The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy

The Arundel Hall property, including the mansion, the cottage, and the expansive grounds, serves as the novel’s physical setting but also symbolizes larger ideas in the narrative. For the Penderwicks, Arundel becomes a symbol of a memorable family vacation that brings them new adventures and friendships. From the opening lines, the narrator establishes that this summer is one the sisters think back on often and recall as a significant moment in their childhood. “Fate drove us there, Jane would say” (1). Not only do they create new memories together as a family, but each sister also experiences significant changes during their three weeks at Arundel. Rosalind will always remember Arundel as the setting for her first romantic crush, and Skye will always remember becoming friends with Jeffrey. For Jane, Arundel brings fond memories of completing another novel, and no one will ever forget when Batty finds her voice. Arundel becomes a part of their shared history as a family and a season they’ll all look back on nostalgically.

From the moment the Penderwicks see Arundel, the castle-like structure becomes a symbol of childhood innocence and wonder: “Built from gray stone, it was covered with towers, balconies, terraces, and turrets that jutted every which way” (8).