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The Saturdays

The Saturdays

Children's BooksJuvenile
Pages
192
Published
1955
Language
English

Synopsis

In New York City, just before Pearl Harbor, the four Melendy children and their scholar father live in a charmingly dilapidated house. With their individual allowances not stretching far, they decide to pool their money, allowing one sibling each Saturday to spend the entire sum. This clever plan leads to a series of delightful adventures as each child gets their turn to experience the city in their own unique way.

Prose complexity
1/10

Vibe

LightheartedAdventurousWhimsicalHeartwarming
Family SagaComing of Age

Genres

Children's Books Juvenile

About the author

E
Elizabeth Enright

Elizabeth Wright Enright Gillham (September 17, 1907 – June 8, 1968) was an American writer of children's books, an illustrator, writer of short stories for adults, literary critic and teacher of creative writing. Perhaps best known as the Newbery Medal-winning author of Thimble Summer (1938) and the Newbery runner-up Gone-Away Lake (1957), she also wrote the popular Melendy quartet (1941 to 1951). A Newbery Medal laureate and a multiple winner of the O. Henry Award, her short stories and articl...

Characters

The four Melendy childrenProtagonist
Mr. MelendySupporting
housekeeperSupporting
All characters in The Saturdays

Frequently asked questions

  • Is The Saturdays part of a series?

    This book is the first in the Melendy family series, which continues with three more titles following the children's adventures.

  • What makes The Saturdays a notable children's classic?

    The book is celebrated for its realistic portrayal of childhood independence and resourcefulness, offering a charming glimpse into mid-20th century New York City life through the eyes of imaginative children.