Description:

Last summer, three very different girls—wild Murphy, perfect Leeda, and shy Birdie—etched their initials on a Magnolia tree at Darlington Peach Orchard to symbolize that they're friendship will last forever. But can it survive the less-than-peachy year ahead? Murphy, more in love with Rex than ever, is torn between her big-city dreams and following her heart . . . all the way across the railroad tracks and into Rex's arms. Leeda, nominated to be Bridgewater's Pecan Queen, basks in the rose-scented glow of her Ice Queen mother's sudden affection—until her sister, the princess, returns. Birdie, happy for the first time, wants nothing more than to make time stand still. Too bad everything is changing, whether she likes it or not. The sweet trio of Georgia girls that made *Peaches* a national bestseller returns in this delicious and satisfying sequel. This year, Murphy, Leeda, and Birdie discover that bitter endings can lead to sweet new beginnings . . . and that the orchard that brought them together will always be a part of them—even if they leave it behind. ** ### From School Library Journal Grade 9 Up—In this sequel to *Peaches* (HarperCollins, 2005), Murphy, Birdie, and Leeda say good-bye to a summer on Birdie's family's peach orchard as the girls begin their senior year. Each teen faces a different set of growing pains. Birdie pines for her boyfriend, who's gone back to Mexico for school, and she worries that her family's housekeeper, who grew up in his town, will return home. Murphy, who dreams of moving to New York and has applied to NYU, is unable to tell her boyfriend that she loves him, although it's all he wants from her; what she wants is for him to agree to go to New York with her. Leeda's mother neglects her in favor of her sister; as their relationship grows more and more distant, the teen shuts out the rest of the world, including her friends. The novel is well paced and resolves the interwoven story lines tidily but authentically. This appealing book is as light as Cecily von Ziegesar's "Gossip Girl" series (Little, Brown), but without the glitz and snarky tone. Murphy and Birdie mature just enough to make the story optimistic but not fantastical, and Leeda's lack of growth makes her all the more believable. There are a few unclear references to the previous book, but in general the story stands on its own. A good choice for fans of Ann Brashares's "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" books (Delacorte) and similar series.—*Daisy Porter, San Jose Public Library, CA* Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. ### About the Author Jodi Lynn Anderson is the *New York Times* bestselling author of *Peaches*, *Tiger Lily*, and the popular May Bird trilogy. She lives in Asheville, N.C., with her husband, her son, and an endless parade of stray pets.