The Willoughbys | 
| Author: Lois Lowry
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin/Walter Lorraine Books
Category: Book
List Price: $16.00
Buy New: $8.33
You Save: $7.67 (48%)
New (37) Used (8) from $8.33
Avg. Customer Rating:  13 reviews
Sales Rank: 144
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 176
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.8
ISBN: 0618979743
EAN: 9780618979745
ASIN: 0618979743
Publication Date: March 31, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: **brand new, no HI or AK**
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Product Description
Abandoned by their ill-humored parents to the care of an odious nanny, Tim, the twins, Barnaby A and Barnaby B, and their sister, Jane, attempt to fulfill their roles as good oldfashioned children. Following the models set in lauded tales from A Christmas Carol to Mary Poppins, the four Willoughbys hope to attain their proscribed happy ending too, or at least a satisfyingly maudlin one. However, it is an unquestionably ruthless act that sets in motion the transformations that lead to their salvation and to happy endings for not only the four children, but their nanny, an abandoned baby, a candy magnate, and his long-lost son too. Replete with a tongue-in-cheek glossary and bibliography, this hilarious and decidedly old-fashioned parody pays playful homage to classic works of children's literature.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 8 more reviews...
 The Willoughbys just for fun June 30, 2008
Although I am near fifty I found this to have many laugh-out-loud treats! Get past some of the dopey point-counting and there is a fun story. Very Roald Dahl-ish and Lemony Snicket-ish. The "glossary" is delightful and the bibliography is helpful. This would be a good read-aloud for kids who know the books listed in the bibliography.
 A whole bunch of fortunate events for these old-fashioned orphans June 29, 2008
Such a pleasure to find a truly versatile author. Lowry is as adept at the huge poignancy of THE GIVER and NUMBER THE STARS as she is with wicked drollery and with in her Krupnik tales and in this latest offering. While this one makes much of traditional children's literature and its myriad orphans from JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH to HUCKLEBERRY FINN to THE SECRET GARDEN, these is no mention of those latter-day pathos-grabbers, the Baudelaires, and their nigh-endless career of unfortunate events. What precious irony that no less than Lemony Snicket himself was the reviewer of choice for this new Lowry by PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY. This is a quick, fast paced, page-turner for the 'tween set with appropriately short chapters and Lowry's own cheeky (as in "tongue in") illustrations. The hilarity hits a high point however in the fractious and fractured attempts at German: "Ach. I forgotzenplunkt. Sorrybrauten." The book, as with most of Lowry, works equally well for independent reading as well as for reading aloud.
Not Quite Top-Shelf Lowry, But Still Great June 27, 2008
The Willoughbys was really fun and fast to read. Lois Lowry has stuffed it full of wonderful words and a fast-paced plot. (The part where the parents die is literally an aside within a sentence it moves so quickly.) The darkness of the story about children who want to be orphans and parents who wish to be free of their children certainly held my attention, much in the style of A Series of Unfortunate Events.
I don't know if there is a literary term for this genre - meta-literature? It is a story that is about stories; in that it pokes fun at fairy tales, refers to classic literature, and constantly calls itself old-fashioned. For some reason, while reading this, I just felt like these ideas were somewhat tired. It's almost like the book is too pleased with itself for me to join in on the pleasure. I certainly think it is clever, and I still think Lois Lowry is the master of middle-grade fiction. Obviously she wrote this book for the sheer enjoyment of writing - even putting it right on the cover "nefariously written by..." I have come to expect her work to be so tight, and this book is wildy scattered and full of gaping holes. She is too good to leave unanswered questions, so there is an epilogue, but it just quickly patches everything up so it can be over. Thank god she didn't have the candy-inventing old man name his new candy bar "Baby Ruth" as she set up the reader to believe would happen. That would have ruined it.
As a book club book, I am just not sure what to do with it. I can definitely say that it has given me a lot to think about, as has every Lowry book, but it isn't because of the themes. This book has left me considering how I feel about its style. Would it give students that same discussion fodder? Will they catch the allusions (well, actually, direct references) to classic literary characters? Will discussing how to get rid of their parents lead to high level talk?
While reading the story, my mind kept wandering to one question. Are all children's books tools for teaching reading? I mean, at some level, all books help us all become better readers. But, specifically, are children's books - when read by students who are still increasing vocabulary and understanding of literary styles and flexing their comprehension strategies - always tools for improving reading? I really am having trouble finding what a student would gain from this. It certainly is a great exercise in vocabulary building, what with its Very Own Glossary. But beyond that, I think other Lowry books fit the book club shelf better.
 Unfortunately, a series of overtly familiar, overly condensed, over-the-top events June 26, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Fans of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events are likely to be disappointed with this shorter, less descriptive book, even though it contains similarities in characters and plot. Orphans, nefarious villains, kind persons willing to provide assistance - sound familiar? The main difference between the two is that in The Willoughbys, the parents are the villains. The four (okay, that's different too) Willoughby children are berated and belitted by their seemingly beleaguered parents. A baby arrives on their doorstep (but doesn't stay long). And the plight of the children is made less unfortunate by the arrival of a warm-hearted, Nanny McPhee-like caregiver, hired by the parents. Mom and Dad take a trip that will have an unfortunate (though you won't care and neither will the children) end. The references to several good children's classics make the plot more palatable, and the version of German "spoken" by one of the characters is unique and funny. But a couple of highlights aside, the overall story does not hold a candle to Lemony Snicket's 13 book series. Entirely different but absolutely excellent: The Giver by Lois Lowery.
Fantastic! June 21, 2008
A wonderful mixure of Nanny McPhee and Series of Unfortunate Events. The Glossary and Biblograpgy are a great addition. Well done, Lowry.
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