Reviews

The Peach Pit by Erin Soderberg Downing

erin_hibshman's review

hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

5.0

I love this series of a family and their adventures navigating a “new normal” after their mother and wife has died from cancer. In the first book they had an adventure with a food truck. In this next installment, they are gifted a mansion in Duluth by Mr. Peach’s Aunt Lucinda - but they need to transform it into a B&B. Each of the 3 siblings has a part in the story, but most of the happenings are for Freddy (5th gr) and Herb (3rd  gr). I can’t wait to read the next adventure!

mldavisreads's review

adventurous funny

5.0

Middle grade realistic fiction. It was so fun to get back to the Peach family.  After the summer on the Peach pie truck, the kids are settling in at home for a new school year.  But then Dad's great Aunt Lucinda gives them a house!  Well, sort of-- they can live in her house if they can renovate the lovingly nicknamed "Peach Pit" into a functional Bed and Breakfast by Thanksgiving.  The kids work together with their Dad and two college "Handy-gals" to clean, renovate, and redecorate.  But with money tight, time running out, and constant setbacks-- will they be able to get everything done in time?

This is a fun family story about each family member using their own strengths to be stronger together.  In a house filled with secrets and history, the kids learn a lot and have a lot of challenges.  Lucy wants her own space, Freddy wants to use his creative energy for everything, and Herb is trying to train the dogs and prove that even though he'd the youngest, he is a contributing member.  I always like stories about home renovations since I grew up in a family of builders, and this one was a joy to listen to. Looking forward to book 3!

arp363's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

readingthroughtheages's review

5.0

I think the Peach Family is a family that we will know for generations to come. They have a timeless feel to them. I know middle graders will love each character in the story!

yapha's review

4.0

The Peaches are back in Duluth after their summer of driving across the United States in their Peach Pie food truck and are on to their next big project. Aunt Lucinda has decided to move into a retirement community and has left them her mansion with the stipulation that they must turn it into a functioning Bed & Breakfast. The Peach Pit, as they affectionately call it, needs a lot of work! Using lessons learned in their first adventure, Lucy, Herb, and Freddy work hard to meet the deadline set by Aunt Lucinda. Full of heart and humor, this book will have readers rooting for the Peaches and learning a great deal about construction and renovation along the way. Thankfully there are recipes included! I am looking forward to the third book in the series. It will help to have read [b:When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie|53413451|When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie (Great Peach Experiment #1)|Erin Soderberg Downing|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1589983466l/53413451._SX50_.jpg|82722141] first, but it is not essential. Recommended for grades 4 & up.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss

kim_momreadsbooksinbtwn's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Well, the lovely Peach family moves on to new adventures, from a traveling peach pie food truck to a charming bed and breakfast named The Peach Pit. The Peach family inherits an old mansion when Great Aunt Lucinda decides that it is time to move into a retirement home. The house is too big for her to maintain and she wants to pass it on to the family. But there is one condition, the family has to convert it into a bed and breakfast and share the historical house with others. The book takes you on the journey of how each family member approaches the renovations and preparation to open the mansion for business. Lucy takes charge of identifying each detail that has to be addressed before guests arrive, hiring a front desk person, towels, toiletries, bed linens, etc. Freddy is in charge of the breakfast part of the B&B, recipes, and yummy menu items for guests to enjoy. And poor Herb, the youngest of the Peaches, struggles to find his role in all of this. He does become the caretaker of Great Aunt Lucinda’s pack of dogs that she had to leave with the family, all with the names of Santa’s reindeer. 

 

“The Great Peach Experiment” books are super cute and great for elementary and middle-grade readers. Earlier this year, my middle grader and I listened to the audiobook for the first book in the series “When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie” and we thoroughly enjoyed it. My son has read book 2 “The Peach Pit” along with his 6th grade class. I was finally able to get to it and absolutely love it. I listened to the lovely audiobook narrator Lu Banks and was transported into Great Aunt Lucinda’s mansion with its magical staircases, attic, and cellar. This family is so adorable and Erin Soderberg Downing gives each Peach child his/her own distinct personality, definitely relatable to any school-aged reader. 

neffcannon's review

lighthearted medium-paced

4.5