MG Book Review: The Peach Thief by Linda Joan Smith

Guest Post by Genevieve Rossi

THE PEACH THIEF by Linda Joan Smith (2025) is a middle grade Historical Fiction novel set in 1850s Lancashire, England. I’m grateful to Candlewick Press for sending me a copy for review, as this novel had me hooked from the moment I started reading.

The opening chapter drops the reader straight into high-stakes drama as 11-year-old Scilla falls into Earl Havermore’s garden in search of a succulent peach. Disguised as a boy and using the name Seth Brown, she narrowly avoids punishment and instead lands a job as a garden hand. Though historical fiction, the story will appeal to fantasy lovers: the head gardener’s lessons in horticulture and his kitchen garden feel almost magical, and Scilla’s new life is a stark contrast to her Dickensian-like workhouse past.

The lush, fragrant fruit trees and the opulence of Earl Havermore’s estate create a soothing, whimsical backdrop, even as Scilla becomes entangled in relationships that test her character and loyalties—including with the gruffly kindhearted but mysterious Mr. Layton, the head gardener, and Emily, a young maid on the estate. Debut author Linda Joan Smith masterfully weaves hints of Scilla’s difficult past with her present circumstances.

As Scilla’s secret grows harder to hide, she faces tough choices. Only later does she, and the reader, notice the subtle red flags a certain character had been leaving all along.

I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy beautiful descriptions of nature, emotional drama, and character-driven stories with twists. THE PEACH THIEF scratched my middle grade itch through its wonderful world-building, rich historical details, and high-stakes tension.

Here is a bit about Linda borrowed from her website, https://lindajoansmith.com/