happy ending, but it comes about in the strangest of ways. The book covers many negative concepts with a gentle humor, which makes them more acceptable. There is a comical glossary at the end of the book to help explain some of the more difficult words used. Although it is recommended for ages 8-12, it might be more appropriate to read it aloud with a child so that difficult concepts that are trivialized, can be better explained.

The Wonderful Willoughbys'

The Willoughbys' are quite an unusual family. This book started out as very strange, as if it was just a article in a magazine. I couldn't get into it at first, but after the first two chapters or so, it became more engaging to me. The story line was getting more intersting along the way. Lois Lowry's ability to write this twisted but absorbing book is great. I reccommend that you read it cover to cover to get the full concept.

The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

I read The Willoughbys on a recommendation of a friend from LT, and I'm so glad that I did! It's quite a delightful, tongue in cheek poke at all the old-fashioned children's books (think Mary Poppins and the like). She mixes in all the requisite elements: sinister parents, orphans, a kind nanny, possibly impossible developments for our heroes of the story, a benevolent benefactor and a happy ending, and creates a hilarious modern day parody of those beloved books of yesterday. Not taking itself too seriously, The Willoughbys is just the right book to read when you need to get away to a guaranteed good time and a happy ending.

The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry The Willoughbys review four stars

I think the Willoughbys was an interesting , but slow book . The story didn't have any "real action". The first part of the book was okay, but I thought it took a long time to introduce the characters. The whole book was basically about a family of four children who wanted to become orphans and whose parents didn't want them anymore. I think this book would be great for sixth graders because it has some fairly challenging terms that are described in the glossary in the back of the book. Overall, I think the Willoughbys was a pretty good book, but it could have had a more intense plot line to intrigue the reader.

The Willoughbys live a normal, old fashioned life. They aren't happy with how their lives are going, living with their parents. As a result, a discussion comes up about what it would be like if they were orphans. Their parents want to be rid of them, so they decide to take a "trip". To be absolutely sure that they will never see their kids again, they hire a nanny and put the house for sale. Even though they're told not to be present during open houses, the Willoughby kids find sneaky ways to be present during viewings. They hold up certain signs that send people running out of the house. In the middle of all this action, a baby shows up at the Willoubhy's door. They set the baby on the steps of a giant mansion. Part of the book tells the story of the old man's life who lives in the mansion. In the end, all of these events are tied together in a fantastic story ending.

The whole book is based around the quote, "We should have been orphans". The Willoughby children basically have an orphan experience in a roundabout way by the end of the book. Several chapters go into detail about what it is like for the Willoughbys to be orphans. Surprisingly, the book eventually gets to the point , which was to describe what happened to the Willoughby children.

Although the book definitely could have been more action packed, everything else was written extremely well. If you're looking for a quick, easy read, definitely pick up a copy of The Willoughbys. You'll enjoy the ending of the story because it's a surprise.

Review for The Willoughby's

I think that this book would be good for you to read in spare time or if you're bored. But I wouldn't recommend it as a school project book. There wasn't that much detail, or things you could really explain in it.

Fantastically interesting

The Willoughbys Lois Lowery is a great book with a fantastic plot. If you enjoy a hard put down the Willoughbys is the book for you. There are two narrarators that tell the story wich gives two pionts of view on the story without interupting the flow of the main plot. When kids hate their parents enought to call themselves orphans, and the parents dislike the kids just as much you know you're goin to have agreat story. I read this book for school, but can promise you that it's now on the top of my pleasure reading list. This funny ridiculous story is New York berst seller for a reason. I think that it acomplished its purpose of revealing that all families have their problems it's not just yours. this is a great book with and eye opening story and recommened the willoughbys to anyone who wants an eye opening story with a hard put down to boot. A really great book!