Penny From Heaven
Author: Jennifer L. Holm
ISBN 978-0-3758-3689-3

It’s 1953 and 11-year-old Penny dreams of a summer of butter pecan ice cream, swimming, and baseball. But nothing is that easy in Penny’s family. For starters, she can’t go swimming because her mother’s afraid she’ll catch polio at the pool. To make matters worse, her favorite uncle is living in a car. Her Nonny cries every time her father’s name is mentioned. And the two sides of her family aren’t speaking to each other! Inspired by the author’s own Italian American family, Penny from Heaven is a shining story about the everyday and the extraordinary, about a time in America’s history, not all that long ago, when being Italian meant that you were the enemy. But most of all, it’s a story about families–about the things that tear them apart and bring them together. The author tells it with all the richness and the layers, the love and the laughter of a Sunday dinner at Nonny’s. So pull up a chair and enjoy the feast! Buon appetito!

Family, relationships, food preparation, Italian cuisine, baking
Activities based on Penny from Heaven are included in our resource A Novel Approach to FACS, Reading in the FACS Classroom

Published: 2007
Format: Paperback
Price: $6.00