Community Corner

Jefferson County Library: The Willoughbys By Lois Lowry

"This "sparklingly smart" (

Pamela Withrow

October 7, 2021

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Β (The Willoughbys #1)

192 pages

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"This "sparklingly smart" (Kirkus, starred review) and "hilarious" (Booklist, starred review) story follows four children in an old-fashioned kind of family with parents thatβ€”well, they're not all that one would hope for."The Willoughbysβ€”Timothy; the twins, Barnaby A and Barnaby B; and their sister, Janeβ€”concoct a diabolical plot to turn themselves intoΒ worthy and winsome orphans. Little do they know that Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby, their odious mother and father, have already begun to formulate their own thoroughly despicable plan. Soon a sternΒ nanny, an abandoned baby, a candy magnateΒ and his long-lost son, and even a Swiss postman are pulled into the Willoughby children's schemes to escape their mother and father and live happily ever after...or something like that."Replete with a tongue-in-cheek glossary and bibliography, this hilariousΒ parody pays playful homage to classic works of children’s literature with a fresh twist sure to please."Β  --from the publisher

What a great, classic, children's story. Lots of silliness if you don't mind a little dark humor. I give it four out of five stars.


This press release was produced by the Jefferson County Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.

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