'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Tuesday 30 July 2024

Review: Penny Draws A Class Trip

This fourth and final book in the Penny Draws series is breezy, compelling and delightful.

New York Times bestselling author Sara Shepard delivers us yet another page-turning, quip-wielding, laugh-inducing series of events and mishaps that propel 11-year-old Penny and her friends into their school trip and beyond. 

As with the previous books, Penny’s writing style is a doodle-diary of letters and pictures to her beloved dog Cosmo. The line drawings that accompany her words ensure that every page is visually dynamic and easy to move through, for both skilled and reluctant readers.

In this adventure, Penny and her classmates are whizzing off on a bus for a weekend school trip to New York. 

There, they will meet and workshop with famous author Billy J Plumberry, who also just-so-happens to be the namesake of their school.

One of the most endearing things about this series is that we view the world completely through Penny’s eyes. Once again, the joy and fun of this book lies in its capacity to show us – not tell us – what is going on inside Penny’s anxiety-ridden head. We stumble through beside her, sometimes holding her metaphoric hand, and always revelling in her quirky discoveries about this world and its people.

Penny’s perspective is constantly fresh, funny and thoughtful.

I have to confess to being sad this series has drawn to a close. Maybe Penny will reappear in a new series with her unique take on the teen/tween world. 

We can but hope! Meantime, treat yourself to Elizabeth's reviews of other titles in the Penny Draws series: Penny Draws A School Play and Penny Draws A Secret.

Title: Penny Draws A Class Trip
Author/Illustrator: Sara Shepard
Publisher: Text, $16.99
Publication Date: 16 July 2024
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781922790712
For Ages: 8 +
Type: Middle Grade Fiction