POPPY by Kevin Henkes

POPPY will be the last of Kevin Henkes’ Miller Family books. These began with Billy in 2nd grade who struggles with self-confidence, they continued with emotional his 4-y-o sister Sal and finally we hear from Poppy, who was a baby in the other novels. These are all short novels and clearly POPPY is a wonderful culmination with its emotional sophistication. I recommend that readers follow the marvelous progression as I did. Billy, still quiet and considerate returns from college to announce he will now be called Bill. Sal is a teenager whose reactions are over the top. We recognize them from the previous books because Henkes has so fully developed these characters that they have grown up exactly as we might have imagined. Poppy, the youngest is tender-hearted whether this is in her nature and likeness to her artist father, or whether it is because he has been killed suddenly in an accident when she was younger. Now in 5th grade, she thinks as much about him as she worries about the change—from her mother’s new relationship to all the yellow gingko leaves dropping from trees at the same time. Thankfully Henkes’ writing and characterizations are consistent, and he leaves his readers knowing that this dear family will find its way, regardless of change. Find out more in the Purchase link below