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Review: Peachaloo in Bloom

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By Chris Raschka
New York : Neal Porter Books / Holiday House, 2025. J Fiction. 295 pages.

Peachaloo Piccolozampa is stung by a wasp and gains a superpower: she understands what people mean and not just what they say. This newfound ability has come at just the right time - an audacious villain has moved into town and is planning to replace her favorite swimming hole with a golf course. Simultaneously, the citizens of Fourwords are planning their annual pageant, which reenacts a historical bank heist. Altogether this book reminds me of True Stories, my favorite movie when I was twelve. Talking Heads' front man David Byrne (wearing a cowboy hat) narrates vignettes leading up to a Texan town's sesquicentennial celebration. Chris Raschka's novel is similarly rambling, off-kilter, and sweet. Peachaloo is a thoughtful and bighearted protagonist. An omniscient townsperson acts as a chatty narrator, packing the book with peculiar characters and funny asides. It's written with highly descriptive language and frequent blackline illustrations. At face value Peachaloo in Bloom is a digressive, quirky read to enjoy on a lazy day but it contains sincere wisdom that will stick with you for longer.
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