Dear Sweet pea

ISBN 9780062473073, 0062473077

October 1

288 pages

Summary

Patricia “Sweet Pea” DiMarco wasn’t sure what to expect when her parents announced they were getting a divorce. She never could have imagined that they would have the “brilliant” idea of living in nearly identical houses on the same street. In the one house between them lives their eccentric neighbor Miss Flora Mae, the famed local advice columnist behind “Miss Flora Mae I?”
Dividing her time between two homes is not easy. And it doesn’t help that at school, Sweet Pea is now sitting right next to her ex–best friend, Kiera, a daily reminder of the friendship that once was. Things might be unbearable if Sweet Pea didn’t have Oscar—her new best friend—and her fifteen-pound cat, Cheese.
Then one day Flora leaves for a trip and asks Sweet Pea to forward her the letters for the column. Sweet Pea is able to contain her curiosity about them . . . until she recognizes the handwriting on one of the envelopes. What she decides to do with that letter sets off a chain of events that will forever change the lives of Sweet Pea DiMarco, her family, and many of the readers of “Miss Flora Mae I?”

Review

“Fat doesn’t have to be a bad thing.”

Dear Sweet pea is the first Middle grade book by Julie Murphy, in which she has broke my heart and then put it back together

Dear Sweet pea follows Patricia , “Sweet Pea” after her dad moves out and her parents decide to divorce. While Mr. And Mrs. Di Marco does everything in their hand to make Sweet Pea to feel normal , she just wants things to go back to the way it was.

When her neighbor , Miss Mae (who’s possibly a vampire , crazy lady and every 7th grade theory) asks Sweet Pea to help her with her letters , she takes the opportunity . But she doesn’t know what comes.

Julie has written Sweet Pea in a totally relatable way. She’s awkward , clumsy , fat , and she’s always made fun at. Sweet Pea has the most relatable middle school life. I’m not even from America but I can totally relate to Sweet Pea in West Texas.

Dear Sweet pea is a very important read to know about the kids going through their parent’s divorce. We always see the Adult’s PoV and ignore the child while the children are the ones that need reassurance.

Sweet Pea

Sweet Pea has a cat and it’s probably the best quirk a middle grader can have. (YES I AM BIASED)

Mom says I’m too young to be a cat lady, but I think it’s too late.

Sweet Pea isn’t perfect . She’s selfish , adamant and basically , she’s just trying to get used to her new life.

“Sleepover at your place tonight?” asks Oscar.

“Wait,” says Oscar. “Your mom’s or your dad’s?”

Sometimes the book just punches in the gut with Sweet Pea’s narrative.

Mrs. Young wants to know if “something is going on at home.” I nearly shout: Which home?
I pause for a moment in front of Mom’s gate. And then I start to walk back to Dad. I double back again.

Oscar

Oscar Rivera , is Sweet Pea’s best friend and supports her like crazy.

Like Oscar says, fat kids gotta stick together.

He’s also fat , wears glasses , has THREE big brothers.

My brothers have scarred me for life, so I’m pretty sure you’re safe.

Oscar is the best friend we all had / deserved in Middle School.

Parents

I loved the parents in the book. They were real. The way Sweet Pea’s mom fights for her daughter , the way her dad loves her.

Sweet Pea is a really entertaining read.

*I thank Edelweiss and Balzer Bay for providing me with this review copy in exchange of my honest opinion.It has in no way affected my opinions*

Have you read books about kids who go through divorce? Do you like MiddleGrade? Let’s talk