The Vanderbeekers Make A Wish
- Downloads：6773
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-11-08 06:51:31
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Karina Yan Glaser
- ISBN：0358256208
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
One hilarious Harlem family is on a mission to find the perfect way to celebrate their Papa's fortieth birthday while discovering more about their mysterious grandparents in this heartfelt romp and latest installment to the New York Times best-selling series， perfect for fans of the Penderwicks。
It's summer on 141st Street， and the Vanderbeekers are looking forward to Papa's surprise fortieth birthday party。
But then Papa must leave town to help his best friend and the Vanderbeeker children are surprised to find their maternal grandparents on their doorstep。 Grandma is very critical of everything they do。 Meanwhile， they find themselves learning more about their papa's father than ever before， and wishing they could have known him a bit better。 Can they learn more about the grandfather they lost and come to appreciate the grandparents they still have while making sure their papa has the best birthday ever？
It's summer on 141st Street， and the Vanderbeekers are looking forward to Papa's surprise fortieth birthday party。
But then Papa must leave town to help his best friend and the Vanderbeeker children are surprised to find their maternal grandparents on their doorstep。 Grandma is very critical of everything they do。 Meanwhile， they find themselves learning more about their papa's father than ever before， and wishing they could have known him a bit better。 Can they learn more about the grandfather they lost and come to appreciate the grandparents they still have while making sure their papa has the best birthday ever？
Reviews
Megan
，
The Vanderbeekers have a special place in my heart。 Rarely do we get a glimpse into their Asian heritage， but this one does have moments of deep reflection and lots of heart。 I love this continuation into their story， but also how their histories play a part in their present。 I’m very into my ancestry right now so reading about these kids being so invested in finding out more about their grandfather really hit home。 Plus， realizing that those who are still living also have their stories。 I wish The Vanderbeekers have a special place in my heart。 Rarely do we get a glimpse into their Asian heritage， but this one does have moments of deep reflection and lots of heart。 I love this continuation into their story， but also how their histories play a part in their present。 I’m very into my ancestry right now so reading about these kids being so invested in finding out more about their grandfather really hit home。 Plus， realizing that those who are still living also have their stories。 I wish I had sat down with my grandmother and spoken to her about her life in Laos and her life in America。 。。。more
AJones
，
We LOVE this series！ We will now have a secret code word of “duck soup” if I become overly critical as a mom or grandma。
Rachel
，
This series， this family = everything right in middle grade fiction。 There is elevated vocabulary and plenty of subtle humor to keep readers of all ages engaged。 The author's treatment of tough topics is never heavy handed。 We've known since book one that the Vanderbeeker kids are mixed race， but it wasn't until this book that we have a better understanding of the Chinese American side of their family story。 I look forward to more exploration in future books。I love how the interactions and hijin This series， this family = everything right in middle grade fiction。 There is elevated vocabulary and plenty of subtle humor to keep readers of all ages engaged。 The author's treatment of tough topics is never heavy handed。 We've known since book one that the Vanderbeeker kids are mixed race， but it wasn't until this book that we have a better understanding of the Chinese American side of their family story。 I look forward to more exploration in future books。I love how the interactions and hijinks are totally relatable and simultaneously unique enough to keep the reader on her toes。 Marvelous， heartwarming comfort read that is perfect for reading aloud with the family。 My nine-year-old is already counting down the months until the next release， and so am I。 。。。more
Jamie
，
Always enjoy reading about this sweet family！ The author never disappoints， and we love listening to this story on our car ride time。
Julie
，
Beautiful story of the interconnectedness of families！
Melynda
，
🎧 W/ Grace。 Grace really enjoyed this series。
Lisa D
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Loved this book！ Love this series& this author！ Beautfully written！
Anne
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"'Family history is important，' Mrs。 Castleman said。 'It’s good to know where we came from。 You， my dear， have a beautiful legacy。'"In The Vanderbeekers Make A Wish， the fun family from Harlem again has a lot of things going on。 Papa's 40th birthday is in a couple of days， but the kids don't have a birthday present for him。 Until they find a letter from their late grandfather about a road trip he and Papa were going to go on before their grandfather died。 So now they have to recreate this road t "'Family history is important，' Mrs。 Castleman said。 'It’s good to know where we came from。 You， my dear， have a beautiful legacy。'"In The Vanderbeekers Make A Wish， the fun family from Harlem again has a lot of things going on。 Papa's 40th birthday is in a couple of days， but the kids don't have a birthday present for him。 Until they find a letter from their late grandfather about a road trip he and Papa were going to go on before their grandfather died。 So now they have to recreate this road trip， but Mama's parents are there and messing up all their plans。It is always such a delightful time to read about the Vanderbeekers！ They are just the most fun - and chaotic - family， and these stories are always so heartwarming。 It is just nice to read about people liking other people and trying to make the world the best place it could be。