The Peach family has been trying to maintain a normal life as much as possible since their mom died. The oldest, Lucy age 12, has stepped up and been doing everything she can to keep the family going, especially since their workaholic father seems to have checked out. But when one of their mom’s last inventions before she died is sold to a production company, the sudden windfall inspires Mr. Peach to take the family one a road trip with a twist, they’ll run a food truck selling pie. The goal is to find their stride before competing in a food truck competition at the end of the summer. But can the four Peaches be successful and get along as a family to prove they can make it in the food truck business, or will the loss of their mom finally do the family in?
While this wasn’t my favorite of the Middle School Book Club books we read, it was a funny and good story of a family dealing with loss and trying to find themselves again. Was the premise a bit outlandish? A bit. Was the whole food truck road trip unrealistic? Yes, a bit. My I think Maya and the Robot had more suspension of disbelief in it. The author here admits in the author notes that she took some liberties and that its unrealistic at parts, but she did so in service of the story. It’s the first in a soon to be four book series, but each one seems to be a bit ridiculous.
Mr. Peach was always a workaholic it seems, but the loss of his wife hit him hard and he hasn’t dealt with it well over the two previous years. He gotten lost in his grief for a bit and almost forgotten about his children, forcing Lucy to step up and he hasn’t even noticed who much she’s done or how much all his children have grown. But he makes an effort to change, and when the middle child finally speaks up and out, he listens and vows to do better, and he makes more conscious effort to do so in the closing chapters. I’m sure the next book will continue this growth.
The family has a unique adventure here, and they do have a lot of fun. The next book focuses on them turning the dad’s aunt’s old mansion into a Bed and Breakfast, something the mother wanted to do. I plan to read that one, but I don’t think I’ll read the next two. I give this one three and a half lightsabers.
The Ramblings of a Jedi Librarian 