I've had this book in my classroom library for quite a while, but never read it. There's been buzz around the fact that the fourth book (4th?? I had no idea!) in the series will be released this year. I've read comments from readers who've raved about how much they love "those Penderwicks". I decided I needed to see what the fuss was about and brought the book home to read-- after all, it did win the National Book Award the year it was published! 
 The book was a quick read. The story of these four sisters and their adventures during their summer vacation is engaging, and the characters are ones you come to know and like quickly. The book reminds me of the stories I read as a little girl-- things like Half Magic or The Boxcar Children-- where siblings have adventures that are interesting and maybe even a bit dangerous, yet the books are quite innocent. The story of the Penderwick sisters reminded me very much of those kinds of stories in its pace, subject matter, and innocence, but was "up-to-date". This would be a great book to suggest to lots of kids, but it would definitely be a safe bet for students whose parents are protective about what their kids are reading. I enjoyed it!