Reviews (17)

a treat for readers of all ages
The five books in "The Mennyms" series are almost as monumental as "The Borrowers" series. The concept is similar in that you have a family of "people" who are out-of-the-ordinary enough that they need to keep themselves hidden from the greater human population or risk being exibited as freaks, or worse yet, examined in a labratory. It almost doesn't matter how the "people" are "different", what matters is what the author does with the situation, how believably they can weave together a previously unknown point of view, like that of teeny tiny people living behind the baseboards, or life-sized rag dolls who come to life. The writers who can pull this off smoothly, without showing us too much of the puppeteer who is pulling the strings are few and far between. Sylvia Waugh does a near-masterful job.
Pretends and for-reals
The problem with this book is that it's hard to convince other readers that it's the real deal. The premise sounds like that of a fairly generic kid's book: the story of a family of live (human-size) rag dolls. But that's like saying that _The Metamorphosis_ is about a man who turns into a beetle. It's actually a shrewd & often disquieting study of the tensions & loves that bind together a family; it also offers an exceedingly ambivalent portrait of fantasy--the pathos of the dolls who engage in "pretends" (whether harmless--Joshua's comforting pretense that he's drinking from an empty mug of coffee--or much more harmful, such as the monstrous prank played by Appleby in this novel). & it has a curiously delicate approach to religious themes: on the one hand, each book in the series has a moment that quietly implies an act of divine benevolence--& yet Soobie (the most philosophical of the dolls) is an agnostic who in any case doubts that God, if he exists, cares about dolls like he does abotu humans. So Soobie's an unbeliever quietly asking God to help him in his unbelief (& yet his prayers _are_ answered).The book gives me a stsrong sense of how family life (however loving) can become a terrible burden in the absence of outside relationships (to friends, boyfriends, neighbours, &c). This is the dolls' real problem: that they are stuck with their own company, that their world is circumscribed by their own family.
Never has a title seemed so much like a palindrome & wasn't
You know, when I read Neil Gaiman's fantasy novel, "Coraline", I was under the distinct impression that the idea of people walking around with buttons for eyes was a new thought on his part.Then I picked up "The Mennyms" by Sylvia Waugh and found thatI had, yet again, rushed to a wrong conclusion.Written originally in Britain in 1993, the book has been compared to "The Borrowers" in terms of its storyline and characters.But where "The Borrowers" was a tale of tiny people who just wanted to be left alone, the Mennyms are a family of living breathing rag dolls.I should add, life sized rag dolls.But lest you start thinking that this is some namby-pamby book in which a bunch of magical dolls have wonderful adventures, allow me to put your mind at ease (or not, depending on what kind of person you are).This book has more spunk and sizzle than a can of Jolt Cola and reading this book will do anything but bore you. Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Dolls    4. Family life    5. Fiction    6. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic   

Reviews (1)

A Great Book
I have read all the Mennym books but espeically liked this one. This is the last book in the series, so to understand what's going on you need to read the books from the begining (starting with The Mennyms) or atleast read the Mennyms Alone before this one.It's aboutwhat happens after the Mennyms die. The Mennyms are a family of living,life-sized, rag dolls. They are Sir Magnus, Grandfather, who has 100 pearlsof wisdom, Tulip, the Grandmother and skillful buissnesswomen, Joshua, thequiet father, Vinetta, the loving mother, and their five children: Soobiethe blue rag doll, his twin Pilbeam, Applebey the redheaded teenager, andthe ten-year-old twins, Poopie and Wimpey. And there is also Miss Quigley,the nanny to Googles, Vinetta's baby. In the book before this, the Mennymsmysteriously die, (they mysteriously came alive forty some years ago aftertheir maker, Kate Penshaw died) and this book tells what happens when theycome alive again, finding themselves in the care of Daisy Maughan, an oldlady who owns an antique shop. I think this book makes a wonderfulconclusion to the series-it really leaves you wondering! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Dolls    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Moving, Household    8. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    9. Toys, Dolls, & Puppets   

Reviews (1)

Something to be desired...
This book is pretty darn good. The original Mennyms was one heck of alot less bizzare. I mean, gohsts magic doors,... It leaves something to be desired I've got to admite. It is a good book but kinda leaves you hangin'. All I've got to say is, the writing style just don't work. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Dolls    4. England    5. Family life    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic   

Editorial Review

The third book in the Waugh's Mennyms about a most unusual family of ageless rag-dolls that are both alien and eerily human.From their house at Number 5 Brocklehurst Lane, Appleby, Philbeam, Sir. Magnus, Soobie (the only blue Mennym) and the rest conduct their isolated routines designed to mimic the human lives they can have no contact with lest their secret be discovered.Here, they face their biggest challenge to date.A remarkable book that will delight both young and adult readers. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Brilliant and Creepy
I'm not sure if these should be classified as books for "young readers"; then again, they probably baffle most adults as well.I read them on Edward Gorey's recommendation, and they are as strange as he said they were.Recommended for all who desire an unearthly family novel.

touching, chilling, shocking, startling.....MENNYMS.
M is for magical; for a magical magical bookRead more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Dolls    4. England    5. Family life    6. Fiction    7. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic   

Reviews (8)

Awsome! A MUST READ FOR BOOK WORMS!
I read this book before I read the prequil, The Mennyms. It didn't really matter, because this one is soooo much better and easyer(sp) to understand than the 1st one. I love my copie. I've read this book( and I'm proud ) 4 TIMES! I read the first one recently, and It was not very informative. I learned more about the Mennyms in Mennyms in the Wilderness than in The Mennyms! I'm not saying don't read The Mennyms, But this is a must read Like I said. Too Bad My Library Only Has The Mennyms and The Mennyms in the Wilderness. I am HOPING to get the rest of the Mennym books this X-mas. See Ya!

Even better then the first
After reading the first book in this series my daughter, my mother, and I were all anxious to read this.All three of us liked it much better then the first book.

An excellent sequel (sp?) to Mennyms
Read aloud.Waugh's second book about the Mennyms, living ragdolls with all too human characteristics.This time the Mennyms lifeis threatened by the local government's plan to tear down the Grove for a new road.Albert Pond, a human relative of Aunt Kate, the dolls' creator, is drawn into their lives, with difficulty on both sides, and helps to preserve their secret.A lot of fun to read aloud (or silently).Waugh writes well; having been a teacher she recognises good writing, i suspect, and is a wonderful developer of character.There are a couple of moments in the plot where i feel it develops a little less strongly than it might -- Albert's interest in another, newfound, relative is one -- but the overall story is a delight. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Dolls    5. England    6. Family life    7. Fiction    8. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic   

Subjects:  1. Fiction