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Reviews for

Penelope and Priscilla

and

The Enchanted House of Whispers

 

The story moves along well. I read this in a small dose, and surprisingly between reads, I found myself wondering            “what next?” Stories about twins are rare, and this is a nice find.”

The Reading Tub, 2005-Big Kid Reaction

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“Written with originality and a flair for storytelling by Jennifer Troulis, Penelope and Priscilla and the Enchanted House of Whispers is a fun story that will delight readers grades 4 through 6.”

Midwest Book Review                                                                                                           www.midwestbookreview.com 

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This was a great book. I enjoyed reading it very much. I thought it would be like Harry Potter, but it wasn’t. It was still a kind of magical tale, though. I enjoyed a few scary parts , too. Be ready when you read this, because it is not a book you can easily put down! I want to read the other books too.”

The Reading Tubm 2005 – Little Kid Reaction,                                                                                                        Reviewer Kate Trout                                                                                                                                                 Midwest Book Review midwestbookreview@aol.com             

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“Such a sweet enchanting story about two sisters reconciling! While there werefantastic elements to this story, the author successfully and realistically showcases the feelings of a sister who thinks she has lost someone she loves and doesn’t know why, and I believe this is the real appeal of this book. This happens so often as siblings grow and change, and no one seems to address it. For this reason, I think this book will make a great read for kids who have brothers and sisters and for those who like both fantasy and reality. The relationship between Priscilla and Penelope is very well done. Also, it is an exciting book, especially because the reader does not know exactly what will happen at the end. Every child should be exposed to books like this one where the characters overcome their fears, and this book shows that on the realistic (am I losing my sister?) and fantastic (am I stronger than Maven?) levels. It is very hard to juggle two different layers in a novel like this, but the author stays on track and brings the reader to the answers to his/her questions in a satisfying ending with a great deal of excitement. Nicely done.”

Writer's Digest 2004

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“This is a delightful book to entertain young teenage girls. It is fast paced and imaginative and kept me reading till the end. Jennifer Troulis is a good writer.”   

Kay Trout midwestbookreview@aol.com                        

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“This story is full of mystical and mysterious moments. The plot runs smoothly and will draw readers, aged 10 and up right into it. Who doesn’t wish for magical help with problems? Aside from Harry Potter and copycat stories, there aren’t many books for middle grade readers that address the magical in a positive light. I am happy to report this title does.”

Heather Froeschl                                                                                                                                                                        Book Ideas, 2005                                                                                                                                www.bookideas.com/enchanted houseofwhisperers_review                                                  www.bookideas.com/cityofbanished_review

 

Reviews for

Penelope and Priscilla

and

The City of Banished

 

Magical purposes, enchanted events, and a quest to overcome the darker side are all wrapped up in Jennifer Troulis’ latest book, “Penelope and Priscilla and the City of the Banished.” This work of fiction is a fantastical journey within for the characters, encouraging readers to think about their own selves and what they would do in certain situations.

It has been a year since Penelope and Priscilla moved into their home in Dunville and began to understand that they are members of another community as well – a community of gifted people in the ways of magic. The girls are learning to use their powers more and also learning who they are inside. One begins lessons in family togetherness and another starts to discover who she wants to be. The twins soon find out that they are destined to play a big role in protecting their magical world as well as that of the “ordinaries.” Along the way they are experiencing life in school and with their friends just as any thirteen-year-olds, dealing with popular and not so popular students, changing desires in clothing, and living in a small town. These two however, also have visits to make to enchanted cottages, underground caverns and magical bookstores that will delight readers and fulfill the imagination.

Troulis offers a look into the typical lives of young teens but also opens the door for the magic and mystery of spells, wishes that come true, and a delightful tale of good overcoming evil in many forms. Readers may wish to read the first in the series before embarking on this continued journey but it isn’t all that necessary. The story is still captivating and enchanting even if this is a first visit to the twins. The plot is wonderfully full of relevant teen-hood, while creating a feeling of purpose and determination to see a fitting ending. This book, and the series as a whole, is a delight.”

Heather Froeschl 
www.bookreview.com/cityofbanished BookReview.com, 2007

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Priscilla and Penelope are twins but they couldn’t be more different. Priscilla doesn’t care about anything but playing sports and being herself, while Penelope cares most about popularity and clothes. At 12, they are growing apart, but when they move with their mother to the old family house, strange happenings draw them back together, and into a world of magic and secrecy.            

The house whispers to them, the neighbors are hostile and strange, and it seems that the neighbor’s cat is spying on them. When they discover an old magical book, the sisters learn that they have to stick together to protect the family secret from the townspeople. They discover talking creatures, including a rat Oswald and the firefly Willow, and become friends with Maggie, their enchanted house.

The sisters learn about their ancestry, the Enlightened Ones, and discover they themselves are destined to carry on the family tradition of witchcraft to protect their family and town from evil forces. This book is filled with enchantment, mystery, and merriment. Pre-teenagers will love reading the story of these twins as they learn to stick together despite their differences. This is a long book, but the chapters are short enough to allow reading out loud. The only illustrations are small pencil sketches at the beginning of each chapter.”

Awareness Magazine, July/August 2007
www.awarenessmagazine.com

 

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