Penelope Crumb
"In this auspicious series launch...Stout (the Fiona Finkelstein books) deals with serious topics, such as the hole left in Penelope's life by her father's death, with a light touch, giving Penelope a memorable narrative voice full of quirks." (Publisher's Weekly)"...readers who enjoy this genre will be pleased to make her [Penelope's] acqaintance." (Horn Book)"Stout tackles surprisingly serious family problems from the honest viewpoint of a child...Penelope will delight children and parents alike." (Shelf Awareness, starred review)"Penelope is an intrepid heroine with a unique and frequently amusing narrative voice...This would be a natural tie-in with a unit on family history or a satisfying readaloud selection, and kids who have outgrown the Junie B. Jones series will enjoy Penelope's equally comical narrative style." (Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. Recommended)"Readers will enjoy meeting self-assured Penelope...It's refreshing to find a protagonist who doesn't define herself through the remarks of her classmates." (International Reading Association,Reading Today)