In this book， we really focus on family and how grown-ups have their own lives and histories that kids don't always think about。 It was very interesting to see how much they were thinking about the dead grandfather when they had two living grandparents that they didn't want to spend time with。 And then they slowly got to learn about each other and found out how much they have in common and love each other。 So sweet。 It also touches on some more heavy topics like immigration and racism which I would have liked to have read more about。 The way it was done felt more like a short comment， and I wish we could have spent more time on really delving into that side of the family history。 But that is pretty much my only criticism about this book; overall， it was just a really good time！And I think that the next book in the series is going to be a direct continuation with a road trip。 So I am excited to see what new adventures they are going to get up to！My other reviews of The Vanderbeekers series:The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street （#1）The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden garden （#2）The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue （#3）The Vanderbeekers Lost and Found （#4） 。。。more
Jamie
，
The books keep getting better！
Robin
，
Huge thanks to Clarion Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this gem。The Vanderbeekers are my favorite fictional family！ I adore the simple pleasures the kids' find in their Harlem neighborhood。 The kids are almost never on electronics in the books and yet they are never bored！ They have daily adventures in their own brownstone home and the businesses surrounding it。 In this installment， the children are on a mission to give their dad the best 40th birthday by taking him on the graduation Huge thanks to Clarion Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this gem。The Vanderbeekers are my favorite fictional family！ I adore the simple pleasures the kids' find in their Harlem neighborhood。 The kids are almost never on electronics in the books and yet they are never bored！ They have daily adventures in their own brownstone home and the businesses surrounding it。 In this installment， the children are on a mission to give their dad the best 40th birthday by taking him on the graduation trip his own father wasn't able to fulfill。 The only problem is that they're not sure exactly where that is！ As they research， they start learning about the grandfather they never got to know。 At the same time， their maternal grandparents are in town for a visit， but why is grandma such a nag， and how come grandpa almost never talks？ While I didn't love this book quite as much as its predecessors， I still highly recommend it。 The Vanderbeekers are the family we all wish we were a part of！ 。。。more
Phoebe
，
I don't know how she does it but these books make me cry every time！ This series is a favorite with my family and this fifth book is just soooooooooo good。 I don't know how she does it but these books make me cry every time！ This series is a favorite with my family and this fifth book is just soooooooooo good。 。。。more
Mary Vanderkooy
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These books are fun。 I wish I didn't have to wait a whole year for the next one！ These books are fun。 I wish I didn't have to wait a whole year for the next one！ 。。。more
Elinor Loredan
，
Glaser does an outstanding job building tension through Grandma in this one， and， even better， the reader and other characters learn to understand and connect with her。 Everything wraps up very nicely， which， again， is not very realistic but is comforting and uplifting。 Learning more about both Mama and Papa's parents enriched the book and the whole series。 While I keep saying I'm not totally enchanted by these books， I read all five in a week， so I must like them quite a lot！ The main themes I Glaser does an outstanding job building tension through Grandma in this one， and， even better， the reader and other characters learn to understand and connect with her。 Everything wraps up very nicely， which， again， is not very realistic but is comforting and uplifting。 Learning more about both Mama and Papa's parents enriched the book and the whole series。 While I keep saying I'm not totally enchanted by these books， I read all five in a week， so I must like them quite a lot！ The main themes I gain from them are family solidarity and striving to make the world a better place in one's everyday life。 。。。more
Almira
，
I just LOVE LOVE LOVE the Vanderbeeker siblings！ They keep you on your toes。Papa is turning 40 on this birthday - and the siblings are planning a Surprise party for him， that will include just about everyone he knows in Harlem， unfortunately， Papa is called away to Indiana to be with his best friend， whose mother just passed away。Looking through things， the siblings find a very old and interesting letter from their grandfather， who died the night before Papa's graduation， and with this letter th I just LOVE LOVE LOVE the Vanderbeeker siblings！ They keep you on your toes。Papa is turning 40 on this birthday - and the siblings are planning a Surprise party for him， that will include just about everyone he knows in Harlem， unfortunately， Papa is called away to Indiana to be with his best friend， whose mother just passed away。Looking through things， the siblings find a very old and interesting letter from their grandfather， who died the night before Papa's graduation， and with this letter the siblings are faced with a number of unanswered questions about Papa's past and his father。 Where is Whalers Cove？ There are several in the US， but which one was the one their grandfather planned a trip to？ Who or what is Ludwig？ Between the five of them， they make this mystery a wonderful loving journey。One of the funniest scenes in the book is when Oliver and Laney decide to dye Oliver's hair with food coloring， however， they need to try it out on Tuxedo， the cat， first - I laughed so hard I though I was going to wake my husband up！ - Oliver gets green， Laney gets red， as does half the bathroom， the towels and Tuxedo。I just love the Vanderbeekers， thanks so much Karina for this wonderful loving family。 。。。more
