LEEVA AT LAST, by Sara Pennypacker and Matthew Cordell, Balzer + Bray, March 7, 2023, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 8-12)
A young girl learns the value of people through friendship and community in Leeva At Last, by Sara Pennypacker and illustrated by Matthew Cordell.
What are people for?
That’s the burning question on the mind of Leeva Spayce Thornblossom.
Fame! says Leeva’s mom, the mayor of Nutsmore.
Money! says her dad, the town treasurer.
With the help of an orphaned badger, a risk-averse boy in a hazmat suit, and the town’s librarians, Leeva sets off to discover her own answer—setting off a chain of events that will change Nutsmore forever. —Synopsis provided by Balzer + Bray
Leeva At Last has a very Roald Dahl-esque feel to it. From the quirky characters to the adventurous spirit to the suspension of norms that just fit inside the world Sara Pennypacker has created.
At the center of the story is Leeva, whose unfortunate name Leeva Spayce came from a mother who didn’t want to fill out a hospital form. Leeva has spent her entire life away from people. But when she discovers the library next door, new worlds are opened. Leeva is bright and clever and a voracious learner. Her curiosity and ability to ask “why?” make her a joy to read about.
In fact, Leeva At Last is just plain charming. There’s a lightness to Pennpacker’s writing that just resonates. Her pacing is spot on and you want to know more about her characters. Illustrator Mathew Cordell’s drawings add humor and personality throughout. Even at 300 pages, this one is a fast read.
*Leeva At Last is a Cybils-nominated book. This review is my opinion and not the opinion of the middle-grade fiction panel as a whole.
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