SuitabookPenny from Heaven
Jennifer L. Holm
- Reading
- Read it as a gradual family mystery rather than rushing towards the explanation of Penny’s father’s death. Afterward, discuss which family members communicate openly, how historical prejudice affects identity, and what remains unresolved.
- Themes
- Family silence and belonging: Penny moves between her mother’s family and her late father’s Italian family while adults avoid discussing her father and the families are estranged. The book?s stance on this remains unclear.
- Historical prejudice and identity: The novel places Penny’s family life in 1953 while addressing a period when Italian Americans could be treated as enemies. The historical material is presented as part of the story’s setting and family history, apparently inviting recognition of a neglected experience rather than treating prejudice as acceptable.
- Worth knowing
- Give some context before reading about how people of Italian heritage were treated as enemies during wartime, and be ready to pause around grief, family silence, illness fears, and the later revelation about Penny’s father.