Dear Sweet Pea

The first middle grade novel from Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin’ (now a popular Netflix film), is a funny, heartwarming story perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead, Ali Benjamin, and Holly Goldberg Sloan. Four starred reviews! Patricia “Sweet Pea” DiMarco wasn’t sure what to expect when her parents announced they were getting a divorce. She never could have imagined that they would have the “brilliant” idea of living in nearly identical houses on the same street. In the one house between them lives their eccentric neighbor Miss Flora Mae, the famed local advice columnist behind “Miss Flora Mae I?” Dividing her time between two homes is not easy. And it doesn’t help that at school, Sweet Pea is now sitting right next to her ex–best friend, Kiera, a daily reminder of the friendship that once was. Things might be unbearable if Sweet Pea didn’t have Oscar—her new best friend—and her fifteen-pound cat, Cheese. Then one day Flora leaves for a trip and asks Sweet Pea to forward her the letters for the column. And Sweet Pea happens to recognize the handwriting on one of the envelopes. What she decides to do with that letter sets off a chain of events that will forever change the lives of Sweet Pea DiMarco, her family, and many of the readers of “Miss Flora Mae I?” Navigating Divorce: Sweet Pea’s parents have the brilliant idea of living on the same street, in nearly identical houses, with only their eccentric neighbor living between them. A Secret Identity: When the famed local advice columnist leaves town, Sweet Pea is put in charge of her mail—and accidentally takes over her job, too. Friendship Hurdles: As if two homes weren’t enough, Sweet Pea is now stuck sitting next to her ex-best friend Kiera, and a letter to the advice column might make things better... or much, much worse. Coming of Age: A funny and heartfelt story about figuring out family, friendship, and your place in the world, with a little help from a new best friend and a fifteen-pound cat named Cheese.