The Willoughbys - Lois Lowry

A Novel Nefariously Written and Ignominiously Illustrated by the Author

.

From the blurb : Villains, benefactors, no-nonsense nannies, abandoned infants, long-lost heirs, and late-life romance all make their appearance along with the irrepressible Willoughbys as the Newbery Award-winning author Lois Lowry pays playful homage to classic works of literature in this hilarious and decidedly "old-fashioned" parody.

This really appealed to my sense of humour and own childhood reading history - yes, I read and loved all those books - Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, Heidi, Secret Garden, Mary Poppins, Ballet Shoes... I read this new book from Lois Lowry in a sitting and would love to pass it on to a young reader who will enjoy the various literary references and jokes, though you could enjoy the book very well without such background.

Lemony Snicket has written a great review for Publisher's Weekly,
http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-618-97974-5

Don't miss the fabulous Glossary with its idiosyncratic definitions (of which Lemony Snicket says, "This critic even vaguely recognizes the stratagem of a glossary, in which the more toothsome words are defined unreliably and digressively" as he would !)
METICULOUS means extremely precise and careful. Surgeons have to be meticulous. Some people think great cooks are meticulous, but they are wrong. Great cooks read a recipe, maybe, but then they ignore the instructions and add extra garlic if they feel like it. Surgeons can't do that.

and there is a Bibliography "Books of the past that are heavy on piteous but appealing orphans, ill-tempered and stingy relatives, magnanimous benefactors, and transformations wrought by winsome children."

From the jacket blurb about the author :
"Influenced in her childhood by a mother who insisted on surrounding her with books instead of roller skates and jump ropes, Lois Lowry grew up lacking fresh air and exercise but with a keen understanding of plot, character and setting.... "

A good readaloud for upper primary/intermediate maybe, but you'd need to read it yourself to see if it fits your sensibility with the children keen on the idea of becoming orphans and the parents keen on becoming childless... There is a useful review on Amazon which says "Perhaps it is not for all takers, but those with a keen sense of humor and a taste for the bizarre will enjoy this winsome tale of the beastly, the diabolical, the irascible, and the unkempt."

Hougton Mifflin press release