Leeva at Last

Leeva at Last

Sara Pennypacker
Matthew Cordell, Illustrator
HarperCollins, 2023
320 pages
Grades 3-6
Humor-ish

Leeva lives a dull life. The child of the town's mayor and a businessman, she is not allowed to attend school. Instead, she does housework for her family all day and gleans her knowledge of the world from daytime soap operas. One day she wanders out of her backyard and discovers the town library. This chance encounter introduces her to the kind librarian, her equally kind nephew, and the world of reading. Once Leeva's parents find out, she is forbidden to enter the library, but no one says she can't still be passed off library books? Through the discovery of literature Leeva's imagination sours and her brain grows. Through the acquaintance with the librarian and nephew she discovers for the first time what it is like to be cared for-and the power of cookies. While running errands for her new friends, Leeva's circle opens even further, as she gains two new human friends, as well as that of a badger. Finally running away from home, Leeva sleeps in the library's book drop and remains unmissed by her parents. When Leeva discovers that her money-grubbing father is siphoning the town's budget and hoarding the cash, she is determined that all of the town departments, including her beloved library, should get their fair share. Does she dare to oppose her family?

Not my favorite of Pennypacker's books, Leeva at Last is certainly unique and has a lot to say. The style of the book is much like Roald Dahl and readers will make comparisons with Matilda almost immediately. The humor is certainly there, yet runs absurdist and dark and may go over the heads of young readers. Much like The Series of Unfortunate Events, clever readers will get the dark humor and understand what the author is doing, yet more literal kids will possibly get distressed. The characters are all very interesting and unique and kids will certainly empathize with the protagonist and root for her success. I like that Leeva connects with community and this is what makes the difference. I also like the connection with the library, demonstrating the importance of this institution and that of reading books. I chuckled at the broken elevator complication, since my library is suffering similar woes. The illustrations, by Caldecott winning Cordell, reflect the flavor of the story and compliment the plot, also feeling influenced by Dahl's illustrator Quinten Blake. I don't think that this book will do as well as some of the author's other works, but it is certainly worth checking out.