I adore anything and everything that Lucy Knisley writes. Sugar Shack is a wonderful middle grade graphic novel, and after finishing Sugar Shack I had to go back to catch up on the rest of her middle grade graphic novels.

A wonderful story of blended families and adolescence.

Lucy Knisley is truely the queen of graphic novels. Sugar Shack is heartwarming and emotionally educational without you realizing it. I would 100% give the younger people I know access to Knisley's MG books.

Jen lives on a rural farm with her mom, her mom's partner, and two sort-of stepsisters. This book, the third in the series, takes place in the winter while her family begins to collect & boil sap to make maple syrup. Readers in New England will definitely recognize the familiar routine, while those in other parts of the country will appreciate the detailed look into a time-honored practice to make this breakfast staple.
Readers will empathize with Jen and all of her farm chores, including hauling wood, taking care of chickens, and more.

I've been in love with the absolutely adorable PeaPod Farm series from the beginning. Lucy Knisley is one of my absolute favorite cartoonists. Her beautiful art along with her storytelling is very accessible for middle grade readers. Each PeaPod book has explored different fascinates of what life is like for a blended family and has done it with humor and heart. Plus, I think kids will love getting to learn what happens on farms in the winter and the experience of tapping maple trees!

This was a cute read and one I would suggest for my niece. I enjoyed the pacing and the topics discussed throughout.

I enjoyed how the blended families became more cohesive in this final book in the series. The informative pieces woven throughout the story are always great! Students will love to read this one, but they will be sad that the trilogy is complete.

Sweet story with cute illustrations. The plot is almost non-existent, and there is very little actual conflict in the book. While there isn't a lot of character development, I do think it's enjoyable to just kind of ride along with Jen and her family, getting to know them and their way of life.

Great book! Maybe would be better if there were more explanations about the characters, or went deeper into them. But a very good book and would definitely recommend. Thank you netgalley!

"Sugar Shack" is a delightful and thoughtful graphic novel in the Peapod Farms series. The series is pitch perfect for tweens; the main character Jen has struggles that hit precisely in that burgeoning young adulthood phase. (She's annoyed by her stepfather and also doesn't know what to wear to the school dance.) Knisley's illustrations are colorful and she drops in some genuinely interesting factual bits about life on a farm in winter. The storyline about evolving friendships with her stepsisters is most effective. Overall, I can imagine any young reader would enjoy this book and this series.

Peapod Farm is a place i will continue to go back to whenever a new book is published. I find the series to be a comfortable read, with authentic moments. I love being able to see Jen adjust to new life on the farm and be more comfortable growing up.

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Publisher through NetGalley.
It's a joy to return to Peapod Farm to see how the three girls are doing. Readers see what it's like in the winter and get to experience the cold weather chores that keep a farm running. Jen, Andy and Reese continue to figure out their relationships and grow as sisters. I appreciate the realistic way their interactions are portrayed. There are moments of great tenderness and a moment of serious danger in the snow. The food focus in this book is maple syrup. Readers see the entire process from setting the taps in the trees to boiling down the syrup to serving it fresh over pancakes. I hope we see more storie as they continue to grow up on the farm.

My daughter loved this one. to have the perspective of a blended family that is different than our own but finding similarities the the struggles and triumphs in all experience was a joy for her to read.

I find Lucy Knisley's books so enjoyable. I love how much she writes about food and I love her relatable tween characters. A solid choice for middle grade realistic fiction readers.

Although it took me a bit longer than usual to get into this book, I am glad I saw it through to the end. It has great representation of blended families and the complications that brings to family dynamics. I think this book will do really well in rural farming communities, and with kids who enjoy books about animals or farm life.

I love this latest installment of the Peapod Farm series. In this we see Jen learning to accept her family as they are. Jen is very much a kid still but you can see in her dialogue that she is growing up also. There is nothing but love for this series. It is a great story with memorable characters. I love the information that Lucy provides at the back of the book.

Lucy Knisley is my favorite graphic novelist for a reason! Sugar Shack is an absolutely wonderful installment in her middle grade Peapod Farm series. I love the way that Knisley develops the characters and plays out plot lines that have carried over from the previous books. Her readers will enjoy every page of Sugar Shack!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Graphic for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. 4.5 ⭐️ rounded up. Such a cute and fun graphic novel and a nice conclusion to the series! I especially loved the little author’s Q&A at the end. Seeing what was based on real life and more fictional is so much fun! It also offered some great insight on her portrayal of the characters and really made me respect her as a writer. I love Lucy Knisley’s books and I will look forward to more in the future now that this series has finished!

Sugar Shack beautifully captures the challenges and joys of navigating a blended family while adjusting to a new environment. I particularly appreciate how this book authentically reflects the experiences of many children, allowing them to see themselves in the characters and their relatable struggles.

The inclusion of scenes where Andy applies math in everyday situations is a valuable addition, making learning more tangible and engaging. I also applaud the incorporation of fun facts about farming, which will undoubtedly pique students' interest and introduce them to new concepts. The inclusion of recipes encourages hands-on learning and provides a delightful way to connect with the story at home.

The colorful and vibrant illustrations are a visual delight, further enhancing the reading experience. Moreover, the book thoughtfully represents both Christian and Jewish faiths, fostering inclusivity and broadening perspectives.

I wholeheartedly recommend Sugar Shack and eagerly anticipate adding it to my school library upon its publication.

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!