I grew up like many other children, reading about storybook families. There was the strong and caring father, the pretty and sweet mother, and the happy children who played with wooden train sets and china dolls. These kinds of families never fight, never go through pain and nothing bad ever spoils their fairytale lives.

A childish part of me still believes that someday I'll find that little piece of perfection in the world. The Penderwicks series opened my eyes. It made me realise the beauty of imperfection, the value of all the little things that happen. I discovered that dysfunctional families were the best kind. Even more so than the families with the instant 'happy ever-after'.

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street is the second book in the Penderwicks series. It follows the lives of the four sisters: Rosalind, Skye, Jane and Batty, who live with their father and clumsy but lovable dog, Hound. It picks up from when the girls are back to their regular lives, after their magical three week vacation in the Berkshire hills.

But things start to change. After a blue letter from their mother is opened, everything looks like it's going to change. On top of having daunting assignments that seem like they are going to be the death of the two sisters, an interesting new arrival next door and football games, the girls find themselves drifting apart. They soon realise, that if they are going to survive everything that's changing around them, they need each other more now than ever...

Jeanne Birdsall is one of a kind. She's one of the few, rare authors who can take a simple story of a family and turn it into something spectacular. What I love about this book is how realistic and relatable to it is. It shows that you don't have to be extraordinary to be something special.

The writing style is what I would describe as 'easy'. It's not something you have to concentrate on deeply to follow, and it has a lovely flow to it. The narration of the story is skilful. The descriptions are intricate and deep, yet there's just enough left to the imagination. The Penderwicks on Gardam Street is a book you can fall in love with over and over again.

Want to tell the world about a book you've read? Join the site and send us your review!