Sad that this is the final volume of the Peapod Farm series! Really enjoyed seeing the characters continue to grow and come together as a family. I love the style of drawings, and enjoyed the end notes about how real life experiences informed the story line. I hope there will be another middle grade graphic novel by Lucy Knisley in the future.

Sugar Shack is a fun and sweet middle grade graphic novel about kids who are helping on their family farm. The kids help stack and gather wood, tap trees for maple syrup, and do chores while navigating their relationships with one another. One of the kids is getting ready for her Bat Mitzvah while another starts in a 4H group. Middle grade kids will love the beautiful illustrations and they'll be inspired by the doodle journal kept by one of the girls. I'll definitely be adding this to my third grade classroom library, and I'll be checking out other books by Lucy! A great read!

In the third volume of Lucy Knisley's delightful middle-grade graphic novel series, it's winter now at Peapod Farm, and Jen is hauling wood. And hauling wood. And hauling wood. (Winter doesn't mean less chores when you're a farm kid.) She's also playing in the snow, saving a rabbit, trying to figure out who she wants to be when she grows up (a question everyone else seems to have a definite answer for), and continuing to negotiate the complexity of her blended family. I love Jen as a narrator--she's a keen observer who's learning to give other people space, but doesn't have an abundance of answers. I would have loved her just as much when I was the age the book is aimed at.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are all my own.

The most recent edition to the Peapod Farm series is, like the rest of the series, sweet, light, and not particularly deep. Good for upper elementary students, but probably not enough plot for older readers unless they are generally fans of Lucy Knisley (and there are a lot of those!)

I love the notebook inclusions in the book. It definitely makes you better connect to the character. The story is a good representation of that siblings/not siblings back and forth that so many kids in blended families go through.

It is a delightful graphic novel, based loosely on the author’s life. She says she used parts of herself in the three sisters.

Thank you to Random House Children's and NetGalley for the eARC!

3.75 Stars. This was a wonderful finale to the Peapod Farm series! I like how it emphasized the bonds of sisterhood between the three girls, and also taught kids that it's okay if you don't know what you want to be when you grow up right away. As always, the art style is lovely and engaging, and I absolutely adored that it showcased more of my favorite character, Reese! She really was able to shine in this novel, Readers who loved the first two novels won't be disappointed by this one!

This is book 3 in the Peapod farm series. Winter has set in there’s snow, firewood to collect, and farm chores to do. If you’ve read the other two books in this series, there is nothing new but a deeper appreciation of Lucy and her family. I like the points where you can see the real artist’s real hands as they draw the panel that you’re seeing and how it’s incorporated into the story. I also like how the author answers questions about the end about characters that are considered not nice, or what it was like having sisters, etc. In a way it feels like an ending to the series but also not an ending, so we’ll see where the author goes from here. I will say, I like her young readers graphic novels better than her adult stuff so I hope she continues to write for this group.

Lucy Knisley writes such great comics. If her name is attached to it, I will read it. This is the 3rd book in this series and it is such a great book. She also has a Q&A in the back and it really adds to the story. I can't wait to read what she comes out with next!

After Jen's experience in moving to Peapod Farm with her mother and step father in Stepping Stones, and continuing to make peace with her situation in Apple Crush, she is back in a fairly good place. Somewhat pushy stepsister Andy is busy preparing for her bat mitzvah, and Jen has learned to give her her own way in situations where Jen doesn't particularly care. Young Reese's exuberance is easier to tolerate, and Jen is starting to feel like an older sister. Even Walter has calmed down a bit, and thinks before he speaks. Since Andy has to go to town on the weekends to prepare for her bat mitzvah, Jen's mother suggests that she attend the local 4H group, where she find some people that she likes, and others, like a boy who unnecessarily talks a lot about "culling" rabbits after a petting zoo fundraiser, who are harder to take. The family has decided to tap the maple trees on their property and host a small festival with the maple syrup they make. We follow the family through the winter, with some epic snow days, one of which almost ends disastrously, and Andy's bat mitzvah celebration. By the time the syrup is made, Jen has a few more friends, and feels more a part of her family. Ms. Knisley has extensive notes and sketches at the end of the book, explaining how her own life story parallels but isn't exactly like Jen's.
Strengths: Like all of Knisley's work, there is something utterly compelling about Jen's story, and it was a relief that it was also primarily a pleasant story. It was fascinating to read her note about readers' reactions to Walter, and her decision to include him; I had also felt that it was valuable to see flawed characters and learn how to deal with them without changing them. I loved that the girls had a lot of chores. The wintery setting, complete with sugaring off in a tiny cabin and mugs of warm maple juice... this just speaks to me in the same way that the 1970s family room in Holm's Sunny books does. It doesn't hurt that the first two books really helped one of my students who was struggling with a difficult stepfather. Look at that cover! This is a cozy book about how family makes us feel loved and wanted even when the people in it are messy and difficult.
Weaknesses: I wanted to know more about how the farm was staying in business. It's a somewhat unusual setting, and while young readers won't really care about the economic value of maple syrup, I was really curious, especially after reading in the afterword that Knisley's mother and step father divorced when she was in her teens and she left the farm.
What I really think: Now I want to go back and read Sorenson's 1957 Miracles on Maple Hill again, complete with Joe and Beth Krush illustrations. There are a lot of similarities, tapping maple trees, and another cozy house. I'll definitely purchase this for my school library, since the first two books have been very popular.

