Stepping Stones (Peapod Farm #1)

by Lucy Knisley (Author)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Series: Peapod Farm

This contemporary middle-grade graphic novel about family and belonging from New York Times bestselling author Lucy Knisley is a perfect read for fans of Awkward and Be Prepared.

Jen is used to not getting what she wants. So suddenly moving the country and getting new stepsisters shouldn't be too much of a surprise.

Jen did not want to leave the city. She did not want to move to a farm with her mom and her mom's new boyfriend, Walter. She did not want to leave her friends and her dad. Most of all, Jen did not want to get new "sisters," Andy and Reese.

As if learning new chores on Peapod Farm wasn't hard enough, having to deal with perfect-at-everything Andy might be the last straw for Jen. Besides cleaning the chicken coop, trying to keep up with the customers at the local farmers' market, and missing her old life, Jen has to deal with her own insecurities about this new family . . . and where she fits in.

New York Times bestselling author Lucy Knisley brings to life a story inspired from her own childhood in an amazing journey of unlikely friends, sisters, and home.

"Funny, sweet, and real." -Jennifer & Matthew Holm, co-creators of the bestselling Babymouse series

"This book is gorgeous. Highly recommended." -Kristen Gudsnuk, creator of Making Friends

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Kirkus

Painfully realistic, this is a strong addition to the middle-grade shelf.

None

Starred Review
A realistic and relatable story of tween growth.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

Gr 4-7—City girl Jen is overwhelmed. Following her parents' divorce, her mother uproots them to the country to live on a small farm. Instead of visiting comic book shops and eating Chinese food, Jen is struggling to make change at the family farm stand, taking care of the chickens, and learning to live with her mom's bossy, know-it-all boyfriend, Walter, and his daughters, Andy and Reese. Everyone in Jen's new household seems confident and perfect, especially Andy, who somehow outshines Jen at every turn. Inspired by the author's own childhood, Knisley's first middle grade graphic novel soars. She perceptively portrays the highs and lows of being a preteen, from the frustration of living with the fallout of adults' decisions to the joy of building new families. Her young characters are effectively and sympathetically depicted; all have individual talents and personalities and learn to work together despite their differences. However, the adults, particularly Walter, remain clueless and insensitive—an issue that will hopefully be addressed in future volumes (this title is the first of three interconnected books). The art is lively and colorful with beautifully detailed backgrounds. Jen frequently expresses her angst through charming, stick-figure artwork, which, along with Knisley's spot-on facial expressions, emphasizes the drama of blended family. VERDICT This candid, heartwarming look at a child grappling with major changes will resonate with fans of Raina Telgemeier and Svetlana Chmakova and anyone trying to find their place.—Kelley Gile, Cheshire Public Library, CT

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Publishers Weekly

Knisley balances humor and deeply felt emotion to capture the particular unfairness of being a child at the mercy of parental decisions.

ALA/Booklist

A quietly charming tale.

Review quotes

"Jen's awkwardness, her struggles with math, and her grudging acceptance of her new life make her a relatable heroine that readers will root for." —The Bulletin
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
9780593125243
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Random House Graphic
Publication date
May 20, 2020
Series
Peapod Farm
BISAC categories
JUV013070 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Siblings
JUV008040 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Action & Adventure
JUV008110 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Humorous
Library of Congress categories
Families
Graphic novels
Country life
Farms
Divorce
Cartoons and comics
Comics (Graphic works)
Stepfamilies
Little Maverick Reading List
Selection 2021

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