The Peach Thief: A Middle Grade Book Gets a Thumbs Up from A New Guest Reviewer

SUMMARY

The Peach Thief, by Linda Joan Smith, is historical fiction about a young orphan girl named Scilla who lived in the woods. She would steal food to survive. One day Scilla climbed the Earl’s kitchen garden wall to steal a peach, and was caught by Mr. Layton, the head gardener. She was mistaken for a boy and was given a job cleaning pots. After doing this for a while, Scilla was kicked out because she was not needed anymore. She asked to do any sort of job but was declined access to the garden. Once she was allowed back in the garden she was invited for dinner with the Earl and Duchess of Havermore. There she met Emily, an old friend, and the Earl’s son Phin who finds out Scilla is not a boy but a girl.  Eventually, Scilla becomes a gardener for the garden. How will Scilla keep her identity a secret by working in the garden full-time?

REVIEW

Personally, I think The Peach Thief was a good story. I liked it because it noted how girls were treated unfairly compared to boys in the past. This was highlighted when Scilla said if she didn’t pretend to be a boy while stealing, she would get sent to jail. She worked hard and eventually when Mr. Layton found out she was a girl, he still accepted her. 

I also liked how realistic it was about the time and place. The Peach Thief is set in England in the 1850s. The fact that Scilla was homeless and had to steal food to survive showed how many people lived back then. Also, she pretended to be a boy because if they knew she was a girl she would be punished shows how women were not treated equally.

RECOMMENDATION

Kids about 9 and under might not enjoy this book because it is very long and mature. I would recommend this book to 5th graders and middle schoolers due to the subject matter.

OUR GUEST REVIEWER

Lucy W. is 10-years-old and is the 5th grade. In addition to reading, she enjoys going on adventures and learning new things. She also loves Star Wars, art, and chickens.

For more Middle Grade titles, check out Greg Pattridge’s MMGM blog.

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