Little Darlings

Having always been cared for by nannies, the Darling children are no strangers to dealing with the strict people who venture in and out of their lives, but when the latest employee turns out to be a member of a notorious burglar ring, Daisy, Primose, and Cassian delight in secretly seeking revenge on her. Original.

Grade 4-6–Cassian, Primrose, and Daisy, children of rich Papa Darling, are neglected and unloved. Their mother disappeared without a word and since then they have been cared for by a revolving door of nannies, each one more horrible than the last. Throughout these bad times, the children have cultivated their own special talents. Cassian's love of machines, Primrose's culinary skills, and Daisy's deep understanding of psychology enable the siblings to band together and ultimately reunite their parents. One part Pippi Longstocking, two parts Lemony Snicket, Little Darlings is a cleverly written satire on the ingenuity of children and the callous materialism of the British upper classes. The narrative slows at times with the introduction of myriad absurd characters, and the use of British slang and dialect, although appropriate for the novel, might be problematic for less competent readers. While the story might find fans with readers hungry for more Lemony Snicket-type books, others should consider this novel only as a secondary purchase.–Melissa Christy Buron, Epps Island Elementary, Houston, TX
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.