Apple Crush

Peapod Farm #2

by Lucy Knisley

Jen and Andy are back in the sequel to Stepping Stones, New York Times bestselling author Lucy Knisley's middle-grade graphic novel about family, friendship, and change!

Jen is just getting used to her life on Peapod Farm with her brand-new step-sisters, Andy and Reese. But when the school year starts, there are even more changes in store for her. Jen has to navigate new friends and new challenges--but at least she'll have Andy with her, right? As school begins, she finds that her step-sister seems way more interested in crushes and boys than hanging out with her, while Jen wants to know when the world decided boys and girls couldn't be just friends anymore.

New York Times bestselling author Lucy Knisley revisits her own childhood, continuing Jen's story in a standout sequel to Stepping Stones that captures everything awesome (and scary) about growing up.

Stepping Stones is earnest, sweet, and, at times, heart-wrenching. Knisley's naturalistic storytelling and cozy artwork will draw you in and leave you hankering for more time on the farm. -Kayla Miller, creator of Click

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Fiction, Comics, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Juvenile

198 pages, Hardcover

First published May 3, 2022

About the author

Beginning with an love for Archie comics and Calvin and Hobbes, Lucy Knisley (pronounced "nigh-zlee") has always thought of cartooning as the only profession she is suited for. A New York City kid raised by a family of foodies, Lucy is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago currently pursuing an MFA at the Center for Cartoon Studies. While completing her BFA at the School of the Art Institute, she was comics editor for the award-winning student publication F News Magazine.

Lucy currently resides in New York City where she makes comics. She likes books, sewing, bicycles, food you can eat with a spoon, manatees, nice pens, costumes, baking and Oscar Wilde. She occasionally has been known to wear amazing hats.

She can be reached via e-mail at lucylou@gmail.com.

(copied from http://www.lucyknisley.com/about on 12/31/08)

Reviews

[Julie G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read approximately 14 graphic novels with my 11-year-old this summer. Most of them are stacked in two sad piles on my dresser now. Sad piles of regret of wasted time and wasted money.

It used to be challenging to find middle grades graphic novels for my kids. Seriously, we'd read one good one, then wait and wait and wait for another good one or a sequel of a good one to appear.

Now the market is saturated, and we can barely keep up with the new arrivals, both at the library and the bookstores.

Yet we still wait and wait and wait for another good one or a sequel of a good one to appear.

Our shelves are filled now with forgettable graphic novels, ones that never should have wasted precious paper by printing them.

It is not my desire to fill my feed with a bunch of negative 2 and 3 star reviews from this genre, so I've decided I'll only spend my time highlighting the ones on here that I think deserve proper attention.

What I mean by that: graphic novels where the art honors the storytelling, characters and plot.

This is one of them. Writer/illustrator Lucy Knisley first captured my attention in Stepping Stones, a story of divorce and blended families and a refreshing amount of honesty about how challenging the changes can be.

APPLE CRUSH is a continuation of that story, and we are back with Jen again, and her new sort of stepsisters, and Mom's annoying boyfriend, Walter.

In this story we learn that Jen isn't really into all of the romances around her. She's young, she seems unclear about her gender identity, and, well, she's just not feeling it so far.

Jen is a slow processor, a quiet kid who is devoted to her art and her solitude, and, even though I was a very different type of child, I found myself understanding her and learning more about both of us.

I actually enjoyed this graphic novel more than my 11-year-old did, and I suspect it's because I understood the themes better, as an adult. I think this one might appeal, overall, to an older crowd, despite the young age of the protagonist.

[fio ✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

if lucy knisley writes it, i will read it AND i will enjoy it.

[Janssen]

This is a solid second book in the series - I'm excited for more!

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Handled an awkward subject really well

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mild and meandering sequel in Lucy Knisley's semi-autobiographical juvenile fiction series about Peapod Farm in rural New York. Author stand-in Jen McInnes is still adapting to living with her mom's boyfriend and his daughters, stressed by her first day at a new school, and dumbfounded and discomfited by the weird transformations that romance fever is causing in the people around her. At least she has a cool part-time job putting on a spooky Halloween hayride at the local pumpkin patch.

Pleasant fluff with a couple small life lessons.

