Love Among the Walnuts facts for kids
The cover of the first edition of Love Among the Walnuts
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| Author | Jean Ferris |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Young adult novel |
| Publisher | Harcourt |
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Publication date
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September 1, 1998 |
| Media type | Print (paperback) |
| Pages | 228 |
| ISBN | 978-0-15-206227-9 |
Love Among the Walnuts: or How I Saved My Family from Being Poisoned is a funny and clever young adult novel by Jean Ferris. It's a bit like a fairy tale mixed with a silly comedy. The story is about a young man named Sandy. His family gets very sick because his tricky uncles want their money.
Sandy moves his family to Walnut Manor. This is a special place for people who need extra care. There, he meets a kind nurse named Sunnie. Together, they try to save Sandy's family. They also help the other people living at Walnut Manor. The book was first released on September 1, 1998. Many people liked it, especially for its unique style and humor. It was even named a "Best Book for Young Adults" in 1999.
Contents
The Story of Sandy and Walnut Manor
The story begins with a rich businessperson, Horatio Alger Huntington-Ackerman. He marries Mousey Malone, who wants to be an actor. They have a son named Sandy. The family, along with their butler Bentley and his wife Flossie, moves to a new home called Eclipse. Their only neighbors are the people at Walnut Manor. This is a place where people go to get better after being sick.
One evening, Sandy's uncles, Bart and Bernie, visit. They give the family a birthday cake that makes everyone very ill. Everyone except Sandy and Bentley falls into a deep sleep. The uncles did this because they wanted to get the family's money.
Moving to Walnut Manor
A court decides that a doctor must watch over the sick family members. To make this happen, Sandy moves them next door to Walnut Manor. There, he meets Dr. Waldemar, who runs the place. He also meets Sunnie Stone, a nurse hired to care for his family.
While Bentley tries to find a way to wake the family, Sandy and Sunnie get to know the other people at Walnut Manor. Sandy and Sunnie also start to like each other a lot.
Uncovering Secrets and Saving the Day
With help from Dr. Waldemar and the manor's residents, Sandy and Sunnie learn something surprising. The relatives of the Walnut Manor patients had put them there. These relatives were also on the manor's board of directors. They had been secretly taking money from the home.
Sandy and Sunnie reveal what the board of directors was doing wrong. Bentley also finds a way to wake Sandy's family. Together, Sandy, Sunnie, Dr. Waldemar, and the residents stop Bart and Bernie. The uncles face consequences for their actions.
About the Book: Publication and Style
Love Among the Walnuts was first published on September 1, 1998. The publisher was Harcourt. Reviewers thought the book was good for readers aged 10 and older, or specifically 12–14.
The book is often called a farce (a silly comedy) and a satire (a story that makes fun of human weaknesses). It also has parts that feel like a fairy tale. Some people said the way the story explores family greed is like an old-fashioned play. Others described it as a funny British comedy, but without any rude humor.
The book was praised for being one of the few funny young adult books at the time. A main message of the novel is how important kindness and caring are for everyone's happiness.
