The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street

Reviewed by: Sheila Dube - Springvale Public Library, Springvale, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 17, 2017

Review

It's a few days before Christmas and the biracial Vanderbeekers family with two parents, five kids ranging from ages 4 to 12, and a menagerie of animals are given the terrible news that their landlord, Mr. Beiderman, will not be renewing their lease to the Brownstone apartment in Harlem. Mr. B. has been a recluse during the six years that family has lived there and no one in the family has met his face-to-face. Drawing on their individual strengths and talents, the children try in their different and comical ways to influence his decision to change his mind. As the deadline to move looms, information about "the Beiderman's" recent past changes the motives in the children's actions and influences the predictable tear-jerking outcome. Attending a first eighth-grade dance, sibling conflicts and past family tragedy are weaved into the warm and cozy relationship that the Vanderbeekers have with each other and the close knit neighborhood around them. This would be a perfect read aloud for the holidays. Fans of the "Penderwicks" series should add this title to their reading list.

Overall Book Score: excellent