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    The Willoughbys
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    The Willoughbys
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    The Willoughbys
    Audiobook2 hours

    The Willoughbys

    Written by Lois Lowry

    Narrated by Arte Johnson

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    Abandoned by their ill-humored parents to the care of an odious nanny, Tim, the twins, Barnaby A and Barnaby B, and their sister, Jane, attempt to fulfill their roles as good oldfashioned children. Following the models set in lauded tales from A Christmas Carol to Mary Poppins, the four Willoughbys hope to attain their proscribed happy ending too, or at least a satisfyingly maudlin one. However, it is an unquestionably ruthless act that sets in motion the transformations that lead to their salvation and to happy endings for not only the four children, but their nanny, an abandoned baby, a candy magnate, and his long-lost son too. Replete with a tongue-in-cheek glossary and bibliography, this hilarious and decidedly old-fashioned parody pays playful homage to classic works of children's literature.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateApr 8, 2008
    ISBN9780739364024
    Author

    Lois Lowry

    Lois Lowry is the author of more than forty books for children and young adults, including the New York Times bestselling Giver Quartet and the popular Anastasia Krupnik series. She has received countless honors, among them the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, the California Young Reader Medal, and the Mark Twain Award. She received Newbery Medals for two of her novels, Number the Stars and The Giver.

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    Reviews for The Willoughbys