This was a wonderful addition to this series by Lucy Knisley. I've enjoyed them all but this was my favorite so far! Wonderful conclusions to the step siblings in this book and I really enjoyed the maple syrup harvesting aspect. Fred the bunny was a highlight as well. I'd read about 100 more books with these characters. Such a blast and I loved the additional material at the end where Lucy shared what she has in common with the characters and the inspiration for the series.

Another cute book in this series about 12 year old Jen and her adapting to her new life living with her mom and her boyfriend on a farm. I think these books show great and realistic depictions of life with a blended family. I especially liked how this one touched on different religious traditions at the holidays. These are always cute books that I know my tween will love to read! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!

I picked this because my middle schoolers have asked for books that talk about sugaring since it is something they do in the spring. It’s really about moving to the country and settling in with a newly blended family. I think my students will connect to it in multiple ways.

Thank you Random House Children's, Random House Graphic, and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this delightful book. I was so excited to see another one of Lucy Knisley’s graphic novels and was glad when I was approved! This is such a feel good story, another one in the Peapod series, about hardships and joys of growing up in a blended family. Lucy’s wonderful graphics and between the chapters artwork makes this book so much more fun to read. I really hope that there would be more books in the Peapod series for I’d love to stay some more in this world.

Sugar Shack is the third installment in the Peapod Farms series of graphic novels. I have enjoyed all the books in this series. The main character, Jen, has relocated from the city to the country after her parents’ divorce. Throughout the series, she leans to adjust to life on a farm and deal with the complexities of her relationship with her mom’s new boyfriend Walter and his two daughters. I loved the realistic portrayal of these situations and other facets of life as a teenage girl. I enjoyed how Jen’s relationships and appreciation of her life, family and friends has grown over the course of the series. Highly recommend these graphic novels!

Maybe a trigger warning for animals being raised for food for the sake of small children.

Going back to Peapod Farm is like a warm hug. Or in this case maple syrupy goodness. lol I love seeing what the 3 sisters are going to get up to. I love the blended family dynamics. That step siblings can get along like actual siblings. That mature adults can get along when they all get together for shared kids events. Over all I loved the story and the art was wonderful as always.

Cards on the table, I'm a long-term Lucy Knisley fan. The 8-year-old and I have been reading the Peapod Farm series since the first one, and this entry does not disappoint. I love seeing more of Jen and her experiences, and can't wait to get the book to share it with my kiddo. They're just such well-told books for kids and grown-ups alike, with good stories and good artwork. I'm glad we get another one.

Jen and Andy's story continues, and while their mixed family continues to learn how to live with each other, Jen learns more about food and agriculture, Andy gets ready for her bat mitzvah, and the season comes and goes, with all the seasonal changes that brings.

I really like the way this book (and the rest of the series) focuses on where food comes from and what it means to be a citizen of the planet earth. There isn't a strong focus on sustainability or anything, but this book reminds us that food doesn't magically appear in a grocery store: it has to be grown and harvested, and that can be both hard work and unpleasant. There's a subtle sub-plot of family conflict throughout this book, between Jen's relationship to her often inconsiderate step-father to her feelings of being left out when her step-sisters are part of something Jen can't do. I enjoyed the little vignettes, but there generally wasn't a strong plot. I think that's okay, but it was a little slow compared to book 1.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read Sugar Shack by Lucy Knisley.

I had read the two previous books in the Peapod Farm series, Stepping Stones and Apple Crush prior to receiving this ARC. This is the third installment within that series. I loved this series and hope this is not the end! Once again, Knisley delivers a cozy story, continuing to build on the growth of Jen and her step-sisters. Knisley's art was wonderfully bright and expressive. Although this book was written for a younger audience, I felt this book was still a great read as an adult. It allowed me to think back on my childhood and re-examine my life and career choices. My only thing about this book was I wish it continued on a little longer. I definitely recommend picking up the Peapod Farm series and enjoying it with a hot cup of tea!

Sugar Shack continues Lucy Knisley's semi-autobiographical story started in Stepping Stones & Apple Crush. Jen is still navigating being part of blended family and growing up. There are challenges and celebrations. As always Knisley's illustrations contribute to the strong appeal of this middle grades graphic novel.