Old-Fashioned Mayhem

The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry
reviewed by Sarah

If you are looking for a gripping yet old-fashioned novel, The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry would be a good book for you.

The Willoughbys is about a family of four very old-fashioned children who, along with their adventuresome nanny, plot to rid themselves of their negligent parents. Unfortunately for the children, while they are plotting to get rid of their parents, their parents are plotting to get rid of them. This book is a hilarious spoof of many classic novels, including Anne of Green Gables, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, A Christmas Carol, Heidi, Mary Poppins, and Little Women. The characters are incredibly funny, and the book is interesting because of its many side plots. I would recommend this book for children and adults aged ten and above. It isn't an especially difficult read, and it is most funny if you have read the classic novels before, because it references those novels many times. This book is interesting, funny, exciting, and another example of a wonderful book by Lois Lowry.