Read Time:2 Minute, 6 Second
Abridged Audio Book: 5 CDs (approx. 6 hours)
Read by Ellen Archer
Fourteen-year-old Jenny Blake has never had any friends. But it’s not that she doesn’t want friends—it’s just that she’s afraid that her abusive father would do the same things to her friends that he does to her and to her older sister, Jean. But when she meets Orelia, one of the integrated students who attend class in the old portables next to Jenny’s school, Jenny realizes she’s found the perfect friend—one who, in 1955 St. Louis, wouldn’t dare to show her face in Jenny’s white neighborhood.
One day, as she’s on her way to see a Grace Kelly movie with Jean, Jenny spots a penny in the middle of the street. She goes back to pick it up, and she brings about a series of events that change her life forever. The penny eventually brings her to Orelia’s church, where she learns about God’s love and forgiveness. And it brings her to Miss Opal Shaw, the beautiful and mysterious woman who owns the jewelry store on Grand Avenue. Miss Shaw offers Jenny a job—and together, the two teach each other about trust and about facing their painful secrets. And they manage to change their lives by taking one small step at a time.
Written by novelist Bedford and Christian motivational speaker Meyer, The Penny tells an inspirational story with a strong message. At times, however, the message is poured on a bit too heavily—and the authors make their point a little too obvious. The metaphors are sometimes a little too transparent, too. But the story is touching and sweet nonetheless—and the characters are memorable.
Bedford and Meyer do a wonderful job of setting the scene in 1950s St. Louis—and you’ll have no problem at all picturing the store fronts or the characters—or Miss Shaw’s convertible—as you listen. And while many of the characters have been done before—the abused child, the abusive father, and the defenseless mother—the authors still manage to make you care about their story. It’s the supporting characters—like Orelia’s family and the mysterious Miss Shaw—though, who really make the story special.
Though it is a bit heavy at times, The Penny is a touching story with a valuable message—and it’s also a pretty good way to pass the time while you’re stuck in traffic.
Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
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Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
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