[Eve (were)-Baehr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was beautifully done.
The great writing combined with the gorgeous illustrations, made for a really satisfying read.
Somehow Kinsley has (through Jen) expressed so exactly the frustration of not understanding Romance. And the yearning for every friendship to stay the same.
The annoyance of grownups telling you that soon you'll change and be interested in boys, to "just give it a few more years". (Something I have been constantly told) And the constantly being asked if you are with or like someone that you are just friends with. Reading this book was really gratifying, thanks so very much Lucy for writing it.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jen continues to adjust to life in the country with her mom's boyfriend, and his two daughters. She's dreading starting a new school, and the mean girl she encounters on the bus doesn't help matters. Really all there is to look forward to is working at the local pumpkin farm where Jen and Andy are helping to set up the haunted hayride. But lately they don't seem to agree on much of anything. Andy doesn't want the ride to be "too scary," and she's also become obsessed with boys. Jen is left with her drawings, and wondering why things have to change.

Lucy Knisley can do no wrong in my opinion.

[Youmna Fathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, talked about friends
But I will not let my future children read it. Not suitable to our believes

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a graphic novel written by Lucy Kinsley. It’s a cute book about Jen. She and her mother have recently moved to a farm where she is meeting all new people and going to a different school. On Halloween she and some of her friends help out decorating the farm for a haunted hayride. Looking forward to the next graphic novel that Lucy Kinsley writes

[Emma Kagan]

I love Knisley’s adult graphic novels and her middle grade ones do not disappoint. Shoutout to my third grade student for letting me borrow his copy of this book. I definitely want to order this for the library (and also the companion Stepping Stones).

[Katy O. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great follow up to Knisley’s first middle grade graphic novel “Stepping Stones”. She perfectly captured the pressure kids start feeling in middle school about romantic relationships despite not feeling remotely ready for them. The only thing I wish she had done differently was include even one line about crushes at this age not always being heteronormative and that it’s okay ~ that acknowledgement in a book like this could help so so many kids feel seen.

Source: purchased paper copy (for my daughter)

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

This slice-of-life graphic novel is like Pumpkinheads for the younger crowd, as the main character helps a neighboring farm get ready for their Halloween hayride event. The story also involves a new school and shifting dynamics as people pair off or tease each other about dating, while the main character has no interest in this yet.

This sequel involves much less unpleasant family drama than the first book in the series, mainly because the stepdad gets a lot less page time. This makes the themes related to divorce and blended families seem more meaningful, instead of seeming like a way to paper over an adult's rude and insensitive behavior.

[Milton Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute graphic novel about friendships, blended families, and navigating those awkward adolescent years. I must have a thing for graphic novels with a fall/farm setting as this story reminds me of Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell, which I also really enjoyed. I found out later that this is actually a sequel, so I'm excited to go back and read the first in the series (Stepping Stones).

Find it in our SHARE Catalog today!

Jayme A. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL

[alicebme · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite graphic novel author/illustrator! Happy to be reminded of these middle grade novels. Lucy captures this stage of life so honestly.

[Maddy (maddysreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO GOOD! Lived up to my personal hype. Lucy Knisley is my fave.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

As others have said, this review is based on only the first 30 pages, as that was all the Netgalley and the publisher released for this ARC.

But, having read the first book in this series, I am quite sure I will love the rest of this wonderful book about blending families on a farm, loosely based on the authors life. The drawings are, as always top notch. The facial expressions, the feelings expressed, all work together to give us the beginnings of another great story, and perhaps we will learn more about the future step-father dynamic that felt so unfinished in the first book.

I would and will always highly recommend anything Lucy Knisley writes and draws.

Amendment to this review: I have since read the whole things, and love it. I love the bully. I love the subtly of why she is a bully, and what might, in the next book in this series, have to say.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jen's adventures continue in this wonderful sequel to Stepping Stones. Bulk of the book focuses on Halloween and preparations in the lead-up to it, so it was a really fun read!

I love how this particular installment went more in-depth into Jen being a child of divorce. We also get to see her feeling out of place for not being interested in boys when everyone else around her is coupled up, but personally has no problem enjoying alone time or having fun on her own despite being teased at school. I can't even begin to explain how important it is to have all of these reflected here but I imagine that many readers will see themselves in Jen.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable graphic novel series that will make you feel less alone ❤️ I really hope there will be a third book!