    4/5

    469 ratings57 reviews

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    • 5/5
      The most fun I've had in a while. A completely dysfunctional group of people who are somehow also completely charming. All the references the characters make comparing themselves to people in "old fashioned" stories were hilarious. Absolutely a must read. It's 157 pages. You can read it in a day. Or less. Just do it.Warning - if - like me - you are a Lois Lowry fan - this is a departure - don't be afraid. It's OK.
    • 4/5
      We listened to the audio of this on a car trip and it was funny and inventive. The kids liked the story and adult listeners liked the spoofs of literary conventions.
    • 5/5
      Loved this book and strong charecters involved. The descriptions that Lois used for each individual painted a perfect picture of their personalities. I wasn't sure where the story actually took place but it kind of seems New England or Britain area.This kept bugging me but in the end it kept me intrigued. I was a bit surprised with the vocabulary used throughout the story. For a 4th - 5th grader i would be very interested if they could comprehend some of the words used. The fact the Lois aded a glossary at the end was fantastic. Many of these words were so perfectly placed into the sorry. I also loved how the plot came full circle with the nanny falling in clove with the Commander, the parents dieting, the kids and Baby Ruth and finally the Commanders son at the end. That was a great way to tie it all together.
    • 4/5
      Such fun. Such great humor so subtly expressed. I think I laughed more during this than I had in the last couple years. I laughed out loud in public. And it's not comedy - more like parody of drama - or something. It's just great and cute and fun. The writing has that wonderful rhythm that begs to be read aloud.
    • 3/5
      In "The Willoughbys," we find a family of four children and two parents. The children devise a plan to rid themselves of their parents and replace them with a nanny. This is a quick read, fun and entertaining. It does have some limitations when I forget what age group it is intended for, but nonetheless a fun read for the right age. Though this book pales in comparison to some of Lowry's other books, it is charming and fun all the same.
    • 4/5
      _The Willoughbys_ is a very funny, but mislabeled, book. Although shelved with the juvenile literature (the copy I took out from the library added that it was for "accelerated readers"), I just cannot see younger readers catching the parody Lowry has woven into her story. I would, however, order this book for a high school library in a second! Humorous and irreverent, _The Willoughbys_ will make you laugh. Insider tip: Do not neglect the Glossary and Bibliography! They may be the most amusing parts of the book.
    • 5/5
      Narrated by Arte Johnson (yes, that Arte Johnson!). Mr. Johnson brings a wonderfully avuncular narration to this "old-fashioned" parody of orphan stories. The way he reads it, of course it makes perfect sense that the Willoughby parents hate their own kids and vice versa, and that the kids should naturally take matters into their own hands to protect their interests. Nonsensically sensible and fun; ideal for a family or classroom read-aloud.
    • 5/5
      Very funny and witty. Quick read, lovable characters!
    • 5/5
      Adventures of a most horrid couple and their horrid offspring reminiscent of Charles Addams or Edward Gorey although Lowry's own hand-drawn illustrations lack the macabre bleakness of either. Very dark humour delivered with a light hand, great fun for twisted adults and very weird children.
    • 4/5
      I thought this book was beautifully written in the short amount of pages that the book contained. I read it in one day because I wanted to know what happened. The character names are interesting and the parents don't care about their kids which makes the book intriguing.
    • 3/5
      I actually read it a few months ago; I've just been really bad about reviewing, especially books that I'm not super-psyched about. And, sadly, this book falls into that category. It's an interesting enough story and a very quick and easy read, but I just didn't love it as much as I thought I would. The children are complete and total brats, and I just couldn't get past that. I understand it's a parody and meant to be making fun of them, but I just didn't like the kids. As they are the protagonists, it makes it difficult to like the book. I did like the adult characters, though, and even found myself sympathizing with the Willoughby parents, which I'm pretty sure wasn't supposed to happen. Maybe I was just in one of my childfree hardcore moods when I read this (I don't actually post on that community, fyi, but some of the stories are amusing), or maybe I just didn't "get it," but I vastly preferred A Series of Unfortunate Events and would recommend that series over The Willoughbys.
    • 4/5
      In The Willoughbys, two-time Medalist Lois Lowry makes fun of prevalent clichés in classic children’s literature – the “four worthy orphans with a no-nonsense nanny,” the “bereaved benefactor with a ward” (an abandoned baby), selfish parents, and a plucky boy – by weaving them together in a tongue-in-cheek tale. It takes a few chapters to warm to the main characters, the Willoughby children who wish to be orphans like those in the “old-fashioned” books they like to read, whose parents don’t really want to be parents. This could be a dark tale (like some of Roald Dahl’s or the “Series of Unfortunate Events” books by Lemony Snicket), but it quickly becomes amusing.Some of the humor I enjoyed included the fractured faux-German spoken by the plucky boy ("Schlee you later, alligatorplatz!" and "Ach. I forgotzenplunkt. Sorrybrauten," for example), and puns on the baby ward’s name, Ruth (when the Willoughbys leave her on the candy-maker benefactor’s doorstep, they are Ruth-less, and the candy-maker eventually names a confection after Baby Ruth).The best parts of the book are at the end – the glossary and bibliography of 13 classic children’s books. Lowry uses 38 big words in her book, and provides funny definitions in the glossary. Example: “IGNOMINIOUS means shamefully weak and ineffective….This book has ignominious illustrations. They are shamefully weak because the person who drew them [Lowry herself] is not an artist.” I love the fact that Lowry challenges her readers to expand their vocabularies!The annotated bibliography of "books of the past that are heavy on piteous but appealing orphans, ill-tempered and stingy relatives, magnanimous benefactors, and transformations wrought by winsome children," which include The Secret Garden, Pollyanna and The Bobbsey Twins, with all but one published in 1934 or earlier. Their descriptions are droll; for example, Little Women: "Meg is mature and sensible. Jo is literary and boyish. Amy is vain and foolish. Beth is saintly and dies."The more of the bibliography books you’ve read (or know of), the more (I think) you will appreciate this book’s parody. I’d only completely read three of the 13, but I was familiar with all but two of them. That may be a problem for today’s kids, as I’m guessing most of them have perhaps only read James and the Giant Peach (the only one published after 1934, and that in 1961). I think this book would be a great read-aloud by parents who have read some of the bibliography, and will also be enjoyed by children who like snarky stories (like Snicket’s and Dahl’s) and won’t be upset by the unsympathetic characters (it does have the obligatory happy ending). It’s a fast, easy read.
    • 4/5
      I’ve had this book on my shelf for a couple years and just now read it. I really liked it - it reminded me of Roald Dahl, the way nothing is sugarcoated, fun yet not fluffy language is used, and the characters aren’t all nice. There were tons of literary references, and then a brief overview of the mentioned books was given in the back, which I think it great for kids. There’s also a glossary explaining some of the big words or outdated terms that Lowry used, and they’re defined with a great sense of humor. Highly recommended!
    • 4/5
      The characters are not foreign but familiar. They aren’t overly developed, and that is part of their charm. The story mentions at least 20 classic stories that the characters relate to, and there is a blurb about each one in the back of the book. From Mary Poppins (the book, not the movie full of singing!) to Little Women to James and the Giant Peach, the story is a loving ode to many universally adored characters.
    • 5/5
      The Willoughbys are a strange family. The parents would rather be childless and the four children long to be orphans! Well, both wishes obviously can’t come true, and therein lies the tale. A bit a dark humor aimed at the younger set, this book is still quite enjoyable for older folk. Delightful characters and a devious plot make for an entertaining three hours, especially when you listen to the audio expertly performed by Arte Johnson.
    • 4/5
      This was an adorable children's story. I'm trying to rate this book as if I were 8 or 9 years old reading this for the first time. The Willoughby children, Tim, A, B, and Jane despise their parents and the feeling is mutual on the parents side. The parents eventually abandon the children and leave them to be raised by a nanny who is simply referred to as Nanny. Nanny lovingly raises the children and teaches them to become better individuals. The second story in the book focuses on a lonely old millionaire living in squalor. However, his life is completely changed when he finds a baby on his porch. He immediately changes his ways as he realizes there is more to live for. The two stories connect, but I won't divulge the ending here because it might ruin the story for readers. Enjoy this book for what it is...a TRADITIONAL story with very TRADITIONAL orphans.
    • 1/5
      A morally bankrupt pastiche. It feels to me like Lowry was attempting to cash in on the current crop of creepy orphan tales (Lemony Snicket, et. al.) but justifying it by hearkening back to the orphan tales of old. It didn't work for me, on any level. The writing was phoned in, the characters made of the thinnest cardboard, and the plot so lame as to be laughable. I loathed this book with my entire heart. I can't remember the last book I've had this strong of a reaction to. Negative 3 billion stars.
    • 3/5
      A slightly odd, but fun book. The kids and I enjoyed reading it together. Made them glad to be a part of our family instead of one like the Willoughbys. (Although granted, the Willoughbys were definitely over-the-top in dysfunctionality.) I enjoyed seeing the growth and positive change in some of the characters.
    • 3/5
      Quite amusing. In the spirit of a Series of Unfortunate Events, but ended in a more timely manner.
    • 5/5
      Hilariously demented send-up of classic, "old-fashioned" type books. These are old-fashioned kids, and kids in old-fashioned books tend to be orphans; ergo, these four should be orphans... and they set about a plan to become so. I don't know if it'll be as funny to kids without as much literary history behind them, but I'll probably hand-sell at least a few on it anyway.
    • 4/5
      2009-2010 Biddeford Intermediate School Book Award.

