Synopsis: The four Willoughby children are part of an old-fashioned family and therefore, deciding that they should become orphans, create a sinister plan to rid themselves of their parents. Little do they know, though, that their parents would also like to be free of them and have created their own scheme to become childless.
Review: Just as I was beginning to think March was a little slow for great children's books to review, two-time Newbery winner Lois Lowry publishes this wickedly funny parody of "old-fashioned" tales, The Willoughbys. This book is certainly not sickeningly sweet like Pollyanna or Anne of Green Gables, but it does contain all the appropriate elements: a competent, loving nanny, an abandoned infant, a lonely, old benefactor, less-than-desirable adults, and rather naughty children. No, this is more like Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events, but without so much despair and all of the parenthetical phrases (thank goodness).
The story begins when the Willoughby children find a baby girl on their doorstep. The youngest and only girl, Jane, would like to keep the infant but her mother and three brothers, Tim, Barnaby A and Barnaby B, decide that the child is beastly and must be taken to the doorstep of some wealthy neighbor. Alas, this leads the children to wonder why they too can't be orphans and go to live with a rich benefactor. The oldest, Tim, points out that they could encourage their parents to take an exotic and dangerous vacation that would lead to their demise. Thus, the plan is hatched.
Unfortunately, before their parents depart, the children make the mistake one night of asking for a bedtime story. Their father begrudgingly reads them Hansel & Gretel, allowing Mr. Willoughby to form a scheme of his own. He proposes to his wife that they could take an extended, permanent holiday, hire a nanny for the children, and then sell the house right out from under them, leaving the children homeless. Thus, a second diabolical plan is born.
As a former bookseller, it pains me to apply the description of "for all ages" to any book, but in this case it is warranted. My five-year-old thought it was terribly funny when Tim put his sister Jane in the corner, but I loved when Mrs. Willoughby cut off all of the abandoned baby's curls to make it less cute. We both liked how Barnaby A and B had to share the same sweater. I'm even sure that my grandmother would love this book. Whether it be historical fiction, fantasy or humor, Lowry's contributions to children's literature are immeasurable. She even sweetly illustrated this book. Is there anything she can't do? Hopefully, this "wizened, reclusive old woman who sits hunched over her desk thinking obsessively about the placement of commas," will continue to write for many years to come.
If you like the idea of this novel, you'll likely also enjoy Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events or The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley and Peter Ferguson.
Comments