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The Penniman Menagerie
The Penniman Menagerie is ostensibly the tale of a defunct zoo being rebuilt in late-nineteenth-century England-but it is really the story of the disparate group of individuals who come to live and work there: the wealthy owner who sees its renaissance as a tribute to her deceased husband, the man who fears that his sickly son will die of tuberculosis like his wife, the woman who can calm terrified animals by the touch of her hands but can’t always connect with her daughter, the young man who has broken away from his strict religious upbringing, the amateur historian who is quick with his fists, and the abandoned child whose only skill is that of survival-to name a few.These onetime strangers will work together, fight for the menagerie, and encounter unforeseen adventures. Confronting themes of isolation, independence, maturation, racism, overcoming insecurity, and the importance of affirmation and belonging, The Penniman Menagerie illuminates the vital importance of family, whether it is the family one is born into or the family one is lucky enough to find.
Praise
Rita Mace Walston
“Reading The Penniman Menagerie, I could well imagine myself reading with my book club as well as aloud to an enraptured audience of children. This engaging story has something for all ages. It's Downton Abbey meets The Swiss Family Robinson (complete with riding zebras across the countryside). Settle in and be prepared to spend the day reading; you won't want to put this one down.”
Dean Cycon
“In The Penniman Menagerie, Winona Howe has conjured a Dickensian world softened by a Beatrix Potter sensibility and brightened by a sprinkle of fabulism. This is a charming tale where the number of characters and animals continue to grow and deepen almost chapter by chapter, as all find solace and sanctuary at the menagerie.”
Brenda K. Massman
“The story of the Penniman Menagerie—a defunct zoo on the outskirts of London soon to reopen—is carried out by way of a diverse group of characters who, through circumstance and adventure, ultimately become like family, one that cares deeply about the animals they amass and about each other. This charm of a story is magnificently rendered and an important reminder of what it means to be given a chance.”
John M. Ganim
“Winona Howe’s The Penniman Menagerie takes place in a Dickensian world, and Charles Dickens would have enjoyed the characters, the lively dialogue, and the combination of heart and intellect that runs through Howe’s writing. Her style is so limpid and the plotting so smooth that reading this book is almost like binge-watching a favorite miniseries. There is an element of magic in the connection between humans and animals in Howe’s novels, revealing how we are all in fact part of the menagerie of creation.”
About the Author
Winona Howe grew up in Oakdale, California where she listened to her grandmother’s stories of pre-1900 ranch life in Nevada, played in the barn and climbed trees. These activities were far preferable to practicing the piano and cleaning her room, duties she tried to avoid.