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Sweet Tea & Snap Peas
Perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo, Sean Dietrich, and Fannie Flagg, Sweet Tea & Snap Peas is a nostalgic, heartwarming family story full of southern wit and charm.
Sixth-grader Clint Boone knows that change is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean he has to like it. Ever since he lost his parents in a car crash five years ago, he worries about everything. At the top of his list of his first day of middle school at a new school—meaning the likelihood of eating alone, being teased about his southern accent, or getting his head dunked down a toilet just increased. Clint’s only constants are his sweet tea-drinking, pea-shelling grandparents, who are always there when he needs them.
However, only a day into an already troubling school year, Clint’s grandparents soon welcome seven-year-old Rhett, a distant relative, into their home. Now Clint has a rambunctious new sibling that he never asked for—one who shakes up his relationship with Grandma and Grandpa, and requires much more of their attention than he likes. As he struggles to adjust to Rhett, a new school, and a sixth-grade bully, Clint begins to learn that life’s curveballs may not be such a bad thing…until the curveball that upends Clint’s entire world.
Sixth-grader Clint Boone knows that change is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean he has to like it. Ever since he lost his parents in a car crash five years ago, he worries about everything. At the top of his list of his first day of middle school at a new school—meaning the likelihood of eating alone, being teased about his southern accent, or getting his head dunked down a toilet just increased. Clint’s only constants are his sweet tea-drinking, pea-shelling grandparents, who are always there when he needs them.
However, only a day into an already troubling school year, Clint’s grandparents soon welcome seven-year-old Rhett, a distant relative, into their home. Now Clint has a rambunctious new sibling that he never asked for—one who shakes up his relationship with Grandma and Grandpa, and requires much more of their attention than he likes. As he struggles to adjust to Rhett, a new school, and a sixth-grade bully, Clint begins to learn that life’s curveballs may not be such a bad thing…until the curveball that upends Clint’s entire world.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 18, 2024
12107 people want to read
About the author
McCaid Paul
8 books149 followersMcCaid Paul is a Southern writer raised in the pines of rural Florida. He is the author of Dead River, Sweet Tea & Snap Peas, Mooch & Marlow, and others. His short works have been published in the Blackwater Review of Northwest Florida State College. When he’s not daydreaming about new stories, you can find him taking long hikes in the woods, fishing for hours at a time on the Choctawhatchee or drinking too much coffee and sweet tea. To learn more, visit him online at mccaidpaulbooks.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @mccaidpaul.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 3, 2025
An evocative coming-of-age story full of heart, humor, nostalgia, and emotion.
✏️ Review ✏️
*sighs deeply* What a thematically rich, emotionally deep novel! After finishing Sweet Tea & Snap Peas, I feel deeply content and satisfyingly filled. 😊 The nostalgia, the emotions, the themes, the impactful truths, the empathetic characters — I loved it all! 🥰 The ending is wow! That. Made. Me. Stop. And. Think. Really, it did. I had to read it again and then again because it's altogether too true! Sometimes we can be so busy or too distracted and we miss what's really important in life; but, man, does that ending really jolt you back to the reality that life is moving on whether you realize or not.
While the plot might appear simplistic at first, don't be fooled — this story poignantly illustrates and presents compelling life truths that really hit home in such an unexpectedly deep way.
Loved the characters! In so many ways is Clint and his journey of trying to accept life's changes quite relatable. And Rhett — I'm so glad that Clint's grandparents decided to give him a chance. 🥹 Definitely well rounded, dynamic characterization.
I could go on and on for several more paragraphs about this book but, ultimately, reading Sweet Tea & Snap Peas for yourself would be the totally better option. So I'll just say one more thing about this story: Read it! Whether or not it becomes a new favorite book for you or not, I can guarantee that you'll appreciate the people in your life more and see the passage and changes of life in a new, compelling perspective. Have an absolutely wonderful day! ✌🏼
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The compelling and poignant themes.
• The characters — they're well rounded and feature dynamic development.
• The plot — it's sets a good pace for the story.
• The ending 🥲 (proceeds to go read the ending for the fifth time).
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• Perhaps the plot's pacing in a few parts could have been a bit better.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Of course!*
— To whom? To those who enjoy nostalgic contemporary fiction stories that feature deep, compelling themes, a well rounded cast of characters, and a poignant ending.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 4.75/5 [rounded up to 5 on Goodreads])
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 4/5
— 📝 Writing: 4/5
— 👥 Characters: 5/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language: 1/5
Six vain uses of God's name, two use of "g**z," and three uses of "heck."
