“Naomi Conroy crouched uncomfortably at the end of the garden reading a book. As usual she had spent her Saturday morning at the town library, searching the too-familiar shelves for something new. On her left was the stack of books she had read since she returned, and on her right the pile she hadn’t opened yet. She kept her elbow leaning on that pile to guard them from her permanently book-hungry sisters. Even now she could feel herself being watched, and without looking up knew that Ruth was hovering close by, waiting for her to finish. By the law of the family, the book would become then common property, free for everyone to read” From “The Exiles” by Hilary McKay c1991.

The three books in this series about four book-hungry sisters has been reprinted with colorful, attractive cover art, which should help new readers to pick them up, for they are very worthy. Hilary McKay has produced many good books since she wrote about the Conroys, but these three titles are probably my favorites, the reading experiences of the characters were very similar to those of my family. We supported our village library with small, but regular donations in overdue book fines. Any borrowed book had a chance of being read by at least three of the five young readers in our house. They always made it back to the library, but not in a timely fashion. I still remember visiting that little library after the absence of several years ( I had moved on to the bigger library in the next town) and the lady at the desk immediately began to flip through her index of delinquent borrowers, she knew our clan well.

I carry a vivid picture of that little children’s room forever in my mind. I can see the book of New England Ghost Stories I borrowed frequently, the two or three shelves of picture books, and Mrs. Emilio, who read “Yertle the Turtle” and “Horton Hatches the Egg” aloud to us as we sat in child-sized wooden chairs. It was a place of extreme happiness.

“The Exiles” is about the summer sisters Naomi, Ruth, Phoebe, and Rachel are sent to stay with “Big Grandma” while renovations are made to their home. Big Grandma’s house seems to be entirely empty of books, and she expects the girls to help with household chores, and to take nice, long healthy walks outdoors. The only reading material to be found are a few cookbooks. This is not a situation the sisters care for. Will rebellion break out and will Big Grandma pay a price for withholding literature? Hilary McKay’s characters are real, funny, and memorable. After you meet them, you will want more, fortunately “The Exiles at Home” and “The Exiles in Love” are ready for you.