The Peach Thief by Linda Joan Smith

What worked:

The story will immediately please readers who love underdogs as the book opens with Scilla scaling the walls of the earl’s garden. She’s homeless and spends much of her day trying to ignore, or appease, the burning hunger in her belly. Rather than beg for food, Scilla and her friend have learned to steal it. They’re usually successful enough to settle their stomachs but the book’s opening scenes find Scilla caught trying to steal the earl’s peaches. She also breaks a vine and tree that have been carefully nurtured over the years so she’s in big trouble. Her friend taught her that boys are given more leeway so she says her name is Seth. This begins her adventure as a boy as she tries to stay alive and out of jail.

Much of the plot concerns Scilla’s efforts to not let anyone know she’s a girl. She calls herself Seth Brown and most of the other characters call her Brownie. She stays in a shed on the Earl’s property which allows her to change clothes and have some privacy from everyone else. She must be careful of her higher-pitched voice giving away her secret as well as the physical changes on her chest. Scilla begins to take a liking to a boy named Phin which presents another complication to her life. The story of Scilla’s secret ties the whole book together but her real dream is to find a home with people who care for her.

Two supporting characters contribute to the drama in different ways. Phin acts as a mentor for Scilla as she adapts to life on the estate. He has a talent for charming others that keeps him out of trouble. His charm has a strong effect on Scilla and causes her to make some questionable choices. The caretaker of the earl’s gardens is Mr. Layton and he begins to take a special interest in Scilla. He works with her one-on-one to learn new skills and encourages her to read any gardening books that interest her. However, some of the other boys are disgruntled about the attention she’s getting and she doesn’t want to cause any trouble. Scilla also knows Mr. Layton trusts her so she’s concerned that she might let him down.

What didn’t work as well:

The book opens with Scilla sneaking into the earl’s garden to taste a fresh peach. She’s caught trespassing and spends the rest of the book working with the plants. Some young readers might not be interested in gardening and cultivating all kinds of fruits and vegetables but that’s what’s happening throughout the story. It’s a fitting backdrop for Scilla’s struggles.

The final verdict:

Gardening is a big part of the story so this book won’t appeal to everyone. However, the tale of Scilla trying to find a loving home is captivating and will touch readers’ emotions. Overall, I recommend you give this heartfelt story a shot.