Penny From Heaven by Jennifer Holm is and historical fiction story about a confused daughter and the 1950 post war feeling. Penny's father died a mysterious death, and no one will fill Penny in on it. She lives with her mother, and grandparents. Her grandparents are more of a bother than they are a help. She also has a huge extended family, with a cousin that she gets along with very well. When her mom starts dating the milkman, Penny gets very bitter. She does not want to give him a chance into her family, and does not like the situation at all. But when things finally turn around, Penny finds out the answers to her questions, and a lot more. Turns out, that her fathers death reveals many secrets and bad things of the country.
This is an intense, quick read book. There is always a bit of suspense that makes the reader want to keep reading. The reader gets extremely close to Penny and her feelings about different things going on. I felt for Penny. I really wanted to know everything she wanted to know. I thought she was being selfish when it came to her mother dating, but then again, I have never been in that sort of situation. Students that are in this situation can really relate to her, and maybe this will help them cope, and/or see that they are not alone. But also, it does have a lot of history in and out throughout the whole story. It is a little bit opinion provoke, though, I feel. But if it is used in the classroom, I think it would be best in grades 5-8.
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