Apple Crush: (A Graphic Novel)

by Lucy Knisley

Overview

In the second book of a bestselling graphic novel series that explores family, friendship, and change, a former city kid is finally adjusting to life on a farm with two brand-new stepsisters when she faces an even bigger challenge: middle school.

“Readers looking for budding romance (or avoiding it altogether) will find characters to cheer.” —School Library Journal, starred review

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 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.

Look for the whole Peapod Farm series
STEPPING STONES • APPLE CRUSH • SUGAR SHACK

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781984896872
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	05/03/2022
Series:	Peapod Farm Series , #2
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.80(d)
Lexile:	GN510L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

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 partner and kiddo. 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.

Editorial Reviews

★ “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

From the Publisher

2022-03-02
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)

Kirkus Reviews