Peaches / Jodi Lynn Anderson / 228 pages

Three girls spend the summer on Darlington Peach Farm in Georgia and become fast friends.  Birdie is the neglected daughter of the orchard owner.  She runs the orchard as her father has given up after his wife left.  Leeda is the unwanted surprise baby of a wealthy family who center all attention on her perfect older sister and her upcoming marriage.  And then there is Murphy....reckless, impulsive, promiscuous, and seeking the attention of her mom who is much too busy with her boyfriends.  This coming of age tale tugs at the heartstrings, gives good descriptions of the workings on a peach farm, and features indomitable strong female characters.