Melissa
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I love the Vanderbeekers so much。 I want to be a part of their family and live in the brownstone with them。 Can’t wait for the next one 💜
Lydia
，
explicit scenes: 0/5violence: 0/5language: 0/5alcohol/drugs/smoking: 0/5intense scenes: 0/5age rating: 8+
Bethe
，
5 stars。 Another heartwarming spin around NYC with the best family from 141st street in Harlem - the Vanderbeekers！ It’s almost Papa’s 40th birthday - will the plans for the big bash go off without a hitch？ Eagerly awaiting the next adventure！
Alexis
，
As always so sweet， funny， and heartwarming。
Valerie
，
I enjoy the Vanderbeeker adventures and this was entertaining， but nothing special。
Rachel
，
Another cutie tender hopeful heartwarming book spent w this precious family。 Like why do I always cry reading these
Julie
，
This was adorable， heartwarming， and the best VanderBeeker adventure yet！
Jessica
，
A new book in this series is like curling up with an old friend。 💛
Diana
，
I always enjoy my time with the Vanderbeekers and love how their parents always have other things going on during the kids' adventures。 I feel like reading them has actually taught me a few things about parenting？ The kids are fun and seem to have great relationships with either other and their parents but realistic ones， nobody is perfect all the time。 Just fun， easy middle grade and characters I like spending time with。 I always enjoy my time with the Vanderbeekers and love how their parents always have other things going on during the kids' adventures。 I feel like reading them has actually taught me a few things about parenting？ The kids are fun and seem to have great relationships with either other and their parents but realistic ones， nobody is perfect all the time。 Just fun， easy middle grade and characters I like spending time with。 。。。more
Skip
，
Harlem's Vanderbeeker family is back again， and plans are being made to celebrate their father's 40th birthday， with the bar having been set very high with their mother getting a cat cafe and bakery for hers。 The kids find an old suitcase that belonged to the paternal grandfather， who died when their father graduated from college， which trashed the plans for a graduation trip。 The enterprising kids start trying to learn about the trip， hoping they can replicate it as a surprise when their father Harlem's Vanderbeeker family is back again， and plans are being made to celebrate their father's 40th birthday， with the bar having been set very high with their mother getting a cat cafe and bakery for hers。 The kids find an old suitcase that belonged to the paternal grandfather， who died when their father graduated from college， which trashed the plans for a graduation trip。 The enterprising kids start trying to learn about the trip， hoping they can replicate it as a surprise when their father has to fly out to help a friend deal with home damage， instead of taking Oliver camping。 As they learn more about their grandfather， they connect with his old friends， piecemealing together key information。 Meanwhile their maternal grandparents show up unexpectedly and wreak havoc with family dynamics， with the youngest girls figuring out what is needed to restore peace， love and harmony。 。。。more
Avery Judd
，
It just gets better and better！！ Birthdays are such wonderful things， and I enjoyed reading about one。 The Vanderbeekers are the most joyous family， and I could never get sick of them。 When Miss Karina hooks you with the beginning quotes， which are always fabulous， then you know it’s going to be a wonderful book。 And it was！！！ I adored it， and can’t wait for more to come :）。 If Castlemen’s Bakery was a real thing， then I would pack my bag and catch the soonest flight to NY， just to get those che It just gets better and better！！ Birthdays are such wonderful things， and I enjoyed reading about one。 The Vanderbeekers are the most joyous family， and I could never get sick of them。 When Miss Karina hooks you with the beginning quotes， which are always fabulous， then you know it’s going to be a wonderful book。 And it was！！！ I adored it， and can’t wait for more to come :）。 If Castlemen’s Bakery was a real thing， then I would pack my bag and catch the soonest flight to NY， just to get those cheese croissants。 。。。more
Eva
，
4。5
Faith
，
With characteristic charm， Karina Yan Glaser again tells an engaging story about the beloved Vanderbeekers。 As it opens， Oliver and his father are set to take a long-anticipated father-son camping trip when it has to be called off suddenly。 While their father is out of town， the children spend time putting together a suitable party for their dad's upcoming 40th birthday。Meanwhile， their mother's parents arrive for an unannounced visit。 As their relationship is strained， the children struggle to With characteristic charm， Karina Yan Glaser again tells an engaging story about the beloved Vanderbeekers。 As it opens， Oliver and his father are set to take a long-anticipated father-son camping trip when it has to be called off suddenly。 While their father is out of town， the children spend time putting together a suitable party for their dad's upcoming 40th birthday。Meanwhile， their mother's parents arrive for an unannounced visit。 As their relationship is strained， the children struggle to find joy with the visit。 However， some things feel different， and this turns into a beautiful opportunity for healing and restoration。 There are hair-dyeing mishaps， tourist adventures， revealed family secrets， and frank but gentle conversations about racism and discrimination。 I have started reading this series with my two daughters， ages 7 and 11， and while we are only on the second book， I cannot wait to continue this series with them。 There is humor and goodness and delight， all at attainable and age-appropriate levels。 （I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review。） 。。。more
Kayla
，
An amazing fifth companion to the Vanderbeeker series。 All about the power of family and friends。 I definitely recommend！
BDC
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