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?”

When you’re secretly answering your town’s advice column, what could possibly go wrong?
Navigating Divorce: Sweet Pea's parents have the perfect solution for their divorce: living in identical houses on the same street. For her, it's the perfect recipe for disaster.Ex-Best Friends: Forced to sit next to her former best friend Kiera every day, Sweet Pea feels the sting of a friendship that's over—until she recognizes Kiera's handwriting in a secret letter.Finding Your Voice: When her eccentric neighbor asks her to handle the mail for her advice column, Sweet Pea decides to start dishing out some advice of her own.LGBTQ+ Representation: A heartfelt and honest look at family, love, and what happens when your dad comes out and your family changes shape.