Apple Crush

Starred review from May 1, 2022

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.

May 20, 2022
Grades 3-6 Isn't starting sixth grade in a new school where you don't know anyone hard enough without everyone around you pairing off into romantic relationships? It's autumn on Peapod Farm, and Jen's stepsister Andy's crush on their neighbor's nephew is making everything--from planning an eerie Halloween hayride to visiting the county fair--more complicated. Why does having a boyfriend mean friendships have to change? This follow-up to Stepping Stones (2020) makes great use of Knisley's experience writing memoirs: the anger and hurt feelings of tweens being interpreted as drama by adults, the insecurity of suddenly being less a friend and more a third wheel, and the jolt of euphoria when you find a kindred spirit are all skillfully depicted in the dialogue and the art, where just a slight change in facial features adds layers to the story. Everyone who remembers what it was like to be a middle-schooler--and certainly tweens themselves--are likely to find something to identify with. Fingers crossed for more seasons spent at Peapod Farm.

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March 15, 2022
A 12-year-old girl adjusts to her first year of middle school in this sequel to Stepping Stones (2020). Fall has come to Peapod Farm, where Jen lives with her mom and her mom's boyfriend, Walter, whose daughters, Andy and Reese, spend weekends on the farm. Andy and Jen have gotten jobs helping their neighbors (two White men whose relationship is undefined) at Fisher Dairy Farm run their annual pumpkin patch, complete with haunted hayride. Jen and Mr. Fisher's nephew Eddie share interests, but it's Andy who has a crush on Eddie; Jen is busy dreading the transition to a new school and is not yet interested in romance. Knisley does a stellar job capturing the confusion of middle school and exploring how children grapple with challenges like divorce and blended families. School is tough for Jen, but her artistic talents help her make friends, and when she sticks up for herself and her sort-of stepsister, she realizes she's not the only one struggling. The graphic-novel format allows the characters to display a full range of emotions without sacrificing plot. The full-color artwork is energetic and engaging, though an illustration of a structure that resembles a Native American wigwam being used as a play fort may be a questionable choice. The book portrays a diverse community without race being an issue; the main cast is White, and some secondary and background characters are brown skinned. Warm, fortifying, and cozy--like a drink of apple cider. (author's note) (Graphic novel. 8-14)

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