Synopsis
Book 5 of 6 in the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place. Lord Fredrick Ashton may not feel ready to be a father, but with a little Ashton on the way, he's sure about one thing: the wolfish curse on his family must end soon, before the child is born. Penelope willingly takes on the challenge; when Lady Constance's doctor prescribes a seaside holiday, Penelope jumps at the chance to take the three Incorrigible children to Brighton, where she hopes to persuade the old sailor Pudge to reveal what he knows about the Ashton curse. But the Ashtons are not the only ones at the beach in January. The passionately temperamental Babushkinov family is also taking the winter waters. The Incorrigible children may have been raised by wolves, but the Babushkinov children are the wildest creatures they've ever seen. Is it more than mere coincidence that these untamed children have turned up in Brighton just as Penelope and the Incorrigibles arrive?- ★★★★★
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Mindful Muslim Review
A notoriously difficult genre to get right, humor in the hands of Maryrose Wood is effortless. She combines laugh-out-loud, clean humor with a protagonist who embodies womanhood, courage, resilience in the face of grief, ingenuity in the face of problems, and responsibility despite numerous difficulties. Sprinkled through the enchanting story are fascinating facts about geography, Latin, classical literary works, science, and art. Her use of language is exceptional—similes, parables, and homonyms combine to bring the story to life. While the audio version is captivating, Mindful Muslim Reader recommends reading the book as the best way to appreciate the humor and the brilliant use of language.
The protagonist and her three pupils befriend a dysfunctional family whose children are mean, selfish, and rude. They whine constantly and lack any sense of self control. This book earns our Gold Star because despite a close friendship and the temptations of peer pressure, the Incorrigible family models a multitude of virtues: excellent sibling ties, good character, kindness, politeness, a love of learning, and generosity.
Mindful Muslim Reader recommends Books 1-6 in this series.