— ⚔️ Violence: 1/5
• A few scenes of middle school bullying including one mild scene of brawling (briefly mentions a boy being kicked in the "privates").
— ⚠️ Sexual: 0/5
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
• Potential trigger warnings: 🛑 Potential spoiler 🛑 Death, suffering, and bullying. 🟢 Potential spoiler is over 🟢
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• What's great about books is that they're reliable; they're safe. Life changes, but the words in the books stay the same.
• [B]eing a soldier doesn't make someone a hero..., but having compassion does.
• "[W]orrin' is like sitting in a rockin' chair. It don't get you no further down the road."
• "Life's like a vapor. We're not promised tomorrow."
✏️ Review ✏️
*sighs deeply* What a thematically rich, emotionally deep novel! After finishing Sweet Tea & Snap Peas, I feel deeply content and satisfyingly filled. 😊 The nostalgia, the emotions, the themes, the impactful truths, the empathetic characters — I loved it all! 🥰 The ending is wow! That. Made. Me. Stop. And. Think. Really, it did. I had to read it again and then again because it's altogether too true! Sometimes we can be so busy or too distracted and we miss what's really important in life; but, man, does that ending really jolt you back to the reality that life is moving on whether you realize or not.
While the plot might appear simplistic at first, don't be fooled — this story poignantly illustrates and presents compelling life truths that really hit home in such an unexpectedly deep way.
Loved the characters! In so many ways is Clint and his journey of trying to accept life's changes quite relatable. And Rhett — I'm so glad that Clint's grandparents decided to give him a chance. 🥹 Definitely well rounded, dynamic characterization.
I could go on and on for several more paragraphs about this book but, ultimately, reading Sweet Tea & Snap Peas for yourself would be the totally better option. So I'll just say one more thing about this story: Read it! Whether or not it becomes a new favorite book for you or not, I can guarantee that you'll appreciate the people in your life more and see the passage and changes of life in a new, compelling perspective. Have an absolutely wonderful day! ✌🏼
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The compelling and poignant themes.
• The characters — they're well rounded and feature dynamic development.
• The plot — it's sets a good pace for the story.
• The ending 🥲 (proceeds to go read the ending for the fifth time).
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• Perhaps the plot's pacing in a few parts could have been a bit better.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Of course!*
— To whom? To those who enjoy nostalgic contemporary fiction stories that feature deep, compelling themes, a well rounded cast of characters, and a poignant ending.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 4.75/5 [rounded up to 5 on Goodreads])
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 4/5
— 📝 Writing: 4/5
— 👥 Characters: 5/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language: 1/5
Six vain uses of God's name, two use of "g**z," and three uses of "heck."
— ⚔️ Violence: 1/5
• A few scenes of middle school bullying including one mild scene of brawling (briefly mentions a boy being kicked in the "privates").
— ⚠️ Sexual: 0/5
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
• Potential trigger warnings: 🛑 Potential spoiler 🛑 Death, suffering, and bullying. 🟢 Potential spoiler is over 🟢
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• What's great about books is that they're reliable; they're safe. Life changes, but the words in the books stay the same.
• [B]eing a soldier doesn't make someone a hero..., but having compassion does.
• "[W]orrin' is like sitting in a rockin' chair. It don't get you no further down the road."
• "Life's like a vapor. We're not promised tomorrow."
August 31, 2024
This book got me all in my feels. From feeling like a loner/nobody and despising many days of my own 6th grade year…to the memories of sweet tea and snapping peas with my Nanny and MawMaw! Ugh! A heart-warming story. Yes, I cried.
April 13, 2024
“Worryin’ is like sitting in a rockin’ chair. It don’t get you no further down the road.”
This book punched me right in my emotions. Like McCaid mentions in the author's note, it's funny, it's sad, it's hopeful, it's nostalgic. It made me smile from the first chapter to the last, made me laugh many times throughout, and made me cry with its final few chapters. There were many hilarious one-liners (primarily spoken by Clint's grandparents), as well as multiple heartwarming, powerful passages that spoke to my soul. This book is beautifully simple--there is nothing grand about its plot--but that's what makes it so special. It's all about its vivid, Southern characters (I won't forget Aunt Theresa any time soon, that's for sure), resonant themes, and finding beauty in the mundane (think Because of Winn-Dixie). I LOVED every character, crazy and all. Even minor characters like Myrtle, Linda-Sue, Francis, and Josephine, who make appearances in the book's uproarious church scene, had my heart.
