The title is perfect for this book. I like how there is a blended family, I have not seen this in many books. The illustrations and information about making syrup and 4H are such good things to see in a story. I also enjoy how the book talks about different occupations that adults have in the world. This story also shows how a blended family can get along, even when there are different religions involved. This is a good middle grade book. I think trying the recipe at the end would also be fun. I am going to recommend this book to a teacher I work with who makes her own maple syrup.

I received an ARC from Random House Children’s via NetGalley. This was another fun addition to the middle grade graphic novel series “Peapod Farms” from Lucy Knisley. The main character Jen is still adapting to farm life after growing up a city girl. She is also still learning what it’s like to be a step-sister and have a step parent. For fans of Knisley’s work this is an easy recommend. Great graphics, smooth story and fun recipes – because food is always a central part of all her graphic novels.

Sugar Shack is a fun addition to the Peapod Farm series. I really loved the complicated relationship that emerged for Jen when interacting with Andy. I think that it serves as a good model for how relationships take on different forms and can grow over time. I also loved the small ways that Knisley included different cultures and practices. I wish we had seen more of this especially since it would allow students and other young readers a chance to learn about, engage, and possibly explore cultural practices that are not as widely known about today. Overall this was great edition that immersed the reader back in Peapod Farm.

Lucy Knisley is one of my favorite graphic novelists ever, and I feel that the Peapod Farm series is very best work. Sugar Shack is a wonderful conclusion (?) to one of my favorite series. The characters continue to develop into complex, sympathetic figures.

The synopsis makes a big deal about Andy and Reese not considering Jen to be their true sister, but that element really did not feel very central to the actual book, and the mentions of this element were resolved without much explicit issue.

Besides that inconsistency, I loved the cozy winter vibes and seeing the characters try new things (like 4H and making maple syrup). Jen's notebook pages added a lot to her character.

Another great installment in the Peapod Farm series. Knisley writes wonderful coming of age stories that stand easily with Little Women and Ann of Green Gables.

I will continue to be a fan of Lucy Knisley's work, both for adults and children. She has such a talent for capturing emotion, humor, and sincerity of a scene or moment in time in a few panels. I loved her personal notes at the end and how her life inspired the story.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

This was so sweet, and adorable as per usual! The cats are always my favorite part of course, but I love the art in general, every character is well developed and rounded, and have their unique little quirks and facial expressions. What a treat :)

I loved Stepping Stones so much. I recommend it to everyone I know. So when I saw there was a sequel, I knew I had to read it. This is a much more slice of life book compared to Stepping Stones, in that there aren't any big conflicts or arcs, just a family living their everyday lives. It's a good book for people with blended families, and of course, a wonderful book for anyone who owns a farm!

Yes, there never is enough firewood.

Lucy Knisley does a lovely job of capturing the trials of growing up in a new family and learning to work together to achieve goals even when you don't always love the way those around you want to run the show. The story is very much based on her lived reality, and as a result, I think it resonates more.

There is some conflict with her siblings and her step dad, as well as with the other people in town, but Jen figures it out most of the time while staying true to herself.

The artwork is in keeping with the previous books as well as Knisley's other graphic novels, and you don't have to have read the previous stories to be able to pick up this volume and get some enjoyment out of it.

I have to say that, for me, the maple syrup tapping was the best part. The fact that we went from tapping trees to celebrating with friends and fresh maple syrup was just a great way to weave the story together and show the passage of time.

All in all, a great middle school graphic novel and a lovely story.

A good continuation to the story laid out in Stepping Stones. Things seem more harmonious in this one except for a few bumps but a good story nonetheless.

My 9 year old loved reading this ARC and I let her pick how many stars to give this book. She really enjoys this whole series. I will update my Goodreads review when I help her type up her thoughts on it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun kids book. The illustrations were great and the story was so sweet. This will make a great read for kids.

Another fabulous book in the Peapod Farm series! I love the thoughtful way Lucy tells these stories, and in this one particularly the way she explores sisterhood.

okay this was absolutely adorable
the art between chapters!!!
i would have LOVED these when I was younger for sure
I think despite how cute it was though, just because I'm older now, I just didn't really relate to the characters that much.
the atmosphere though and small town vibes were excellent and again, the art was so beautiful, this was amazing

The third, and unfortunately final book of the Peapod Farm series by Lucy Knisley is just as delightful as the previous two books. In fact, in this one we get to see Jen learning to tolerate her jerk of a stepfather. In the notes in the back, she says the step father makes a good villain, but also a good character because he is nuanced. And that many kids have to deal with parents like this, and it is important to learn to stand up when you can.


The story this time is about winter on Peapod farm, and harvesting maple syrup. It is also the story of how to be both a city kid and a farm kid. Jen learns that for some she is one and for others the other.


It is a delightful graphic novel, based loosely on the author’s life. She says she used parts of herself in the three sisters. This is in the section where she gives advice to young authors and artists. She says to draw from observation, just as Jen does in the story. You don't have to have a huge magnum opus as your first novel. She said her first comic was just a few pages long.


Great as always. Sorry that this will be the last of the series, but knowing the author, she probably has a lot of other fun stuff planned, down the road.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out the 5th of August 2025.

This is probably my favorite in the Peapod Farm series. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Random House Graphic for providing me with an early copy!

This final volume follows Jen and her family through a winter on the farm. She joins the 4-H club, hauls wood, and grows closer with her sisters. And they even make their own maple syrup.

This one felt so cozy to me. Taking place in winter and having the warmth shine through all the cold was a spot on way to end the series. It addressed the one fault I had with the first book, Walter, letting the reader know Jen was okay and learning to accept that Walter was part of her life but not accept how he treated her. His character also improved throughout the three books so he wasn’t as horrible. The heart of this story was with the three sisters. They helped each other, supported one another, and just shared so much love. As a reader, I could also see Jen’s appreciation for farming and the hard work that goes into where our food comes from. The maple syrup side of the story was very cute.

I especially loved the wintery color palette used in the comics. The art was cute, as always. The journal entries and small fourth wall break were perfect. I think the pacing and flow of the story worked well. Overall, a solid read.

Honestly, this series just got better and better. I think it’s a perfect read for kids going through big transitions. And this last volume was so heartfelt and sweet and I’m glad I got to read it early.

"Sugar Shack" is the third book in Lucy Knisley's Peapod Farm middle grade graphic novel series. Jen is enjoying her life on the farm with her two stepsisters, but when Reese calls her "sister," Andy reminds her that she is just their stepsister, not real sister. Knisley works in more information about farming, nature, where food actually comes from, along with the main themes of family and friendship. An excellent portrayal of stepfamily dynamics and middle school interpersonal relationships, this book is a must buy for middle grade graphic novel collections, especially those that have the first two books.

Sweet third installment of the PeaPod Farms graphic novel series. Jen is navigating country living more successfully, but is worried about starting school. Things the family front seem smoother too, until Reese upsets Andy by referring to Jen as her sister. Jen figures out school, her sisters, and new farm schools in this title.

Great realistic fiction story for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Jennifer L. Holm's "Sunny" series.

Another fun middle grade graphic novel. Jen's experiences on the farm, as a stepsister, and as a new member of 4-H are occurrences many middle schoolers will identify with.

Loved it! I wished it could've been longer though since it's such a great story with fully fleshed out characters. Definitely will be a good recommendation for kids who love animals and farming.