Sylvia Waugh (1935–2022)

What fun I had reading this book! (And who could possibly dislike a story with two characters named Appleby and Pilbeam?)

An instant classic. Although published relatively recently (1993), it reads as if it's been around much longer than that. Quirky verging on weird, yet full of humanity and compassion, as well as dry humour.

When I added this to my list, I assumed it was much older. Old enough that I could have read it when I outgrew [b:The Littles|563887|The Littles|John Lawrence Peterson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1614044943l/563887._SX50_.jpg|1426160] and [b:The Borrowers|10843249|The Borrowers (The Borrowers, #1)|Mary Norton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1335311213l/10843249._SX50_.jpg|802336], and I would have loved it then. show more Especially the beginning, when it starts out sort of cute and amusing. But it does get more intense & juicier....

I definitely recommend it and will investigate the rest of the series and more by the author.

One other thing I want to say is that it would have been a very appropriate book to read during the 'safer at home' and 'lock-down' era of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Mennyms could have done even less going out with computer, instacart, etc. And their isolation would have resonated more deeply with readers. Of course it was published much earlier and with no premonition, but the vibe is noteworthy. show less

The Mennyms by Sylvia Waugh, first published in the United Kingdom in 1993, is the first book in a five part fantasy series intended for Young Adult readership. It has been compared to Mary Norton's beloved The Borrowers but I think it is infinitely deeper, more thought-provoking, more suspenseful and entertaining, and with richer characterization than any of the books in the Borrowers series.

The Mennyms are a family, an extended family, including a grandfather and grandmother, mother and show more father, older brother, two teenage sisters, a boy-girl set of young twins and a baby. There is also a close friend. The family has lived in a small cul-de-sac called Brocklehurst Grove in England for over 40 years. Grandpa, Sir Magnus, is a syndicated writer and historian, Granny, Tulip, an excellent business woman and finance manager. Mother, Vinetta owns a thriving cottage industry while the father, Joshua, is a night watchman. Appleby is a precocious, sometimes rebellious, and adventurous teenage girl, constantly flirting with disaster, while her older sister Pilbeam is more thoughtfully stable, yet romantic. Twins Poopie and Wimpey are cute, playful children and Googles is a happy, cooing little babe-in-arms. Neighbor and close friend, Miss Quigley, is an older single woman who keeps her distance with strict manners but who depends upon the Mennyms for friendship and companionship. The older brother, moody, brooding Soobie holds himself apart from most of the family's daily routines because he feels so different from them. You see, Soobie is blue. I don't mean sad, I mean he's actually blue in color. This may not sound like such a remarkable family, until you understand that they are a family of living, life-size rag dolls.

Created by a human being named Kate Penshaw, many years ago, the Mennyms came to life under mysterious circumstances having to do with a secret door up in the attic. In the beginning of the book, the unfinished pieces of Pilbeam are discovered in the attic and lovingly sewn together by Vinetta. Pilbeam's awakening to consciousness is one of many lovely parts of the book.

The action in this book begins when a long-lost heir of Kate's writes a letter to the Mennyms who he believes are tenants, announcing that he intends to travel from his home in Australia to pay them a visit. They must figure out a way to prevent that from happening or if all else fails, they must find a way to deceive him into thinking they are real human beings.

Each of the different members of the Mennym family have their own unique take on the problem and as they go about coming to grips with this catastrophe we learn more and more about each of their personalities.

The Mennyms are fully realized characters and their story while fun and suspenseful is also very poignant. Sylvia Waugh has created the very image of a loving family, with its emotional ups and downs, its intricate support structure and its often amusing conflicts. It is a page turner, indeed, with a swiftly flowing plot that takes the Mennyms from one pitfall to another.

The other four books in the series are:
Mennyms in the Wilderness wherein they are forced to move
Mennyms Under Siege wherein they must consider themselves under siege, stripped of their liberty, due to an unfortunate sighting
Mennyms Alone wherein they await the end of all things
Mennyms Alive wherein the secret of the Mennyms is understood and wherein they achieve their freedom

Each book in the series is better than the one before it and the entire series is a delight from beginning to end. It has its sense of humor and action and adventure, but its greatest strength is in its characters and in the sensitivity with which their relationships are played out and described.

The Mennyms is a good book and a fine introduction to a truly great series. I think it is currently out of print, except perhaps in Britain, but it is readily available at reasonable cost on line. Check your local library, too. Look for it. Don't allow children you love to miss out on it. show less