While the last few chapters are particularly sad, I was even more affected by the story's subtle message about how difficult- and outright painful -growing older is. Not just for older people like Clint's grandparents, but for children like Clint as well. Old age is scary and troubling, but McCaid handles the topic with grace and compassion, albeit with an undercurrent of melancholy. One passage between Clint and his grandpa really spoke to me:
"Grandpa said, “People don’t see you when you’re older. People like me and Ella…it’s like we’re invisible. That’s how I feel…invisible.”
I looked at him for a moment, looked at the wrinkles on his face, the creases under his eyes, the faint white stubble along his jaw, the ruddiness of his nose, his cheeks. I loved his wrinkles, loved the lines of wisdom on his brow, his forehead. Loved his calloused hands, the healthy red of his skin, the hairs on his head resembling pale-gray toothbrush bristles. “I can’t imagine not seeing you, Grandpa.” A tear slid down his cheek, catching in the corner of his mouth. “You’ll never be invisible to me.”"
I've read all of McCaid's books, but this one's easily a new favorite (and that's saying something, cause I really enjoyed Dead River, McCaid Paul). It's always a delight to find an author who can write heart-pounding, twisty thrillers, as well as heartwarming, incredibly moving stories with beautiful writing.
A delightful book that I would recommend for all ages. Make sure you have a box of tissues close by!
*I was sent an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book punched me right in my emotions. Like McCaid mentions in the author's note, it's funny, it's sad, it's hopeful, it's nostalgic. It made me smile from the first chapter to the last, made me laugh many times throughout, and made me cry with its final few chapters. There were many hilarious one-liners (primarily spoken by Clint's grandparents), as well as multiple heartwarming, powerful passages that spoke to my soul. This book is beautifully simple--there is nothing grand about its plot--but that's what makes it so special. It's all about its vivid, Southern characters (I won't forget Aunt Theresa any time soon, that's for sure), resonant themes, and finding beauty in the mundane (think Because of Winn-Dixie). I LOVED every character, crazy and all. Even minor characters like Myrtle, Linda-Sue, Francis, and Josephine, who make appearances in the book's uproarious church scene, had my heart.
While the last few chapters are particularly sad, I was even more affected by the story's subtle message about how difficult- and outright painful -growing older is. Not just for older people like Clint's grandparents, but for children like Clint as well. Old age is scary and troubling, but McCaid handles the topic with grace and compassion, albeit with an undercurrent of melancholy. One passage between Clint and his grandpa really spoke to me:
"Grandpa said, “People don’t see you when you’re older. People like me and Ella…it’s like we’re invisible. That’s how I feel…invisible.”
I looked at him for a moment, looked at the wrinkles on his face, the creases under his eyes, the faint white stubble along his jaw, the ruddiness of his nose, his cheeks. I loved his wrinkles, loved the lines of wisdom on his brow, his forehead. Loved his calloused hands, the healthy red of his skin, the hairs on his head resembling pale-gray toothbrush bristles. “I can’t imagine not seeing you, Grandpa.” A tear slid down his cheek, catching in the corner of his mouth. “You’ll never be invisible to me.”"
I've read all of McCaid's books, but this one's easily a new favorite (and that's saying something, cause I really enjoyed Dead River, McCaid Paul). It's always a delight to find an author who can write heart-pounding, twisty thrillers, as well as heartwarming, incredibly moving stories with beautiful writing.
A delightful book that I would recommend for all ages. Make sure you have a box of tissues close by!
*I was sent an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 23, 2024
I loved this book! It reminded me of growing up around my own grandparents. It had so many funny parts, but it was also filled with emotional parts that touched my heart! It was a great read!
January 1, 2025
This story is so endearing, and definitely knows how to tug on your heart strings. For me, it’s a reminder about the importance of the simple things in life and the people we love.
FAVORITE QUOTES:
"A child needs a grandparent, anybody's grandparent, to grow a little more securely into an unfamiliar world."
"But a grandparent also needs a child. To live longer, to smile more, and to learn to love all over again."
"But I guess that's the cruel reality of change, how quickly it can wrap its fingers around your life and snatch away everything safe and familiar."
"Whenever I get so lonesome that my chest starts to ache, I open a book and read. I've found that reading cures nearly everything: boredom, loneliness, even anger. What's great about books is that they're reliable; they're safe. Life changes, but the words in the books stay the same."
"I wish making friends was as easy as the books and movies make it seem."
