The Secrets of Peaches [Library Binding]

Jodi Lynn Anderson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 12, 2006 | Series: Peaches

Last summer, three very different girls—wild Murphy, perfect Leeda, and shy Birdie—etched their initials on a Magnolia tree at Darlington Peach Orchard to symbolize that they're friendship will last forever. But can it survive the less-than-peachy year ahead?

Murphy, more in love with Rex than ever, is torn between her big-city dreams and following her heart . . . all the way across the railroad tracks and into Rex's arms.

Leeda, nominated to be Bridgewater's Pecan Queen, basks in the rose-scented glow of her Ice Queen mother's sudden affection—until her sister, the princess, returns.

Birdie, happy for the first time, wants nothing more than to make time stand still. Too bad everything is changing, whether she likes it or not.

The sweet trio of Georgia girls that made Peaches a national bestseller returns in this delicious and satisfying sequel. This year, Murphy, Leeda, and Birdie discover that bitter endings can lead to sweet new beginnings . . . and that the orchard that brought them together will always be a part of them—even if they leave it behind.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up—In this sequel to Peaches (HarperCollins, 2005), Murphy, Birdie, and Leeda say good-bye to a summer on Birdie's family's peach orchard as the girls begin their senior year. Each teen faces a different set of growing pains. Birdie pines for her boyfriend, who's gone back to Mexico for school, and she worries that her family's housekeeper, who grew up in his town, will return home. Murphy, who dreams of moving to New York and has applied to NYU, is unable to tell her boyfriend that she loves him, although it's all he wants from her; what she wants is for him to agree to go to New York with her. Leeda's mother neglects her in favor of her sister; as their relationship grows more and more distant, the teen shuts out the rest of the world, including her friends. The novel is well paced and resolves the interwoven story lines tidily but authentically. This appealing book is as light as Cecily von Ziegesar's "Gossip Girl" series (Little, Brown), but without the glitz and snarky tone. Murphy and Birdie mature just enough to make the story optimistic but not fantastical, and Leeda's lack of growth makes her all the more believable. There are a few unclear references to the previous book, but in general the story stands on its own. A good choice for fans of Ann Brashares's "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" books (Delacorte) and similar series.—Daisy Porter, San Jose Public Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Jodi Lynn Anderson, the national bestselling author of Peaches and The Secrets of Peaches, has lived in Georgia, Costa Rica, and New York, but she currently hangs her hat in Washington, D.C.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Library Binding: 304 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (December 12, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060733098
• ISBN-13: 978-0060733094
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,407,616 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars an ok/good second story, April 8, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Secrets of Peaches (Hardcover)

The only reason I'm rating The Secret of Peaches three stars is because it is nothing compaired to the first book! Right from the start, the auther tells us that things have changed in the girl's lifes, and that the magic between them is gone. Although I like the fact that these characters do not have the perfect friendship to start (like in real life), with fights, disagreements, etc, it seems that in the second story their friendship is unlikely, and they have grown apart. I also didn't like that auther tried to make The Secrets of Peaches so much more dramatic then (the origanal) Peaches. Truthfuly, the second story is never as good as the first, (in any case). But, I do have to say Jodie Anderson has done avery good job with The Secret of Peaches. Her characters are all well developed.
The story picks up where the first left off, and continues on. Each character has her own part of the story that is totally different from the others, but at the same time each point of view connects.

Birdie: is having a great year with her boyfriend Enrico, until they're relationship takes a turn that Birdie is uncomfortable with. Things get even worse when the house worker Poppie (who is like a mother) starts acting strange. Birdie is overwelmed with anger guilt and sadness. What if things aren't really as they seem?

Leeda: realizes her mother is in fact not perfect. She get's pampered by her mother until older sister Danny comes home from colage with some big news. Leeda's mother forgets her, and Leeda has to figure out how to learn how to do what she wants and follow her own path.

Murphy: has always known she belongs in the city, but when the time comes to move on Murphy is not so sure she's ready. She thinks her boyfriend Rex can come with her, but Rex knows better. Will Murphy follow through with her life plan, or cave in and stay in Bridgwater forever?

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Secrets of Peaches, January 3, 2007

By 

Chelsie Lacny "Chel" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secrets of Peaches (Hardcover)

Somehow, I think I loved this book more than the first. The first one took awhile to get exciting, but this one just jumped right into it.

Leeda gets attention from her mom for awhile, but it's not long before she leaves the house.
Murphy and Rex are having problems, because of Murphy's desire to go to NYU and leave Georgia behind.
And Birdie, she's worried about Poopie, worried that she's leaving. And everything is wierd between her and Enrico.

I loved it. This reminds me of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I am very glad that I bought this book.

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, October 30, 2008

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secrets of Peaches (Paperback)

THE SECRETS OF PEACHES takes place where it's prequel, PEACHES, left off.

Birdie, Murphy, and Leeda are all beginning their senior year of high school and each facing their own struggles. Birdie is dealing with a long-distance relationship, now that Enrico has gone back to Mexico, as well as worrying about her housekeeper. Murphy is trying to deal with actually having a serious boyfriend and worrying about where she's going to college. Leeda is dealing with a mother who pays more attention to her older sister instead of her and starts becoming more and more distant from everyone, friends included.

The friends and family drama are what keep this novel moving. I truly think that the friendship of Leeda, Birdie, and Murphy is one of the strongest and most realistic one you'll find in YA fiction. If you enjoyed PEACHES, I'm sure you'll like this one, although it does share the one problem from the previous book - it drags horribly in the middle.

Other than that, I definitely recommend it, especially if you enjoyed the first title.

Reviewed by: Harmony