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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSHerb Peach has always been sure his Great Aunt Lucinda's enormous, creaky brick mansion in Duluth, Minnesota is haunted, so he is not thrilled when Lucinda decides to move into a retirement community and hand the whole house over to his family, who quickly nickname it the Peach Pit. Two years after their mom died of cancer, Herb, his older siblings Lucy and Freddy, and their dad are still adjusting to being a family of four, and Lucinda's gift comes with a catch. If they cannot turn the rundown old place into a working bed and breakfast by Thanksgiving, Lucinda's son David will sell it to a stranger instead. The Peaches move in along with Lucinda's four badly behaved dogs and get to work patching pipes, painting walls, and decorating guest rooms, while Herb takes a job at his great aunt's retirement community, Lucy discovers a hidden attic above her bedroom closet, and Freddy scrambles to finish a huge art project before the deadline. Along the way they turn up strange noises in the walls, an old dollhouse that is an exact copy of the mansion, and a faded map labeled the Hunt for Hidden Riches, and they have only a few weeks to solve the mystery and finish the house before David and Great Aunt Lucinda arrive to judge whether the Peaches have earned the right to stay.
Free Battle of the Books questions for The Peach Pit
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about The Peach Pit. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book are four naughty little dogs named after Santa's reindeer?
✓ Answer
The Peach Pit by Erin Soderberg Downing
Dasher, Donner, Vixen and Rudolph belong to Great Aunt Lucinda, who loves old Christmas movies and says reindeer pets keep the holiday spirit alive all year. Herb takes over their training once the family moves in, and it does not go quickly.
- First half
In what book does a boy's first résumé list "Mouse Caretaker" and "Dishwasher Unloader (only sometimes)"?
✓ Answer
The Peach Pit by Erin Soderberg Downing
Great Aunt Lucinda explains what a résumé is, and Herb writes one out on the spot in his neatest handwriting with help from her friends. His work experience is a proud, funny list of every small job he has held in eight and a half years.
- First half
In what book does a brother sneak monster heads onto dollhouse figures while his little brother sleeps?
✓ Answer
The Peach Pit by Erin Soderberg Downing
Freddy sets the prank up at dinner by talking about moaning in the wall, then waits until Herb has nodded off. He also swaps the miniature living room and kitchen contents so Herb will be certain a ghost has moved in.
- Second half
In what book does a straight-A student panic over her first ever B on an essay?
✓ Answer
The Peach Pit by Erin Soderberg Downing
Lucy has never gotten a B on anything, and it glares back at her from the student portal like proof of failure. Between the renovation and looking after her brothers, she has less and less time for the schoolwork she used to ace.
- Second half
In what book do sleepy bees pour out of a bagel-sized hole knocked in a wall?
✓ Answer
The Peach Pit by Erin Soderberg Downing
Freddy keeps hearing a buzz inside the wall of the guest room he is supposed to be decorating, so Kassy opens one small hole to investigate. An entire hive has been living in there, and Lila gets stung as everyone runs for the door.
- Near the end
In what book does a roasted turkey fly through the air and land on a guest's stockinged feet?
✓ Answer
The Peach Pit by Erin Soderberg Downing
Dad comes in from the store cradling the deli turkey and trips over the one dog who is actually sitting still. Freddy watches in slow motion as the whole Thanksgiving centerpiece sails over Herb and the dog and lands on David, the guest they most needed to impress.
