Apple Crush (Peapod Farm #2)

by Lucy Knisley (Author)

Apple Crush (Peapod Farm #2)
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
Series: Peapod Farm

After finally adjusting to life on a family farm with two brand new step-sisters, a young girl faces an even bigger challenge - figuring out where she fits in at her first year in middle school. This middle grade graphic novel explores family, friendship, and change!

Jen is just getting used to her life on Peapod Farm with her new stepsisters, Andy and Reese. But when the school year starts, there are even more changes in store for her. Jen has to navigate new friends and new challenges--but at least she'll have Andy with her, right? As she starts the sixth grade, she finds that her stepsister seems way more interested in crushes and boys than hanging out with her, while Jen wants to know when the world decided boys and girls couldn't be "just friends" anymore.

Jen's story continues in the standout sequel to Stepping Stones that captures everything awesome (and scary) about growing up.

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Kirkus

Warm, fortifying, and cozy--like a drink of apple cider.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

Gr 3-7--Jen's life is split between the environments of her mom's farm and her dad's residence in the city. Mom and her boyfriend have an outdoorsy lifestyle full of chores and hands-on learning. Dad's life in the city is more about experiences and consumption (and the local bodega cat). Wherever she is, Jen leans on her dual loves of dragon fiction and illustration, especially now that her stepsister Andy has fallen for the new neighbor, Eddie. Between getting teased at a new school for her tastes and enduring all the couples around her at home, Jen struggles to belong. Knisley's use of facial expressions and juxtaposition expertly signals tween characters' unspoken feelings during awkward interactions. The story is packed with empathy for each character's point of view. Readers will also pick up details about farming mushrooms, as well as making apple cider and apple cider donuts. VERDICT Readers looking for budding romance (or avoiding it altogether) will find characters to cheer in this autumn-themed follow-up that's fine for new readers.

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

★ "Readers looking for budding romance (or avoiding it altogether) will find characters to cheer in this autumn-themed follow-up." —School Library Journal, starred review

"Warm, fortifying, and cozy—like a drink of apple cider." —Kirkus Reviews
Lucy Knisley
Lucy Knisley is the critically acclaimed, award-winning, New York Times bestselling comics creator of Relish and Kid Gloves. She lives in Chicago with her husband and son. She specializes in personal, confessional graphic novels and travelogues. The Peapod Farms books are Lucy's first graphic novels for kids. Find her online at @lucyknisley.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780593125380
Lexile Measure
510
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Random House Graphic
Publication date
May 03, 2022
Series
Peapod Farm
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV013070 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Siblings
JUV008110 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Humorous
Library of Congress categories
Schools
Graphic novels
Middle schools
Country life
Stepsisters
Cartoons and comics

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