Not as good as the original, but still pretty nice.

The Peppers books (I re read the first last year) only kind of hold up for me as an adult. Their grinding poverty is so apparent to me now, wasn't as a kid. Also I now can't stand Joel, he is always screaming or fighting! As others have said, everything is a Big Deal drama with the Pepper kids, with lots of exclamation points; and, the rich patron aspects don't have total verisimilitude. Still, these hold up better than some 100 year old children's books.

Probably if I’m completely honest, I’d give this 2.5 or 2 stars. I ended up doing a whole lot of skimming. Cringe. I know. I wanted to like this classic - like, really like it. But, I didn’t care that much. It’s terrible of me.

One reason for my skimming was that Sidney felt the need for every single one of the characters to chime in on every single conversation. It was as if she’d written a play and all the Pepper and Whitney kids were the producer’s children and if they didn’t get enough lines… well, no show! So, very wordy for not a whole lot happening.

Also, and I hate to say this, but the various scenes we find the Peppers in are decently outdated. And you know I love old books! It just was not very relatable (a few scenes are) so it wasn’t as engaging.

The Pepper children are usually a bit dramatic when it comes to learning a moral lesson too. It isn’t necessary to run from the room and fling yourself on your bed in utter shame for doing something wrong. Just admit you’re wrong, do the right thing and keep going with a smile.

It’s not like it’s a bad book. But I won’t be recommending this to anyone - simply because it takes a certain special someone to stick through its entirety, and, because I want people to trust my recommendations and not think “oh, that last one she said was good was sooo disinteresting.” Ha, ha!

Ages: 13+ (for endurance’s sake)

Of course, i have always loved the five little peppers. Phronsie the best! And i am hoping in reading all the books of the five little peppers. There something like 11 or 12 books. It's a wonderful story with unexpected turns and written very nicely. Congrats to Margeret Sidney for such an awesome book!

This is the second in the Five Little Peppers series. These books remind me of Louisa May Alcott's. While the setting and some of the actions are dated, the story is still fun.

Fiction

I definitely liked the first book best of all, but this one is also great. I don't love the way the servants are treated in this one, but other than that it's a lovely story continuing the lives of the Peppers.

There are things in this book that simply wouldn't be possible in these days. And yet, it's a sweet story about being good, and kind, and trying to do one's best. Almost too sweet. It's worth reading for a look at an era where illness required a LONG recovery, where servants were treated not much better than furniture and were expected to be grateful for their jobs, where parents guilted their children into trying harder at school. Okay, some things don't change.

I wouldn't read this one without having read the first in the series, or you'll be at loss to figure out who's who and why they like each other so well.

The Peppers have lived with Mr. King for five years now. A mean relative comes and seems determined to try to undermine that relationship. When that doesn't work, she tries to manipulate the youngest Pepper into being her willing pawn in something (I'm not sure what).

I have to marvel at an era where people made up elaborate decorations for parties in an afternoon, and where rich people run around and hire orphans to sing at birthday parties, and line up at the back door for gifts. It's interesting reading it as an adult just because it makes me think of how some of those people must have truly felt - expected to be grateful for the merest notice, and that people really did live to serve and seemed thrilled to do so.

Oh my, how I loved this books as a child. They were very dear to me and are firmly entrenched into my memory strong enough to have become parts of my character. There are is a veritable plethora of life examples and lessons to be learned through these works of literature that take us back to a simpler time and place, entirely different family values and senses or morality and ethics; there is much to be learned from these simple books. Most of all, family and love, loyalty and a moral compass much needed in today's society, camaraderie and ...well, the list is entirely too long. I think the books are relevant to the youth of today, if nothing else to provide an example that though some things change with time, a great many others do not.

I am ELATED (and slightly flabbergasted) that my little 1965 edition is listed here. This is IT! The very one that went with me EVERYWHERE the summer I turned 10...from the lake, to grandma's, to the quilt under the oak tree in our back yard. This book will always spell summer to me...and of course there are infinite other reasons to love it year-round.

Story had no real plot to carry it; everyone tended to baby one another and speak in a “pettish” sort of way, even the adults. Was not pleased with it at all and saddened to see beloved characters not being at their best as far as writing quality could have been.