Thirteen-year-old Patricia “Sweet Pea” DiMarco had to change her way of life to accommodate her parents’ divorce.
In the book “Dear Sweet Pea,” Patricia did not have it very easy; her parents got a divorce, and they ended up with nearly identical houses on the same street. However, their neighbor, who lives between them, is Miss Flora Mae, a local advice columnist behind Miss Flora Mae I? Sweet Pea is interested in what she does, so when Miss Flora goes on a trip, Sweet Pea goes to her house to find out what her job is all about. Sweet Pea is going through her challenges by herself due to not having many friends, but she has her cat Cheese, who is always by her side.
Throughout the book, the setting plays a major role in the plot. This is because Sweet Pea has to deal with the fact that her parents are separated, but only a house away. This makes her want her parents to get back together even more. Not only that, but she lives in a small town in Texas where there is not very much to do, and it is a small community, so she has a hard time navigating friendships. The changes that Sweet Pea is going through are because of the social dynamics and the emotions she is facing. In addition, the influence of her neighbor to work for the newspaper is increasing, which ultimately leads her into trouble in the end. Overall, the setting and surroundings of Sweet Pea influence her decisions and the life she has.
Another interesting aspect of “Dear Sweet Pea” is the bond between the characters. First, Sweet Pea has a good relationship with her parents, but after the divorce, they both seemed more distant towards her. Although she does not have many friends towards the end of the book, she finds Oscar because they have similar interests, but when she starts to worry about other issues, they grow apart. Then, she has an odd relationship with Miss Flora Mae because Flora wants Sweet Pea to stay out of her business, but she is too intrigued. Lastly, Sweet Pea’s cat offers a type of companionship that is inseparable, and she would not be able to live without her. All in all, the relationships in the book add to the overall plot and make it more intriguing.
In conclusion, “Dear Sweet Pea” deserves a ⅘ because it is fascinating, and the topic is different from any other book. This would also be recommended to anyone who is looking for a new book to read.
