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A review by jenbsbooks
The Peach Rebellion by Wendelin Van Draanen
5.0
This was a bookclub pick, and I'm writing my review before the discussion. I may have to come update after we talk about it, and I may attempt a re-read before that (as it's still a month or so away). I'd read [book:Go as a River|63922274] earlier this month, which also had a peach on the cover, and growing/selling peaches as a main part of the storyline. I liked this one a lot more, it is one I'd give the thumbs up for my mom/sister. I'm just not positive how much it will stick in my memory, but doing a quick glance over here, I'm getting pulled in again and smilin' ... I was originally goin' to say 4* but I'm bumpin' up to 5* ...
This had two POVs telling their stories, Ginny Rose and Peggy. I went with the audio edition and there were two different narrators, although their voices weren't THAT different that it was obvious (I had to check). It wasn't only the different narrators, but the "voice" of each girl was written a little differently. Ginny Rose and her family are not as polished as Peggy's (and then there is Lisette, whose family is quite wealthy). Lisette's father is a banker, Peggy's family grows and sells peaches, and Ginny Rose and her family pick peaches and do whatever jobs they can - They are "Okeys" come to California after the Dust Bowl devastates their farm in Oklahoma. Ginny Rose's story indicates some pronunciation, dropping the ends of words ... buildin', lumberin', stickin' out, comin', tryin', thinkin', seein' ... the narrator did a good job. I double checked to see if it was included in the author's writing (not just a narrator inflection).
I appreciated the Table of Contents, numerical chapters and header included. The actual chapters showed the POV, and I wish that was included on the TOC in the Kindle copy as well, the POV was listed on the audio TOC. It's nice to have in case you want to check back, and know which girl's POV it was, it helps you narrow down your search. Looks like the POV switched every other chapter consistently. I do remember at one point, we'd seen a scene from Peggy's POV in her chapter, and then the next chapter, from Ginny Rose's POV, it went back a little earlier, and then we saw the same situation from Ginny Rose's perspective.
In addition to the "voice" change - there was a shift in tense between the two girls. I don't know that I realized this until I looked back after (which is a sign on good writing, often present tense can jolt me out of the story). Ginny Rose tells her story in present tense, while Peggy's chapters are past tense. Again, this can be helpful in keeping the two different POVs distinct.
Included in Kindle, NOT in audio ... this note wasn't quite as essential as some, but it was still interesting and written poetically "this story started with the seed of an idea ..." (as this is about growing/trees), and "Like peaches being the sweet result of disparate elements (earth, air, sun and water), Ginny Rose, Peggy and Lisette combine forces to create change not just in themselves and their families, but also in their community" and "The fruit I hope this story bears ..." I think the author's note actually is worthy of discussion (I'll bring it up at bookclub) and then there ARE included bookclub questions (again, only in Kindle, not in Audio)... which again, I really appreciate. It's nice to have some points to ponder ...
I 'liked' a quote by Ginny but thought I'd include it here too ... “As I reset the tire and pump it full of air, I start thinkin' about how a tire is like life itself. When it springs a leak, you can moan about a flat, or you can patch it, pump it full of air again, then get back on and ride.
'Course people don't usually see the patches of your inner tube, which is how a tire and life are different. On a bike, you can buy a new tire and tube and change them both. But in life, you can change the tire - what folks see on the outside - but the tube? Not matter how much money you earn, no matter how others see you, you only get the one, and you carry it inside you, wherever you go, patches and all"
and one more ... "it doesn't matter if it's in your house or in your heart. Dust never truly settles."
This had two POVs telling their stories, Ginny Rose and Peggy. I went with the audio edition and there were two different narrators, although their voices weren't THAT different that it was obvious (I had to check). It wasn't only the different narrators, but the "voice" of each girl was written a little differently. Ginny Rose and her family are not as polished as Peggy's (and then there is Lisette, whose family is quite wealthy). Lisette's father is a banker, Peggy's family grows and sells peaches, and Ginny Rose and her family pick peaches and do whatever jobs they can - They are "Okeys" come to California after the Dust Bowl devastates their farm in Oklahoma. Ginny Rose's story indicates some pronunciation, dropping the ends of words ... buildin', lumberin', stickin' out, comin', tryin', thinkin', seein' ... the narrator did a good job. I double checked to see if it was included in the author's writing (not just a narrator inflection).
I appreciated the Table of Contents, numerical chapters and header included. The actual chapters showed the POV, and I wish that was included on the TOC in the Kindle copy as well, the POV was listed on the audio TOC. It's nice to have in case you want to check back, and know which girl's POV it was, it helps you narrow down your search. Looks like the POV switched every other chapter consistently. I do remember at one point, we'd seen a scene from Peggy's POV in her chapter, and then the next chapter, from Ginny Rose's POV, it went back a little earlier, and then we saw the same situation from Ginny Rose's perspective.
In addition to the "voice" change - there was a shift in tense between the two girls. I don't know that I realized this until I looked back after (which is a sign on good writing, often present tense can jolt me out of the story). Ginny Rose tells her story in present tense, while Peggy's chapters are past tense. Again, this can be helpful in keeping the two different POVs distinct.
Included in Kindle, NOT in audio ... this note wasn't quite as essential as some, but it was still interesting and written poetically "this story started with the seed of an idea ..." (as this is about growing/trees), and "Like peaches being the sweet result of disparate elements (earth, air, sun and water), Ginny Rose, Peggy and Lisette combine forces to create change not just in themselves and their families, but also in their community" and "The fruit I hope this story bears ..." I think the author's note actually is worthy of discussion (I'll bring it up at bookclub) and then there ARE included bookclub questions (again, only in Kindle, not in Audio)... which again, I really appreciate. It's nice to have some points to ponder ...
I 'liked' a quote by Ginny but thought I'd include it here too ... “As I reset the tire and pump it full of air, I start thinkin' about how a tire is like life itself. When it springs a leak, you can moan about a flat, or you can patch it, pump it full of air again, then get back on and ride.
'Course people don't usually see the patches of your inner tube, which is how a tire and life are different. On a bike, you can buy a new tire and tube and change them both. But in life, you can change the tire - what folks see on the outside - but the tube? Not matter how much money you earn, no matter how others see you, you only get the one, and you carry it inside you, wherever you go, patches and all"
and one more ... "it doesn't matter if it's in your house or in your heart. Dust never truly settles."