The Peach Thief
$16.75
- Paperback
384 pages
- Release Date
9 June 2026
Summary
“Nuanced, richly atmospheric, and exquisitely written.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
The night that workhouse orphan Scilla Brown dares to climb the Earl of Havermore’s garden wall, she wants only to steal a peach—the best thing she’s ever tasted in her hard, hungry life. But when she’s caught by the earl’s head gardener and mistaken for a boy, she grabs on to something more: a temporary job scrubbing flowerpots. If she can just keep up her deception, she’ll have a soft b…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781536253078 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1536253073 |
| Author: | Linda Joan Smith |
| Publisher: | Candlewick Press,U.S. |
| Imprint: | Candlewick Press,U.S. |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 384 |
| Release Date: | 9 June 2026 |
| Weight: | 350g |
| Dimensions: | 24mm x 140mm x 210mm |
| Audience Age: | 8-12 |
You Can Find This Book In
Critics Review
An apple got Adam and Eve thrown out of paradise. In Linda Joan Smith’s glowing debut novel, a peach shows a 13-year-old girl the way in.
—The New York Times Book Review
From the dramatic beginning to the equally dramatic conclusion, you’ll be caught up in all sorts of growing, from melons to apples to, most importantly, the growth we all hope for: growing into our truest selves. Scilla’s journey in this complex and surprising world fills her heart, and it will fill ours.
—Gary D. Schmidt, Newbery Honor winner and author of The Labors of Hercules Beal
Smith’s debut novel is an exceptional example in transmuting the dedicated act of gardening to the nurturing of one’s soul. This vivid story of struggle and loss spearheaded by hope is appended with an extensive author’s note that touches upon aspects of nineteenth-century England, including horticulture, British India, dialect,
and more.
—Booklist (starred review)
Nuanced, richly atmospheric, and exquisitely written.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Smith’s debut serves up a historical fiction tale not to be missed… Hand to fans of Kimberly Brubaker Bradley’s The War that Saved My Life and Kate Albus’s A Place to Hang the Moon. A first purchase for all libraries.
—School Library Journal (starred review)
This lovely, well-drawn novel will appeal to historical fiction fans and kids who love plants, and will make a great bedtime read-aloud. And adults, be forewarned: You may cry at the end.
—BookPage (starred review)
Richly detailed debut.
—Publishers Weekly
Linda Joan Smith
Linda Joan Smith is a former magazine editor, the author of several gardening books, and a lifelong lover of libraries and children’s literature. The Peach Thief is her first novel for young readers. She lives on the central coast of California, where she enjoys lively discussions about stories of all sorts with her husband and daughter.
Returns
This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.