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid follow up to Stepping Stones! This one is more focused on love and relationships. Jen wonders why friendships have to change when its a boy and girl involved. She isn't interested in dating or boys or kissing at all, when everyone expects her to be. I like that she was able to maintain her friendships through the book even when the going got tough. I'm also hoping the bully turns around since they seem to have drawing in common.

[Namo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4/5

Jen starts to get along with her step sisters, Andy and Reese. But when they all need to attend school, Jen finds Andy gets weird. By getting weird just means Andy has a crush. Andy doesn't spend as much time with Jen as she used to. Jen just doesn't get it.

This book is the 2nd installment to the #peapodfarm series. However, reading this without knowing this fact doesn't bother me at all. It's actually quite enjoyable. This story also involves a lot of fall elements. The cartoons are so beautiful. And they are even more beautiful when they are all hand-drawn.

[katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

perfect for fall!!

[Hannah Showalter · Rating 3 out of 5]

i was so convinced this would be gay and it wasn't. :/ but immaculate fall vibes and i still hate the stepdad!

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now that summer is over, Jen is starting 6th grade at a new school where her stepsister doesn't go. It's a rough start with getting her drawing taken away, getting teased for talking to a boy, and not making any friends. At least there's her weekend job helping prepare for the haunted hayride. Everywhere she turns, romance is happening, and she has no interest in it, whether people believe her or not. Can she find her place as she still settles in to her new world? I wanted more resolution with her mom's boyfriend who needles her and the school bully since they appeared repeatedly throughout the story. For fans of the Miller and Libenson's graphic novels that deal with friendship struggles and middle school romance (including not wanting anything to do with it).

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe it's the PTSD making me remember middle school with outsize clarity, but there's something about these realistic middle grade graphic novels that always hits hard. This one deals with Jen feeling on the outside because all of a sudden everyone around her is into romance, and she's just...not. It's a gentle but powerful look at that particular moment in life, and it's easy to really feel for Jen. My one quibble is that I don't love that the bully was made sympathetic - it's true, many bullies are just acting out because they're hurting, but I think it's a reveal that could have waiting for the next book to allow readers to understand Jen's frustration and pain.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the fall vibes of this book! It’s perfect to read this time of year. And the art was gorgeous! I can’t wait to see what’s in store next for the gang at Peapod Farm. I hope there’s more to the Summer storyline.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great graphic novel from Lucy Knisley. I was annoyed less in this one weirdly enough. The brattiness of Andy in the first book annoyed me to no end but in this one, Jen and Andy have learned to be more sisterly to each other. But Jen is dismayed to find that EVERYONE around her has nothing but romance on their mind..but she doesn't and she wonders if something is wrong with her. No one believes that a boy and a girl can just be friends and those beliefs lead to some pretty epic complications in her life. I was really enjoying this book and felt like it ended way too fast. I wanted to follow along more with her friendship with Ollie! And this book included the school's librarian who gave her a great reader's advisory which made me so proud.

[DAISY READS HORROR · Rating 4 out of 5]

This will put you in the Fall mood! 🍁 the story was cute and the vibes were on point. Pumpkin patch 🎃, & Halloween 👻 vibes.

Thank you to my 11 year old for recommending this book to me 🫶🏽

[Rachel Aranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Again, I relate so much to Jen as a character. I liked the story but felt it wasn’t as fully rounded out as the first story. I’m glad to have read it and will definitely read the next installment.

[Kelsey Ebling]

This graphic novel series has been fun to read with my kids. Can't wait for the next one!

[Rosy · Rating 4 out of 5]

gotta love positive subtext in kids content

[Ari Santillanes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always have time for a quick trip with Lucy Knisley. Reminded me of visiting my girlfriend Jillian in Loomis when we were growing up. Her birthday is October 25th and Loomis is/was very agricultural in the 80s and 90s. Have lots of great memories of her Halloween themed birthdays and sleepovers, and running around the countryside near her house. She used to come with me on family vacations to LA and San Diego. Am sad that we fell so far out of touch. On a brighter note, love the depiction of late bloomers as dragon-loving, readers and artists. Recognize some of my baby boy in those descriptions and hope he’ll be into his friendships, romance-free, for a good amount of time! I want him to learn to be secure with himself. Just ordered the first book in this Pea Pod Farm series, Stepping Stones, and excited for this series to continue in a third book. Connections to Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell & Faith Erin Hicks.