Apple and Rain
December 03, 2016 |
| source |
Author: Sarah Crossan
Genre: Children's Fiction/Middle Grade, Contemporary, Drama
Blurb: When Apple's mother returns after eleven years away, Apple feels whole again. She will have an answer to her burning question - why did you go? But just like the stormy Christmas Eve when she left, her mother's homecoming is bitter sweet. It's only when Apple meets someone more lost than she is, that she begins to see things as they really are. Apple discovers something which can help her to feel whole from the inside out. Not just the outside in.
So here is Apple's backstory: She lives with her grandmother because her mother left the grandmother's house from an early age to chase her acting dream in America. Her mother also left her father when she became pregnant with Apple. Afterwards, her father married a woman Apple disliked.
Apple is short for Apollinia which I was a bit judgemental about before I found out her dad was Greek. Hence the surname Apostolopoulou.
When Apple's mother returned after 11 years, her life changed completely. She moved in with her mother from her grandmother's house because she felt her mum was 'cooler'. Only to find out that her mum had a child called Rain while she was in America. Apple. Rain. Those names though.
Of course, Apple found Rain irritating: she was really young with a 'nasal' American accent, spoiler: she acted as if her doll Jenny was real and she was just so darn hostile at times.
However, Rain wasn't half as bad as her mum. Sometimes her mother would hold parties in their house. Those parties contained drunk people who also smoked inside the house. Spoiler: She even allowed Apple to drink quite a lot. Apple got drunk. Also, Apple's mother would often neglect her daughters in search of auditions because she would just get by with the little money she had. Apple did all the housework while she lived with her mum.
Another spoiler: Apple also felt neglected at school because her sheep-like friend Pilar ditched her for the devilish Donna who is mean to Apple.
One of my favourite characters were Del who changed from Apple's wacky neighbour to her classmate who later befriended her.
"We haven't got time for McFlurries," Del says bossily. I smile. He's something else, Del Holloway - something really special.
Another one of my favourite characters was Mr Gaydon - Apple's English teacher. He was just so nice and chill and he was good at teaching poetry. He even aroused my interest in poetry, to my surprise!
Now beware, even though this is Middle Grade fiction, it was told quite realistically. There are some dirty jokes made by the kids. You might say, "But they're babies!" Just remember the dirty minded kids in your class when you were 13... or even 11/12.
Recommendation: 12 year olds and above
Content: Some swearing. Some dirty jokes. Some kissing. Some drinking.
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| 3 and a half stars out of five |
6 comments
I read this a while ago, and I HATED APPLE"S MOTHER SO MUCH. she was horrible and useless at being a parent. In the end I just felt bad for Raid, because her mother caused so many issues. And I think I liked how Apple was a round character who wasn't perfect but tried hard. (They go back to their grandparents at the end, right?). I liked this review, especially because it reminded me of reading it before. (And wasn't Del the sweetest!)
ReplyDeletePreach! She really sucked at being a mum. Yeah, I felt sympathy for poor Rain. :( Del was brilliant! xD Aw, thanks. That means a lot <3
DeleteHmm, sounds kinda interesting, though the characters might annoy me. I'm not sure whether or not I'll pick this one up, but your review has got me kinda intrigued.
ReplyDeleteAlexa
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Haha. Okay. We'll see if you pick this up ;)
DeleteThis sounds pretty interesting, but I think I might just throw the book at the wall because Apple's mom sounds so terrible. Who would even do that??? *throws something* Those names, though. Who would even do that to a kid?
ReplyDeleteYes, she's really irritating >.<
DeleteKeep it all clean, man. Well, if you really wanna curse, use minor swear words. And I mean the minorest of minor ones.
"Or what?" you ask in indignation.
"Or else."