Apple and Rain
After walking out of her life years before, Apple’s mom is back and seems to understand 14-year-old Apple’s desire for independence far better than strict and loving Nana. So Apple says yes to living with her mother. It’s only after she arrives at her mom’s apartment that Apple learns she has a half-sister, 10-year-old Rain. Rain, who has emotional issues, refuses to go to school. Their mom’s partying (in which she includes Apple) and financial situation both get worse, and more and more Apple is responsible for her sister. While parts of this novel are predictable—Apple’s initial resentment of Rain turns to love; Apple’s new friend Del becomes the steadfast person she relies on; things with her unreliable mom get steadily worse before Apple can bring herself to tell Nana the truth—the emotion across the story arc is richly and honestly portrayed. The book is divided into sections (Solitude, Fear, War, Love, Disappointment, Poetry), each one aligned to the theme of one of the poems Apple’s English class is studying with their marvelous teacher. The poems Apple writes for her assignments, also aligned to the themes, become honest expressions of the ways things are spiraling out of control. By novel’s end, Apple’s emerging voice as a young poet is something to celebrate along with relief at a safer future for the sisters back with Nana. ©2015 Cooperative Children's Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 12 and older
Age Range:
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
Abandonment
Drugs and Alcohol
Economic Hardship and Poverty
Grandmothers
Mothers
School
Sisters
Writers and Writing
Diversity subject:
Physical Disability/Condition
Publisher:
Bloomsbury
Publish Year: 2015
Pages: 342
ISBN: 9781619636903
CCBC Location: Fiction, Crossan