Love, Penelope

By Joanne Rocklin, Lucy Knisley (Illustrator)

A fifth-grader's letters reveal family, identity, and big questions about love and equality.

3.6/5 Goodreads · 189 ratings

272 pages· 41,545 words· Est. 6 hour read

$16.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

Ten-year-old Penny eagerly writes to her unborn sibling, sharing her life in Oakland and pondering big questions about family and identity. As her moms navigate marriage equality, Penny's letters explore love, heritage, and the excitement of a changing world. Will her family find the answers they seek in a year of celebration and change?

"I told her I had a lot of thoughts about the world and maybe I should write them down. I always feel better when I write things down."

— from the book

From the publisher

Penny is excited to welcome her new sibling, so throughout her mom’s pregnancy she writes letters to it (not it, YOU!). She introduces herself (Penelope, but she prefers “Penny”) and their moms (Sammy and Becky). She brags about their home city, Oakland, California (the weather, the Bay, and the Golden State Warriors) and shares the trials and tribulations of being a fifth-grader (which, luckily, YOU won’t have to worry about for a long time). Penny asks little questions about her sibling’s development and starts to ask big questions about the world around her (like if and when her moms are ever going to get married “for real”). Honest, relatable, and full of heart, Love, Penelope explores heritage, forgiveness, love, and identity through the eyes (and pen) of one memorable 10-year-old in a special year when marriage equality and an NBA championship made California a place of celebration.

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 272
Words: 41,545
Reading age: 8–12
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: ~800L

Themes & topics

Books about siblings Books about family Books about school Books about family life Books about new babies

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

LGBTQ

This book has two moms.

After the last page

Talk about it together

"How does Penelope feel after she has finally been honest about her “fabrication?” Why do you think that is?"

"What is your ancestral heritage? What are the traditions or ceremonies in your family related to your family history?"

Inside the book

A peek between the covers

Good to know

Stories behind the story

Why did you choose to write the novel in journal form?

I love writing in first person for the middle grades, and have done it in diary/letter form before. It is an age of increased introspection, an intense pondering of identity, and a growing desire to examine one’s place in the world, which the form allows. There are also many opportunities for humor (both conscious and unconscious) as my narrator expresses observations that are innocent, open, and sometimes erroneous.

What readers & critics say

Reviews

“Rocklin captures a lesser-seen slice of contemporary American urban life: how the more troubling parts of our world trickle down to and affect upper elementary students as they encounter prejudice in its many forms. Penny’s optimism and resolve is a joyous testament to our complicated world.”

Booklist

Critic

“Rocklin’s novel deals honestly with the ways even the best friends and parents can disappoint, creating numerous genuine and moving moments.”

Publisher's Weekly

Critic

For readers who can't stop at one