Summary: After their mother abandons them during the Great Depression, eleven-year-old Tennyson Fontaine and her little sister Hattie are sent to live with their eccentric Aunt Henrietta in a decaying plantation house outside of New Orleans. 288 p., Alfred A. Knopf.
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Eva Perry Mock-Newbery Club 
Can you believe Lesley Blume wrote a book with such a short title? Most of her titles are miles long. Anyhow, I loved the “flavor” of this book. It’s Southern Gothic, with falling-down mansions and ghosts (or maybe they are memories?). It’s about a girl named Tennyson whose mother runs away to be a writer, and her father leaves her and her sister in the care of elderly relatives they’ve never met before. The family used to be wealthy, but now the aunt spends all of her days writing to the government to restore the fortune they lost in the Civil War. Tennyson dreams of the events that took place in the house during that time, and tries to find a way to earn money by writing. Turns out that her mother is not the real writer in the family. This book was absorbing and had tons of atmosphere, although some of it was unbelievable– and not the dream parts. Exposes the dark side of the wealthy antebellum South, but is it preachy? Don’t we already know that? See what you think. You’ll enjoy reading it.
This is a compelling story set in trying times. I was pulled in and captivated.
I feel this book has a unique plot and I enjoyed the historical aspect. The ending did not resolve everything, but the book was suspenseful. Overall I liked this book, though it had flaws.
I loved, LOVED this book … I personally thought that it was one of the best middle grade novels I’ve read in years. Such beautiful, spare language, and absolutely NOT preachy! The whole experience of reading ‘Tennyson’ was so fluid and slightly strange … I felt different reading it than any other book I can remember reading. I gave it to a friend, who didn’t realize that it was a book for young readers until she finished and saw it on the jacket! It’s a book to be read slowly, and not gulped down like most fare for this age … those who consume it as such will miss the point.
I really enjoyed this book- it kept my interest the whole time, the descriptions were so rich it felt like I was there, and it wasn’t predictable. It is a historical novel that is compelling, not one that makes you feel like you’re reading a textbook. I haven’t read a book like this in a long time.
I have read every book this author has written and every year I hope that her book that year will win our Newbery. I have finally found that book. This book manages to be dark and make you think, yet be funny at the same time. The ending was completely unexpected and honesty, I thought that the book was not over. While I was not happy with the ending, I think that it was a realistic ending, though not a happy one. I think that this book should win our Mock Newbery award.
Just like all these other people, I liked this book. It managed to be dark without being depressing, which is hard considering how the two usually go together. The ending was a realistically sad ending. Definitely on my top six.
This book was very atmospheric and haunting, although it is not a ghost story. I thought the dreams Tennyson kept having were really intriguing. It’s interesting that the book is set during the Depression, the time period when Gone With the Wind was written, yet it shows a much less romanticized version of the old South than Gone With the Wind. But, like some of the others commenting I wasn’t crazy about the ending, and it seemed like I just didn’t care as much about the characters as I have in some of the other books I’ve read this year.
This book was one of those books that really make you think. One minute one things the problem the next minute its something else. It was almost a modern day twist on southern living with some gothic mixed in. It really caught my attention and made me keep reading.
During our First Top 3 Vote this year, the following comments were made about this book:
“The writing is beautifully done, with descriptions that are great and great plot ideas.”
“A quality story that blends history with fiction… the way that dreams and poetry are combined keeps my interest throughout every page.”
“I really like the dreams. The ending is fitting and seems realistic…”
“Very surprising…”
This book was very well written. The characters come alive and the plot was very interesting, containing flashbacks from the pasts of the characters as well as what is happening in their lives at the time of the story. It makes me think about how thankful I am that I am a female growing up in today’s times versus during Tennyson’s.