A review by kim_momreadsbooksinbtwn
The Peach Pit by Erin Soderberg Downing

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.