The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

A new title by Lois Lowry – what a joy and what a surprise! This book is nothing at all like Lowry’s other books like The Giver, Number the stars, Gathering Blue. All of which are personal favourites of mine. 

If you love Lemony Snicket then you will ‘gobble up’ The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry. Here we have a family of orphans including twins whose names are A and B, a baby left on the doorstep, and shear cruelty by two parents and the oldest sibling that leaves you gasping for breath. Thank goodness for happy endings, benevolent millionaires, kind nannies and glossaries – this one is a real treat. And there is a list at the back of all the stories Lowry has cross referenced. 

There are wonderful sentences like “Once she read it a book but found it distasteful because it contained adjectives.” People might call this book a parody but I prefer to call it a spoof. I think children will enjoy the black humour and the neat coincidences. This is a slim volume of on 157 pages and I think it would make a terrific read aloud story for children aged 9 and over. I read it all in one huge gulp and enjoyed every moment.

Readers who are willing to give themselves up entirely to the sly foolishness will relish this sparklingly smart satire, which treats them with collegial familiarity. Kirkus Star review

Here is the sequel The Willoughbys Return and in 2020 a movie was made of the first instalment.