"In life, you will do some bad things, but a lot of great things too. You will find that some people won't like anything you do, no matter how great it might be. You might think you've done the best thing in the world or took the only course of action there was to take, and there will still be those who'll hate you for it. You just can't be everyone's cup of tea."
"Being popular is boring. It never lasts for long. I'd rather be myself than to have to change who I am to fit in."
"Being different makes a person special."
"Everyone has at least one thing that makes them unique and special."
"People don't see you when you're older. People like me and Ella...it's like we're invisible."
"Getting older is realizing that who you love most will one day be gone."
FAVORITE QUOTES:
"A child needs a grandparent, anybody's grandparent, to grow a little more securely into an unfamiliar world."
"But a grandparent also needs a child. To live longer, to smile more, and to learn to love all over again."
"But I guess that's the cruel reality of change, how quickly it can wrap its fingers around your life and snatch away everything safe and familiar."
"Whenever I get so lonesome that my chest starts to ache, I open a book and read. I've found that reading cures nearly everything: boredom, loneliness, even anger. What's great about books is that they're reliable; they're safe. Life changes, but the words in the books stay the same."
"I wish making friends was as easy as the books and movies make it seem."
"In life, you will do some bad things, but a lot of great things too. You will find that some people won't like anything you do, no matter how great it might be. You might think you've done the best thing in the world or took the only course of action there was to take, and there will still be those who'll hate you for it. You just can't be everyone's cup of tea."
"Being popular is boring. It never lasts for long. I'd rather be myself than to have to change who I am to fit in."
"Being different makes a person special."
"Everyone has at least one thing that makes them unique and special."
"People don't see you when you're older. People like me and Ella...it's like we're invisible."
"Getting older is realizing that who you love most will one day be gone."
May 22, 2024
A charming read from a talented young voice. From the first chapter, I was reminded of the silly banter between my own grandparents, just like Clint's in the story. Moments such as Clint attending a rowdy church service with his grandparents and having a pea-picking contest in sultry Florida weather reminded me of my own Southern roots. This book had me laughing and holding back tears. Can't recommend it enough, especially to those who enjoy a Southern tale.
May 20, 2024
This book was everything I was promised. A heartfelt and funny slice of life; where it lacks in plot it makes up for in how charming and readable it is. McCaid Paul is one of the BEST indie voices writing today!!! Highly recommend if you like middle grade.
October 27, 2025
4.25 🌟 Who knew that I would get absolutely wrecked by 173 pages and a book called Sweet Tea & Snap Peas?!?
September 5, 2024
This book reminded me so much of my Boo and Granddaddy Frank. I cried reading this wonderful book because it touched my heart so much and I just didn't want this masterpiece to end.
July 13, 2024
After meeting this local author at SunDog Books in Seaside, Florida where my wife works. I purchased Dead River and really enjoyed the writing and the story. So, I was excited to find out a few weeks back that he has published another book, Sweet Tea and Snap Peas.
It was a delightful southern story and the author did a great job weaving in a coming of age story with the reality of aging and the change that comes with aging and death.
I would highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys southern writing and story telling- I am looking forward to future books from this author.
It was a delightful southern story and the author did a great job weaving in a coming of age story with the reality of aging and the change that comes with aging and death.
I would highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys southern writing and story telling- I am looking forward to future books from this author.
June 3, 2024
I loved the warmth and humor of this book! The southern flavor and the voices of Grandma and Grandpa shone through so vividly, and I really found myself investing in the developing relationship between Clint and Rhett; seeing a true sense of brotherhood grow between those two was the heart of the story for me, and it was rewarding to know that Clint planned to step up and be Rhett’s caregiver as well as adopted sibling. I’m looking forward to what McCaid Paul writes next!
May 20, 2024
A heartwarming tale of the South that will have you both laughing and crying. I loved it!!
August 15, 2024
This is an amazing read! I bought it on lunch break, finished in 4 hrs. Such a gifted writer!
August 21, 2024
I cried...a lot... ❤️
August 6, 2025
A sweet coming of age story.
Want to read
November 19, 2025***Note to self***
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
Review to follow.
December 5, 2025
This is a great book!! Great author! Great reminder to take the time and make memories with the ones you love.
June 27, 2025
Maybe 2.5. Very simplistic, but there are some nuggets of wisdom. Would be good for a 5th or 6th grader.
May 25, 2025
This is my book, and I am more proud of it than anything else I've written. It's a tribute to grandparents and the South. If you're a fan of Kate DiCamillo, Sean Dietrich, or Fannie Flagg, you might like it.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews