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Summary
Summary
The New York Times bestselling debut novel from critically acclaimed author Jodi Lynn Anderson follows three very different girls as they discover the secret to finding the right boy, making the truest of friends, and picking the perfect Georgia peach.
Murphy McGowen has bright green eyes, a reputation as the wildest girl in Bridgewater, and a way of getting out of all the trouble she gets into. But when she's caught stealing from the Darlington Orchard, she's forced to repay her debt picking peaches in the hot Georgia sun.
Leeda Cawley-Smith has professionally whitened teeth and the softest skin her boyfriend has ever touched. Unfortunately, Leeda's parents aren't too keen on her being touched anymore. Now Leeda's country-club summer is out the window--she'll be getting a serious sock tan working at her uncle's peach orchard instead.
Birdie Darlington used to dance around her family's orchard picking peaches for fun. But now that her parents are getting divorced, Birdie would rather spend the summer in the A/C eating Thin Mints than pick another peach--too bad she doesn't have a choice.
Thrown together at Darlington Orchard, Murphy, Leeda, and Birdie discover what it means to find a real soul mate, and that sometimes cute boys know a lot about peach cider. And, of course, they learn the trick to picking a perfect peach. One thing's for sure--it's going to be a juicy summer.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up-During a summer at the Darlington Peach Orchard in Georgia, Murphy, Leeda, and Birdie discover the true meaning of friendship despite their differences. Murphy, a bright, sarcastic 16-year-old from the wrong side of town, is completing community service at the orchard. Wealthy Leeda lives in her perfect older sister's shadow. She decides to work at her uncle's orchard on a whim and then is too proud to change her mind. Birdie Darlington is trying to keep the farm running despite the fact that her mother has left and her father refuses to face the desperate straits that the business is in. As the summer progresses, the girls bond and realize that you cannot judge someone by her financial or family situation. The characters are realistic and the dialogue is fresh. Readers looking for light reading will not be disappointed.-Angela M. Boccuzzi-Reichert, Merton Williams' Middle School, Hilton, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
In a novel about broken hearts, broken spirits and the healing power of friendship, Anderson profiles three one-of-a-kind Georgia "peaches," a trio of teenage girls who converge at Darlington Orchard during picking season. There's plump and sweet Birdie Darlington, a sheltered, homeschooled girl, whose father owns the orchard and is on the verge of going bankrupt. Then there's her perfect-on-the-outside cousin, Leeda Cawley-Smith, who has everything a girl could want (except her mother's love). Last but not least is tart Murphy McGowen: beautiful, brilliant and wild. Despite their different backgrounds and personalities, the three girls have two things in common. All have been coerced (for different reasons) to spend spring break and a long hot summer working alongside more experienced migrant pickers, and all three girls carry the weight of discontent to the orchard. Alternating the characters' points of view, the author delves into the teenagers' family conflicts, problematic romances and secret longings. while tracing how they slowly, cautiously form bonds of camaraderie with each other. Descriptions of the scent of the orchard, the flavor of the peaches, the sting of fire ants, the cheerful chatter from workers and the beauty of the landscape form an enticing backdrop. Anderson's tale encapsulates the state of ennui and anticipation that accompanies the last stretch of adolescence. Ages 14-up. (June). (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
An odd trio--bad girl Murphy, dreamer Birdie, and rich Leeda--spend the summer together at a peach orchard in Georgia, surprised to find themselves dedicated to the failing farm and their emerging friendship. Despite a plodding start, the book's universal themes of friendship and personal growth retain their appeal. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Gr. 8-11. Anderson's debut reads like a first cousin to Ann Brashares' Traveling Pants series. Here, rather than the perfect pair of jeans, it's an intoxicating peach orchard that works its magic on three teens, brought together to pick fruit in the summer before their last year of high school. Shy, awkward Birdie, the homeschooled daughter of the Darlington Orchard's owners; Leeda, Birdie's gorgeous, wealthy, kind of cold and uptight cousin; and restless, rebellious Murphy discover in one another a strong, unlikely friendship that helps each girl move past her own limitations and open herself to thrilling possibilities. The Darlington's financial troubles, overtures from a sleazy developer, and several dreamy romantic interests add tension and intrigue to the friendship story. Interspersed vignettes of momentous scenes from the orchard's past add to the setting's mysterious aura, and Anderson's vivid descriptions of the scented rows of trees, buzzing with heat and life, echo the restlessness of her well-drawn teen characters. A charming, breezy choice for strong and reluctant readers alike. --Gillian Engberg Copyright 2005 Booklist
