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The Willoughbys
 
 
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The Willoughbys (Paperback)

by Lois Lowry (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
Price: £4.36 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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  • This item: The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

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Product details

  • Paperback: 176 pages
  • Publisher: Yearling Books (23 Mar 2010)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0385737769
  • ISBN-13: 978-0385737760
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 548,782 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

32 Reviews
5 star:
 (14)
4 star:
 (11)
3 star:
 (5)
2 star:
 (1)
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Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (32 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A fun satire of old-fashioned children's classics, 30 July 2009
By S. Barnes (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Willoughbys (Hardcover)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Programme (What's this?)
This book is fun, especially for adults who have read and enjoyed all the really old-fashioned children's classics; books like Pollyanna, The Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables, The Bobbsey Twins etc. The story satirises these old fashioned tales delightfully, with a family of very knowingly self-ironic children. Despised and neglected by their parents the children devise a plan to get rid of their parents, not knowing of course that mother and father have already hatched a plan to get rid of the children.

You'll find here the bossy controlling boy child, the undermined (and not allowed to play boys' games) girl, twins with the same name, an abandoned baby (project for the children), a rich benefactor... and so on. I really love the old children's classics, but also thoroughly enjoyed this take-the-mickey tale too.

My hesitation is in recommending the book for children. Taken on one level it's quite an engaging read, is funny and travels at a good pace. However, there are a lot of literary allusions and in-jokes which the majority of children today won't get or understand. True, there are probably a good number of girls out there who might have read Anne of Green Gables or The Secret Garden, but the majority of jokes, or references to children's classics will pass by or confuse (or dare I say bore) many children. I certainly haven't met a child recently who's read 'The Bobbsey Twins' books. There are so many really good contemporary children's books around these days that fewer and fewer youngsters are picking up the classic stories. Try it with children (aged 10+/-) but I'm not convinced it'll be a hit.

Still, a funny and clever read for adults who love the classic children's stories. I enjoyed it enormously.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Dark humour, 25 Jun 2009
By rubbah "rubbah" (Hertfordshire) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Willoughbys (Hardcover)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Programme (What's this?)
An amusing satire on children's literature about orphans, complete with wicked parents, millionaire recluses and abandoned babies. IIt would probably help to have read some of the books that are referenced in order to get some of the jokes, but I think most children would simply enjoy The Willoughbys for the darkly humourous plot and characters. I especially liked the list of books at the back that are mentioned throughout, for young bibliophiles to be.

I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoyes The Series of Unfortunate Events and the Eddie Dickens trilogy.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Darkly entertaining read for grim and twisted children, 22 Jun 2009
By J. Dawson (Edinburgh, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)      
This review is from: The Willoughbys (Hardcover)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Programme (What's this?)
If you enjoyed Lemony Snicket's dark and dismal take on childhood adventures, this book may be right up your street. It is clever, well-written, and contains lots of knowing references that adults and more experienced readers will appreciate.

My only complaint with it is that the territory is well trodden at the moment, with the aforementioned Lemony Snicket and others that have followed in his wake, so the approach doesn't feel as fresh as it might. Which is a shame, as this is a very well executed little story and well worth reading.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars My daughter loved it.
This is quite a different story, particularly as a children's book it starts out with parents who would much rather not have their children at all, so much so that they don't even... Read more
Published 4 months ago by DavyA

5.0 out of 5 stars Laugh-aloud funny for children and their adults.
This is a very funny combination of black humour for children, the popular "Lemony Snicket" dark take on life combining modern humour with the traditional abandonment theme of... Read more
Published 4 months ago by ELH Browning

4.0 out of 5 stars An instant hit with my 9 year old daughter
It was difficult for me to read and review this book because it was instantly snatched away by my nine year old daughter, who thought it was wonderful. Read more
Published 5 months ago by purplepadma

4.0 out of 5 stars A Well Crafted Tale
The Willoughbys captures the imagination of children with a flowing narative that owes a lot to Roald Dahl and a retro sense of absurd fun. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Sunglasses

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Amusing
I thought that this was a highly amusing childrens story. References were made to literary classical tales and the subtle humour, though may be lost on children was entertaining... Read more
Published 6 months ago by S. D. Williams

5.0 out of 5 stars Darkly charming
As a fan of Lemony Snicket, I was pleasantly surprised when I turned the first few pages of this book as the style is vaguely similar. Read more
Published 6 months ago by SarahJCT

5.0 out of 5 stars funny and easy reading
great book. combines an old fashioned style with modern life. funny, entertaining, makes you want to keep reading. my daughter loved it and had me chuckling. a very good story
Published 6 months ago by Syd

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a typical children's book; darkly humourous
It took me quite a while to decide what I thought of this fascinating book. It is absolutely not your typical piece of children's writing, but would probably be suitable for those... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Robert's Mummy

2.0 out of 5 stars not exctly riveting but...
this is a darkly funny, snide, & arch little story, about 4 children who plan to get rid of their parents so that they can be orphans in the great literary tradition of Pollyanna,... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Jayne M. Turner

3.0 out of 5 stars A bit of a mish mash
In the way that this book knowingly plays on the long tradition of children's literature and exploits the ironies and humour in the seemingly endless supply of wicked... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mrs. K. A. Wheatley

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