      I liked this, but not for the orphans. I liked it because of the old-fashioned feel to it. I wish more books were written that way.
    • 4/5
      Undoubtedly, every child has wondered what life as an orphan might be like, but the four unloved Willoughby children go beyond just wondering and devise a plan to become orphaned from their indifferent parents.  Tim, a boy who plans to pick himself up by his bootstraps, long-suffering twins A and B, and the boys' little sister Jane soon find themselves without parents and without a home, but their resourceful nanny has a plan. Newbery Award winning Lowry crafts a delightful, yet cautionary tale with a twist.  This wry chapter book- akin to Lemony Snicket's woeful accounts, will keep clever young readers guessing as the campy characters keep them giggling.  Peppered with vocabulary seemingly straight from the GRE, even the most precocious child will appreciate the glossary defining difficult terminology in the end matter of the quick-reading novel.  An "old-fashioned" tale for today's curious reader, "The Willougby's" winds it way from sorrow to joy and ultimately makes us all appreciate the good things in our lives.Grades 3-6Highly recommended
    • 5/5
      Pair with Tale Dark and Grimm. Fun, funny, read aloud or put in Lit Circle
    • 5/5
      I’m beginning to think that Lois Lowry can do no wrong. This is the sixth book of hers that I’ve read, and I’ve enjoyed every single one, including The Willoughbys. While an excellent children’s book, it is also a fun book for adults to read as it pokes fun at some of the cliches of children’s literature, while still being very entertaining for both kids and adults.The Willoughby children have parents who want to get rid of them, but the kids really don’t want their parents, either. A nice nanny, a sweets manufacturer, and the four Willoughby children are the main cast.I highly recommend it. It’s a great story for kids, but it’s also entertaining for those adults who have read and enjoyed the best of children’s literature and who can appreciate a little tongue-in-cheek fun.2008, 176 pages
    • 1/5
      I really like Lois Lowry, but I couldn't get past the first couple of chapters. I don't feel like this book is appropriate for children at all, but maybe that's just me.
    • 5/5
      So funny! Parents who don't care for their children. Children wishing to trade their parents. If you like Lemony Snicket or Nanny McPhee, this book is for you.
    • 4/5
      This book is about the Willoughby children and parents each devising a plan to get rid of the other. Thankfully the children succeed and end up with a happy ending. This book was quite funny even though I couldn't figure out when it was set it was a nice play on Hansel and Gretel story.
    • 5/5
      The Willoughbys is a delightfully written book. I found myself laughing at the characters. I love all the Willoughbys, Tim, A&B, and Jane. They are the children of Mr. & Mrs. Willoughby. Tim is the oldest and does all the bossing. A&B are twins and they are known as Barnaby A and Barnaby B. Jane is the only girl and the youngest of the family.I loved the story because the kids didn't care for their parents about as much as the parents didn't care for their children. The children had a bond with each other that the parents never knew about. The children and the parents both try to get away from each other and that made the story entertaining.I also loved all the little mentions of old fashioned books. When The Bobsy Twins were mention I chuckled to myself because my sister had all those books growing up and I always wanted to read them. She was very protective of her books and was afraid I would destroy them.If you just want a quick, fun read then I suggest you read The Willoughbys!!
    • 4/5
      This quick little book is packed with all kinds of references to the orphan genre in children's literature. It pokes gentle fun at those old fashioned stories, while at the same time paying homage to the values espoused in those same stories - honor, affection, optimism, and love. I loved the Bibliography with all the summaries Ms. Lowry wrote about those famous books! As a side note, Ms. Lowry continues to amaze me with the variety of her works - I've been reading her since I was a kid, and her interests and the stories she tells are so different from one another. Very refreshing!
    • 5/5
      A parody of classic children's literature. The Willoughby children set out to become orphans.