Penny from Heaven facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Jennifer L. Holm |
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| Cover artist | Jamie Grill |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's |
| Publisher | Random House |
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Publication date
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2006 |
| Media type | Print (chapbook) |
| Pages | 274 pp |
| ISBN | 978-0-375-83689-3 |
Penny from Heaven is a children's novel written by Jennifer L. Holm. It was published in 2006. The book was recognized as a Newbery Honor book in 2007. Jennifer L. Holm also wrote another Newbery Honor book called Our Only May Amelia.
Contents
Story of Penny from Heaven
Penny from Heaven tells the story of an eleven-year-old girl named Barbara "Penny" Falucci. She believes her nickname "Penny" comes from her father's favorite song, "Pennies from Heaven." After her father, Alfred, passes away, Penny lives with her mother, Ellie, and her grandparents, Me-Me and Pop-Pop. She enjoys playing with her old dog, Scarlett O'Hara. Penny also loves spending time with her father's Italian family.
Penny's Family Mystery
Penny's father was the oldest son of her grandmother, Nonny. He was the only one of Nonny's six children born in Italy. Penny feels confused because both sides of her family seem distant. No one will tell her the real reason her father died.
Frankie and Fun Times
Penny's best friend is her cousin, Frankie. Frankie is a bit of a troublemaker. Once, he convinced Penny to lie to her grandparents. They went to the public pool, even though Penny's strict mother didn't want her to. Penny's mother often doesn't let her do things Penny considers "fun." Frankie also sometimes takes things without asking. He worries about getting into trouble.
Working at the Meat Store
It was a big surprise when Penny's mother allowed her to work. She got a job at her Uncle Ralphie's meat store. Her favorite uncle, Dominic, also works there. Penny likes Dominic, but sometimes wishes he wasn't so unusual. Years ago, Dominic was the only family member who supported Penny's parents getting married. The rest of his family wanted Penny's father to marry an Italian girl. Uncle Dominic and Penny's mom used to be good friends. Penny secretly hopes Dominic and her mother will get married, and he will become her new father.
A New Relationship
Penny is disappointed when she learns her mother is dating the milkman, Mr. Mulligan. Penny decides she wants to break up their relationship. During a dinner party, she acts rude. She asks Mr. Mulligan uncomfortable questions. She also compares him to her own father.
The Search for Hidden Treasure
One of Penny's uncles tells her and Frankie a secret. Their grandfather Falucci supposedly hid money in their backyard. He died before he could tell anyone where it was. Penny and Frankie decide to find this hidden money. They search all over the backyard but don't find anything.
Next, they decide to look in the basement. They wait for all the adults to leave. They pretend to do laundry. Frankie finds some money and gets very excited. Penny gets distracted. Her right arm gets pulled into the laundry wringer machine. It goes all the way up to her armpit and gets stuck. The wringer keeps moving.
Hospital and a Shocking Truth
Penny wakes up in the hospital. In a dream, she hears her mother blaming Uncle Dominic for her father's death. After several weeks, Penny still cannot move the fingers on her right arm. A doctor says there's a high chance Penny might have a permanent disability.
One night, Penny wakes up and hears two nurses talking. They say her father was thought to be an Italian spy. They say he was killed by the American government. When Penny asks her mother about this, her mother starts crying. Penny's aunt then decides to tell her the full truth.
When Penny was a baby, Uncle Dominic bought her father a new radio. He didn't know that people born in Italy were not allowed to have this type of radio. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the country became very suspicious. All non-citizens were seen as possible spies. Unfortunately, Penny's father was born in Italy and was not a U.S. citizen. He was put in jail, got sick, and died there. In his last letter, he wrote, "Baby is just like a lost penny, I'll never hold again." This is the true reason everyone calls her "Penny."
Penny now understands why her mom blamed Dominic. He had bought the radio. She wants to see him and tell him it wasn't his fault. But he never visits her in the hospital. All she has left from him is a lucky bean.
The Lucky Bean
The girl sharing Penny's hospital room asks to see her lucky bean. Penny tries to reach for it. She loses her balance, and the bean slides off the table. Penny doesn't want it to drop. She quickly catches it with her fingers. She realizes she can move her fingers! Penny believes it was a miracle from her lucky bean.
Main Characters
- Barbara Ann Falucci "Penny" — An 11-year-old girl. She is half Italian. Penny loves butter pecan ice cream and the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team.
- Ellie Falucci — Penny's single mother. She used to work as a nurse.
- Alfred Falucci — Penny's father, who has passed away. He was born in Italy but lived in the United States. He worked as a journalist for an Italian newspaper.
- Dominic Falucci — Penny's father's younger brother. He lives in his car and prefers to be alone. He gives Penny a special lucky bean and is her favorite uncle.
- Frankie Falucci — An 11-year-old boy. He is Penny's best friend and cousin. Frankie loves having fun and can be a troublemaker. He dreams of becoming rich to support his family.
- Genevieve Falucci "Nonny" — Penny's paternal grandmother, around 70 years old. She always wears black clothes and loves to cook.
- Ralph Falucci — The youngest brother of Penny's father. He owns a coat factory and often gives Penny new clothes.
- Pat Mulligan — The milkman who dates Penny's mother. Before becoming a milkman, he was in the air force and served in Burma during the war.
- Scarlett O'Hara — Penny's 15-year-old dog. She passes away about halfway through the book.
Awards and Recognition
- Named a Newbery Medal Honor Book in 2007.
- Nominated for the Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award in 2009.
- Appeared on The New York Times children's book bestseller list in 2007.
