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mnstucki's review
4.0
Such a sweet story! The author really nailed those awkward middle-school years and how embarrassing they can be and how easy it is to feel like you've messed everything up. The main character has her faults but she's also funny and lovable and relatable.
sh3s_a_rebel's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Fatphobia and Homophobia
blogginboutbooks's review against another edition
4.0
DEAR SWEET PEA is a cute middle-grade book that deals with a lot of issues: divorce, homophobia, friend drama, growing up, etc. The characters are warm and likable and those who behave badly get a chance to redeem themselves and be forgiven. I love that because life is messy. Kids need to learn that at a young age so they know it's normal for things to not be perfect, it's okay to feel your feels, and that giving a deserving person a second chance is not being weak, but showing strength. Murphy deals with the issue of divorce in a likewise sensitive way, without glossing over how difficult it can be, especially for the children who feel confused and left behind by the process.
While DEAR SWEET PEA was a quick, easy read, it missed the mark a little for me somewhere. It felt like it was trying a little too hard to teach too many lessons. More plot development would have helped. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the read overall. This is the first book I've read by Murphy, but I'm up for more.
If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.
While DEAR SWEET PEA was a quick, easy read, it missed the mark a little for me somewhere. It felt like it was trying a little too hard to teach too many lessons. More plot development would have helped. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the read overall. This is the first book I've read by Murphy, but I'm up for more.
If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.
mckinlay's review against another edition
4.0
this was very cute and a nice change from alllllll the romance i've been reading lately... plus bts was mentioned so that always makes me happy :D
situationnormal's review
4.0
Hard to say for sure, but maybe my favorite Julie Murphy book yet. Middle grade has been the best for me lately (maybe I'm regressing?)
briannareadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so sweet and played out like a Family Channel movie in my head. I've never been a fan of middle-grade books but I decided to read this one because I love Julie Murphy. It was pretty damn good! There were a few parts where I found it a bit predictable, but it is probably because I'm an adult lol. And I also was not expecting it to tackle LGBT issues but it did!! It was a pleasant surprise. It also did a great job at tackling fatphobia and showed how Sweet Pea could be flawed and not such a nice person, but still an inspiring individual. I think a lot of people around this age group will be able to relate really well to the characters and the concept of growing up and figuring out changes. Really cute!!
This book was so sweet and played out like a Family Channel movie in my head. I've never been a fan of middle-grade books but I decided to read this one because I love Julie Murphy. It was pretty damn good! There were a few parts where I found it a bit predictable, but it is probably because I'm an adult lol. And I also was not expecting it to tackle LGBT issues but it did!! It was a pleasant surprise. It also did a great job at tackling fatphobia and showed how Sweet Pea could be flawed and not such a nice person, but still an inspiring individual. I think a lot of people around this age group will be able to relate really well to the characters and the concept of growing up and figuring out changes. Really cute!!
maryehavens's review
3.0
I love Julie Murphy's work. Maybe it's because she sets her stories in small town Texas, or her cute and quirky characters, or her pop-culture references or all of these things! I almost squeal every time I see a new work by her (and I definitely need to read her older works). Nothing will be better than Dumplin for me but I have enjoyed every other one of her books that I've read. They are nice little escapes, even though I live/lived in a small Texas town :)
This one, I would give 3.5 stars. It seemed a little overly complicated with Sweet Pea's relationships with her friends. I think it would have been a tiny bit better if Oscar and Sweet Pea had just naturally drifted away? Or if Sweet Pea had not hidden all the mail from her dad? I don't know - again, little tweaks and only my opinion.
I saw that this is written for ages 8-12 and I asked my husband what he thought about my daughter reading a book that centers around divorce, especially divorce "caused" by a parent's realization that they are gay. I'm not sure that that concept is something we want to introduce to our daughter. Mostly the concept of divorce and the disintegration of the family, even though Murphy creates a situation where the divorce is amicable and both parents are best friends and putting their daughter first. If my daughter was older, maybe it would be easier to understand. I don't want her to think that every time mom and dad have a fight over something stupid (the last one was how to clean the toaster), that they are headed for divorce. Especially now since we are in quarantine for Covid-19. We are 100% family all the time right now so we need to keep it as civil as possible :)
Overall, I love and look forward to all Murphy's works and I love that she has created this small town Texas universe that she keeps expanding!!
This one, I would give 3.5 stars. It seemed a little overly complicated with Sweet Pea's relationships with her friends. I think it would have been a tiny bit better if Oscar and Sweet Pea had just naturally drifted away? Or if Sweet Pea had not hidden all the mail from her dad? I don't know - again, little tweaks and only my opinion.
I saw that this is written for ages 8-12 and I asked my husband what he thought about my daughter reading a book that centers around divorce, especially divorce "caused" by a parent's realization that they are gay. I'm not sure that that concept is something we want to introduce to our daughter. Mostly the concept of divorce and the disintegration of the family, even though Murphy creates a situation where the divorce is amicable and both parents are best friends and putting their daughter first. If my daughter was older, maybe it would be easier to understand. I don't want her to think that every time mom and dad have a fight over something stupid (the last one was how to clean the toaster), that they are headed for divorce. Especially now since we are in quarantine for Covid-19. We are 100% family all the time right now so we need to keep it as civil as possible :)
Overall, I love and look forward to all Murphy's works and I love that she has created this small town Texas universe that she keeps expanding!!
kawarwick's review against another edition
4.0
You gotta love Julie Murphy! I’m so happy to have a book I can share with my middle grade readers. This is such a good story about all the pains of middle school: your self image, friends, and parents!
thenextgenlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
What a great MG debut for Murphy, who usually writes YA and has a graphic novel coming out this summer! I love that she’s branching out into different genres. Representation matters and Sweet Pea is a great example of an awesome middle schooler who I would have been friends with!
lizaroo71's review
4.0
Sweet Pea is a great character. Her parents are recently divorced but live on the same street with one neighbor between them (the eccentric Miss Flora Mae). Flora Mae has an advice column in the local paper. While Flora is away visiting a family member, she asks Sweet Pea to take care of her plants and send her the letters of those seeking advice. Flora Mae is dealing with dividing her time between two homes, trying to figure out why her ex-best friend is her ex-best friend and she really wants to know what her father is hiding from her.
This unfolds nicely and is filled with likable side characters like Sweet Pea's Best Best friend Oscar and Miss Flora Mae herself. I liked that the art of letter writing is what helps guide Sweet Pea to enlightenment. A sweet look at the end of junior high and the shedding of assumptions about those around us.
This unfolds nicely and is filled with likable side characters like Sweet Pea's Best Best friend Oscar and Miss Flora Mae herself. I liked that the art of letter writing is what helps guide Sweet Pea to enlightenment. A sweet look at the end of junior high and the shedding of assumptions about those around us.