What happens when two eleven-year-old best friends find out they'll be facing middle school separately? They turn the worst news ever into the time of their lives in Summer in the City: The Peony Chronicles.


Poppy and Esme have lived in the same building in the East Village neighborhood of New York City their entire lives and share a fun-loving, non-traditional friend-family. P & E, aka The Peonies, are as close as twin sisters and practically inseparable. The last day of 5th grade, the girls' parents drop a bomb. Esme and her family are moving to California. How could they make such a huge decision without consulting the girls? Unable to convince the adults to change their plans, the devastated tweens set out to earn enough money to purchase the very special, very expensive, peony friendship necklaces they've been eyeing for months. They launch a dog walking business, Peonies' Prancing Pups, and the adventure begins. This may be the girls' last summer together but it's going to be the best one ever!


The Peonies meet with resistance from skeptical grownups. They tackle the challenges of managing unruly canine clients. And they try to come to terms with the fact that soon they'll be living thousands of miles apart. The girls make a name for themselves in the neighborhood and are on track towards their financial goal when Esme, entrusted with their entire summer's savings, gets distracted by a boy and loses their envelope full of cash. Esme is inconsolable. Poppy is furious. Will the Peonies reconcile? Will they recoup their losses? Will they get their special friendship necklaces? And how will they finally say goodbye?


Join Poppy and Esme as they tackle real topics like friendship, family, finances, loyalty and love, with honesty, humor and lots of dogs!